The Hunter's rescue helicopter service appears to have buried the hatchet once again with the Newcastle Knights over the rugby league club's proposed training base at District Park.
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The two parties met with Venues NSW on Thursday to discuss amended plans for the training centre which raised conflicts with the chopper base's operations.
The rescue service had objected to the Knights' original proposal last year and took City of Newcastle to the Land and Environment Court to delay approval until its concerns were addressed.
Subsequent talks resolved those issues and the council approved the $18 million project, but the problems resurfaced when the Knights lodged new plans last month.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service boss Richard Jones said after Thursday's meeting that he was satisfied the parties had reached an in-principle deal which would allow the training centre and choppers to coexist.
The Newcastle Herald approached the Knights and Venues NSW for comment.
REPORTED EARLIER
Mr Jones wrote last week in a submission objecting to the amended plans that the changes "compromised the resolution the service and other relevant stake holders reached as part of resolving the Land and Environment Court proceedings".
He said a site plan in the amended application removed the "critical reference" to an agreed "helicopter operations area" and introduced new elements such as an outdoor gym, tree planting, public footpaths and a light tower which could conflict with helicopter maintenance.
The District Park centre would be next door to the helicopter service's maintenance base for the four AW139 aircraft it uses for emergency flights and search-and-rescue missions.
The service argued last year that the Knights centre as first proposed would make crucial post-maintenance "hover checks" impossible and affect aircraft movements due to the increased number of people in the area.
It said the sports centre could have "serious implications" for the rescue service's contractual obligations to NSW Ambulance Service.
The Newcastle Herald understands a Venues NSW plan of management for the Knights training base would restrict helicopter maintenance flights to outside business hours.
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IN THE NEWS
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
