December 1, 2025 — 3:40pm
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Save this article for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.
Got it
The City of Perth has recommended councillors knock back plans to include a helipad on the new West Perth headquarters of Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.
The company lodged a request to include the helipad in its $270-million, five-storey Ord Street headquarters earlier this year, to accommodate an eight-seat Bell 429 helicopter.
A concept drawing of Hancock Prospecting’s Roy Hill revamp in West Perth.
In its December agenda briefing session city officers said the helipad would “have an adverse impact on the amenity of surrounding residential land uses” and Hancock’s proposal did not “demonstrate that the noise and vibration impacts associated with the use can be mitigated.”
“The proposed development is likely to have an adverse impact on the amenity of the adjoining properties and the locality as outlined in the written objections received from the surrounding owners and occupiers,” officers said.
Officers also said the presence of the helipad would impact the ability to build taller buildings on surrounding sites in West Perth and would hamper the city’s efforts to bring more residents into the suburb.
During a public consultation period, 33 submissions were received, with two in support, two offering conditional support and 29 objecting to the proposal.
“Any malfunction or emergency event could have serious implications given the density and proximity of surrounding buildings, including heritage properties and apartments,” one objector told the city.
Hancock’s proposal suggested the helipad would only be used 12 times annually during daylight hours for “occasional corporate transport”.
It said the helipad could operate safely and appropriately within the existing and future inner city context, “without generating unreasonable amenity impacts to surrounding properties or the public realm.”
SLR Consulting, acting on behalf of Hancock Prospecting as environmental advisors, said the Bell 429 emitted 91.4 decibels on approach and 88.9 decibels on take off.
Related Article
It said noise measurements conducted over several days in the West Perth area found existing ambient noise levels occasionally exceeded 95 decibels, “suggesting that helicopter operations will not significantly impact the current noise environment.”
“The model predicts that no building will receive noise levels exceeding the recommended outdoor target of 95 decibels,” it said.
City of Perth councillors will vote on the recommendation at their council meeting next week.
Hancock’s new headquarters were approved by the city in 2023 and construction is already under way.
The new office will house Hancock, Roy Hill and other Rinehart businesses such as Atlas Iron.
Hancock declined to comment.
Save
You have reached your maximum number of saved items.
Remove items from your saved list to add more.
Hamish Hastie is WAtoday’s state political reporter and the winner of five WA Media Awards, including the 2023 Beck Prize for best political journalism.Connect via Twitter or email.From our partners