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Newsletter: May 2007  (Note: all external links open in a new window)

SUBMISSION ON THE BATTLE HILL FARM FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

Wellington Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Inc

PO Box 9824

WELLINGTON 6141

021 116 4558

skf@paradise.net.nz

The Wellington Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club has 55 members in the greater Wellington region.  The club was established in the mid 1970s and has a number of flying sites throughout the Wellington and Wairarapa regions.  It is affiliated to the NZHGPA, which has almost 800 members nationwide.

AIRCRAFT  Policy 3.24  Page 28

"To permit the use of aircraft for management purposes or emergency

purposes only within the park."

COMMENTS

Paragliders and hang gliders are defined in law as being aircraft, and would therefore be subject to the aircraft policy.  The policy presumably only applies to aircraft taking off from or landing within the park, or flying below 500 feet above ground level, as above 500 feet AGL aviation law applies.

To date no hang gliding or paragliding has occurred at Battle Hill, although members have investigated several potential launch sites.  The proposed wind farm development may also open up several potential launch sites.  The sports of paragliding and hang gliding are compatible with wind farms, provided turbines are not situated in front of launch areas.  The club has supported wind farm developments at Makara and Motorimu.  See: http://whgpc.homestead.com/0509WestWindSubmission.html

To fly the Battle Hill site will require permission from the Airport Tower, as the area is within the airport control zone.  [I've subsequently discovered that it is OUTSIDE the zone! Has a 2500 foot ceiling though! Probably should phone the Tower to advise if flying here.] Information on how this permission is obtained can be found here: http://paragliding.homestead.com/

WHGPCmay04controlled_zones.html.  This permission is sought on the day of flying as it is NOT possible to predict whether flying will be possible any earlier. 

The "ecological footprint" of the sports of hang gliding and paragliding would be very small on the park, with the craft making no noise and only requiring a grassy area of approximately 10 X 10 metres to launch from.  Landings can occur in virtually any clear area. 

SUBMISSION

The plan needs to acknowledge the potential use of the park by hang gliders and paragliders and make positive provision for these sports.

Commercial tandem hang gliding or paragliding operations do not

currently occur within the Wellington region.  This possibility, however,

should not be precluded in the plan.

DECISION

Delete policy 3.24: "To permit the use of aircraft for management

purposes or emergency purposes only within the park"

Replace with: "To allow hang gliding and paragliding, and to permit the use of other types of aircraft within the park only for management purposes or emergency purposes."

I wish to be heard in support of this submission.

Kris Ericksen

President

Wellington Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club

Back to newsletter: May 2007