Emirates One&Only MOD 4 - Temporary Changes to Helicopter Transport

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310. I believe the Department to refuse the modification because there will be significant noise impact on the Gardens of Stone SCA. An Environmental Impact Statement has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas. Furthermore, Wolgan Road is reopening in August 2026 so there will be no need for helicopter access. Below are more detailed reasons as to why this modification should be rejected.

The proposal is unnecessary because the Wolgan Gap Road is reopening
The resort justifies 210 helicopter flights per week by claiming the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026). If the road is safe enough for heavy truck logistics (linen, food, renovation materials), it is safe enough for guests in 2WD vehicles.

Excessive flight volume
The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day), effectively transforming a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.

Flawed noise assessments
The noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise. People visit parks for peace and quiet, and the helicopters will destroy that.

Impact on public investment and tourism
The NSW Government is investing $50 million into the Gardens of Stone SCA for walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds, as well as the inappropriate glamping resorts proposed in pagoda landscapes. Constant helicopter noise will degrade these public assets, ruin the peace and quiet visitors expect, and could lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors won’t come to the Gardens of Stone once it has a reputation for constant helicopter noise.

Environmental impacts disregarded
The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp, ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas. The proponent’s report understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).

Lack of trust and accountability
The Emirates resort has a history of unfulfilled obligations, specifically regarding land exchanges with the National Parks and Wildlife Service that have been outstanding since 2007. Also, there is no guarantee that this temporary increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, it's likely that transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established.

Safety concerns
The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.

Helicopter noise concentration in the lower Blue Mountains
The intensified noise footprint caused by the "vertical sandwich" of the June 2026 WSI airspace design. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily Emirates helicopter movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.

Our Group objects to Modification 4 of MP06_0310
We are asking the Department to refuse the modification because the Wolgan Road is re-opening in August 2026 and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas.
I am protesting about these plans on behalf of my Group of environmental activits many of whom have enjoyed the great outdoors in our National Parks. A significant benefit of spending time in these Parks is the chance to get away from the noisy and busy suburban lifestyle and enjoy nature in its pristine state. I have myself enjoyed the peace and tranquility of walking through the Gardens of Stone on several occasions. So it is very disappointing to yet again hear of plans to introduce noise and commercial activity into this pristine environment - especially in this case because there are other satisfactory means of access by road and no need for helicopter travel (unless for an emergency). Im sure you will appreciate the impact of theseongoing death by 1000 cuts that will slowly and systematically invade our emaining pristine environment. So now is the time to say NO. If some visitors are so short of time that they cannot access the Park by road, then they should go elsewhere.
I have listed the matters below that relate to our concerns:
1. The Proposal is Unnecessary (The Wolgan Gap Road is re-opening)
• The resort justifies 210 helicopter flights per week by claiming the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026).
• If the road is safe enough for heavy truck logistics (linen, food, renovation materials), it is safe enough for guests in 2WD vehicles.
• This modification is a permanent "fix" for a very temporary problem. Meaning, the Emirates is unlikely to dial back its flight frequencies once the road is opened in August 2026.
2. Excessive Flight Volume
• The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day).
• This effectively transforms a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.
3. Flawed Noise Assessments
• The noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA).
• The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise.
• Studies (like those from the US Forest Service) show that park users are 10dB(A) less tolerant of aircraft noise than people in residential areas. You visit parks for peace and quiet, not the noisy racket caused by helicopters.
4. Impact on Public Investment and Tourism
• The NSW Government is investing $50 million into the Gardens of Stone SCA for walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds, as well as the inappropriate glamping resorts proposed in pagoda landscapes.
• Constant helicopter noise will degrade these public assets, ruin the "peace and quiet" visitors expect, and could lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors won’t come to the Gardens of Stone once it has a reputation for constant helicopter noise.
5. Environmental impacts disregarded
• The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas.
• The proponent’s report understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).
6. Lack of Trust and Accountability
• The resort has a history of unfulfilled obligations, specifically regarding land exchanges with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that have been outstanding since 2007.
• There is no guarantee that this "temporary" increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, its likely that the transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established.
7. Safety Concerns
• The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.
8. Helicopter noise concentration in the lower Blue Mountains
• Object to the intensified noise footprint caused by the ‘vertical sandwich’ of the June 2026 WSI airspace design. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily Emirates helicopter movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.

I am writing to note that I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310. I ask the Department to refuse this modification for two significant reasons: the Wolgan Road is re-opening in August 2026 and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas.

I would like to note the following details:
1. The Proposal is Unnecessary (as Wolgan Gap Road is re-opening)
• The resort justifies 210 helicopter flights per week by claiming the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026).
• If the road is safe enough for heavy truck logistics (linen, food, renovation materials), it is safe enough for guests in 2WD vehicles.
• This modification is a permanent "fix" for a very temporary problem. Meaning, I believe the Emirates company is unlikely to dial back its flight frequencies once the road is opened in August 2026.

2. Excessive Flight Volume
• The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day), and incredible increase of numbers, far above anything ever approved for the area.
• This effectively transforms a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.

3. Flawed Noise Assessments
• The noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA).
• The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise.
• Studies (like those from the US Forest Service) show that park users are 10dB(A) less tolerant of aircraft noise than people in residential areas. You visit parks for peace and quiet, not the noisy racket caused by helicopters.

4. Impact on Public Investment and Tourism
• The NSW Government is investing $50 million into the Gardens of Stone SCA for walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds, as well as the inappropriate glamping resorts proposed in pagoda landscapes.
• Constant helicopter noise will degrade these public assets, ruin the "peace and quiet" visitors expect, and could lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors won’t come to the Gardens of Stone once it has a reputation for constant helicopter noise.

5. Environmental impacts disregarded
• The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas.
• The proponent’s report understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).

6. Lack of Trust and Accountability
• The resort has a history of unfulfilled obligations, specifically regarding land exchanges with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that have been outstanding since 2007.
• There is no guarantee that this "temporary" increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, it’s likely that the transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established, especially given previous flouting of their legal flight limits.

7. Safety Concerns
• The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.

8. Helicopter noise concentration in the lower Blue Mountains
• I object to the intensified noise footprint caused by the ‘vertical sandwich’ of the June 2026 WSI airspace design. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily Emirates helicopter movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.

These concerns are issues faced by visitors and residents alike. As a previous visitor to Wolgan Valley, and resident in Hartley for many years, I can personally attest to the negative impacts uncontrolled noise have on people, native animals and birds, ways of living in your own home, and willingness to engage with your own surrounds. As a further personal input to the company’s lack of obligation fulfillment, I have been told by people who were employed there that there was little done to maintain the property, with cracked, broken, and loose tiles in wet areas including around pool areas, and staff were throwing items away rather than cleaning them for reuse (such as towels in the massage area). Staff appear to have been treated very poorly, and consequently did little to maintain standards. Finally, Emirates have been fined in the past for flagrant breaching of the flight limits, and while it might be said that the increase will alleviate the need for breaching their limits, the salient point is the company’s attitude to its legal obligations and agreements. With this attitude ‘on the ground’, there seems little evidence that the company cares to fulfil legal and ethical obligations to residents and visitors who aren’t their own.

Warm regards,
Margaret Hilder

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310.
I'm writing as someone who values the Gardens of Stone region — as a place to walk, to camp, and to experience one of the genuinely quiet corners left in NSW. The Emirates resort's proposal for 210 helicopter movements per week would fundamentally change that, and I don't think the justification for it stands up.
The core premise is already obsolete
The resort claims this volume of flights is necessary because the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. But according to the Lithgow Mercury (7 May 2026), the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic — including 12.5 metre trucks — by August 2026. If the road is considered safe enough for heavy freight logistics, it is more than adequate for resort guests arriving by car. Granting a permanent modification to solve a temporary access problem makes no sense, and there's little reason to believe flight numbers would be wound back once the operation is established.
The scale of the proposal is extraordinary
The original approval permitted 4 helicopter flights per week. This modification seeks 210 — a 52-fold increase. That is not a temporary operational adjustment; it effectively converts a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never contemplated in the original development consent.
The noise impacts on park users have not been properly assessed
The noise assessments submitted by the proponent use outdated data that predates the establishment of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Critically, the assessment treats residential receivers as the relevant benchmark — but hikers and campers at places like Birds Rock Lookout, the Pagoda Walk, and Forest Camp have no walls or windows to block rotor noise. Research from the US Forest Service indicates park visitors are approximately 10dB(A) more sensitive to aircraft noise than people in residential areas. Thirty helicopter movements per day over these areas would significantly degrade the experience that visitors — and the $50 million in NSW Government investment — are intended to deliver.
The proponent's report also understates the affected World Heritage Area by nearly half, omitting Gardens of Stone National Park from the property boundary.
The proposal lacks sufficient risk assessment
No rigorous mid-air collision risk assessment has been provided, despite the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the volume of proposed movements, and the use of a single approach and departure path.
What I'm asking for
I ask the Department to refuse Modification 4 in its entirety. The stated justification — road closure — will no longer apply by the time any approval could take effect. The noise impacts on sensitive park environments have not been properly assessed. And the volume of flights proposed bears no relationship to what was originally approved.
This modification should not proceed.

I am writing to note that I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310. I ask the Department to refuse this modification for two significant reasons: the Wolgan Road is re-opening in August 2026 and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas.

I would like to note the following details:
1. The Proposal is Unnecessary (as Wolgan Gap Road is re-opening)
• The resort justifies 210 helicopter flights per week by claiming the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026).
• If the road is safe enough for heavy truck logistics (linen, food, renovation materials), it is safe enough for guests in 2WD vehicles.
• This modification is a permanent "fix" for a very temporary problem. Meaning, I believe the Emirates company is unlikely to dial back its flight frequencies once the road is opened in August 2026.

2. Excessive Flight Volume
• The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day), and incredible increase of numbers, far above anything ever approved for the area.
• This effectively transforms a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.

3. Flawed Noise Assessments
• The noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA).
• The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise.
• Studies (like those from the US Forest Service) show that park users are 10dB(A) less tolerant of aircraft noise than people in residential areas. You visit parks for peace and quiet, not the noisy racket caused by helicopters.

4. Impact on Public Investment and Tourism
• The NSW Government is investing $50 million into the Gardens of Stone SCA for walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds, as well as the inappropriate glamping resorts proposed in pagoda landscapes.
• Constant helicopter noise will degrade these public assets, ruin the "peace and quiet" visitors expect, and could lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors won’t come to the Gardens of Stone once it has a reputation for constant helicopter noise.

5. Environmental impacts disregarded
• The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas.
• The proponent’s report understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).

6. Lack of Trust and Accountability
• The resort has a history of unfulfilled obligations, specifically regarding land exchanges with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that have been outstanding since 2007.
• There is no guarantee that this "temporary" increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, it’s likely that the transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established, especially given previous flouting of their legal flight limits.

7. Safety Concerns
• The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.

8. Helicopter noise concentration in the lower Blue Mountains
• I object to the intensified noise footprint caused by the ‘vertical sandwich’ of the June 2026 WSI airspace design. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily Emirates helicopter movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.

These concerns are issues faced by visitors and residents alike. As a small business owner in the region, and as a previous visitor to Wolgan Valley, and resident in Hartley for many years, I can personally attest to the negative impacts uncontrolled noise have on people, native animals and birds, ways of living in your own home, and willingness to engage with your own surrounds. As a further personal input to the company’s lack of obligation fulfillment, I have been told by people who were employed there that there was little done to maintain the property, with cracked, broken, and loose tiles in wet areas including around pool areas, and staff were throwing items away rather than cleaning them for reuse (such as towels in the massage area). Staff appear to have been treated very poorly, and consequently did little to maintain standards. Finally, Emirates have been fined in the past for flagrant breaching of the flight limits, and while it might be said that the increase will alleviate the need for breaching their limits, the salient point is the company’s attitude to its legal obligations and agreements. With this attitude ‘on the ground’, there seems little evidence that the company cares to fulfil legal and ethical obligations to residents and visitors who aren’t their own.

Warm regards,
Rebecca Hilder

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310 and ask the Department to refuse this proposal.

I live in the Blue Mountains and regularly bushwalk in natural areas because I value the quiet, undeveloped and restorative character of these landscapes. The Gardens of Stone region, the Newnes Plateau and the wider Wolgan Valley landscape are not ordinary tourist backdrops. They are sensitive natural areas where peace, remoteness, wildlife and natural sound are part of the experience itself.

I also have strong empathy for the local communities around Wolgan Valley and the Gardens of Stone because I know what it feels like to have aircraft noise imposed on your area without feeling like ordinary residents have much control. With the new Western Sydney International Airport flight paths coming soon, parts of the Blue Mountains are already facing the reality of increased aircraft noise over communities that have long been valued for their peace, bushland character and natural quiet. That makes this proposal even more concerning to me. Local people should not have to keep absorbing more noise impacts for the convenience of others, especially in areas where quietness is a major part of the lifestyle, environment and public value.

As a bushwalker and Blue Mountains resident, I believe natural quiet is not a minor issue. It is one of the main reasons people live near, visit and care for these landscapes. Once that quiet is lost, it is very hard to get back.

The proposal to allow up to 210 helicopter movements per week, or around 30 movements per day, is excessive, unnecessary and fundamentally inconsistent with the protection and public enjoyment of this area.

This is not a minor operational adjustment. It would effectively transform a private resort helipad into a high-frequency aviation operation. The public cost would be carried by bushwalkers, campers, local residents, wildlife and visitors to nearby conservation areas, while the main benefit would be the convenience of a private luxury resort.

1. The proposal is unnecessary

The main justification appears to be the temporary closure or limitation of Wolgan Road. However, Wolgan Road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic in August 2026. A temporary road-access problem should not be used to justify a major and potentially long-term expansion of helicopter traffic.

If the road access issue is temporary, the response should also be temporary, proportionate and tightly controlled. Approving 210 helicopter movements per week risks normalising helicopter transport to the resort even after road access returns. Once the resort builds its operations, guest expectations and logistics around helicopter arrivals, there is no guarantee the flights will be reduced later.

The Department should not approve a permanent-style aviation outcome to solve a temporary access issue.

2. The scale is completely disproportionate

Thirty helicopter movements per day is not occasional emergency or limited access. It is a constant aviation presence.

Even if each individual flight is argued to meet a technical noise standard, that does not address the real impact. People experience repeated helicopter noise as repeated interruption. A bushwalker, camper or local resident does not experience this as an average number in a report. They experience it as rotor noise breaking the peace again and again throughout the day.

The planning question should not be, “Can each flight be made technically acceptable?” The proper question is: Is it appropriate to impose up to 210 helicopter movements per week over or near protected public landscapes for the convenience of one private resort?

The answer is no.

3. Private convenience should not outweigh public amenity

As a bushwalker, I go into the Blue Mountains and nearby conservation areas to escape urban noise and experience the bush as naturally as possible. Helicopter noise is especially intrusive because it cuts across the natural soundscape, echoes through valleys and dominates attention.

This is not the same as occasional background noise. Regular helicopter movements would directly affect the reason many people visit these areas in the first place: quiet, remoteness, wildlife, walking, camping and connection with nature.

The Gardens of Stone and Wolgan Valley region should not be treated as a transport corridor for private luxury convenience. These landscapes belong to the public, to future generations and to the wildlife that depends on them.

4. The proposal conflicts with conservation and nature-based tourism

The Gardens of Stone region has been protected and promoted for its environmental, cultural and visitor values. Walking tracks, lookouts, camping areas and nature-based tourism rely on the quality of the landscape itself.

Constant helicopter noise would degrade that public investment. It would damage the experience for ordinary visitors who come for peace and quiet, not for a resort-style aviation operation overhead.

It makes no sense for the public to invest in conservation, walking tracks, lookouts and camping experiences while also allowing frequent helicopter movements that undermine the very qualities those investments are meant to protect.

5. Environmental impacts have not been properly justified

The Gardens of Stone and surrounding areas are not empty airspace. They contain wildlife habitat, cliffs, canyons, pagoda landscapes, forests, cultural values and sensitive ecological areas.

Helicopter disturbance should not be treated as harmless simply because the aircraft may not physically land inside a conservation area. Repeated noise, vibration, visual intrusion and overflights can affect wildlife and reduce the natural character of the area.

The proposal appears to understate the impact on sensitive park users such as bushwalkers and campers. Unlike residents in houses, park users cannot close windows, retreat indoors or install double glazing. They are directly exposed to the noise. In a natural area, quiet is not a luxury. It is part of the value being protected.

A proposal of this scale should not be approved without much stronger environmental scrutiny, including proper assessment of cumulative noise, wildlife disturbance, visitor experience, flight paths, safety and impacts on nearby communities.

6. The noise assessment is too narrow

Noise impacts should not be assessed only through residential-style thresholds. The most sensitive receivers include bushwalkers on tracks, campers in quiet natural areas, visitors at lookouts, wildlife and birdlife, nearby Blue Mountains communities, and future users of Gardens of Stone visitor infrastructure.

A helicopter passing over a remote or semi-remote bushland area can destroy the sense of peace even if it is technically within a noise limit. The Department should recognise that natural quiet is a core part of the public value of this region.

7. The proposal creates a dangerous precedent

If approved, this modification would send a concerning message that a private resort can respond to a temporary access issue by dramatically expanding helicopter use over public and conservation landscapes.

That is a poor precedent for the Blue Mountains and surrounding regions. These areas are already under pressure from tourism, development, infrastructure and increasing aircraft noise concerns. Protected landscapes should not gradually become commercial aviation corridors.

8. The public interest test has not been met

This proposal provides a narrow private benefit but creates broad public impacts.

The benefit is convenience for a private luxury resort and its guests. The impacts fall on local communities, bushwalkers, campers, wildlife, national park visitors and the broader Blue Mountains environment.

That is not a fair or justified balance.

The Department should refuse this modification because the road access issue is temporary, the flight volume is excessive, the public amenity impacts are significant, the natural quiet of the area would be degraded, environmental impacts have not been adequately justified, bushwalkers, campers and wildlife have not been properly considered, public investment in Gardens of Stone could be undermined, and the proposal risks creating a long-term aviation operation for private convenience.

For these reasons, I strongly object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310 and ask the Department to refuse the proposal.

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310 and respectfully ask the Department to refuse this proposal.

I live in the Blue Mountains and spend time bushwalking because I deeply value the quiet, natural and largely undisturbed character of these landscapes. The Gardens of Stone, Newnes Plateau and the broader Wolgan Valley area are not just scenic locations. They are sensitive bushland environments where silence, remoteness, wildlife and natural sounds are a major part of what makes the area special.

I also feel strongly for the local communities around Wolgan Valley and the Gardens of Stone because I understand what it is like to face aircraft noise being imposed on an area where people have chosen to live for peace, nature and bushland character. With the new Western Sydney International Airport flight paths approaching, parts of the Blue Mountains are already facing the prospect of increased aircraft noise over communities that have long valued their natural quiet. For that reason, this proposal is especially concerning to me. Local communities should not be expected to simply absorb more and more noise impacts for the benefit or convenience of others, particularly in places where quietness is central to the lifestyle, environment and public value of the area.

As both a Blue Mountains resident and a bushwalker, I do not see natural quiet as a minor issue. It is one of the main reasons people live near, visit and care about these landscapes. Once that quiet is lost, it is very difficult to restore.

The proposed increase to up to 210 helicopter movements per week, or approximately 30 movements per day, is excessive, unnecessary and completely out of step with the protection and public enjoyment of this area.

This should not be treated as a small operational change. In practical terms, it would turn a private resort helipad into a frequent aviation operation. The impacts would be felt by bushwalkers, campers, local residents, wildlife and visitors to nearby conservation areas, while the main benefit would be private convenience for a luxury resort and its guests.

1. The proposal is unnecessary

The proposal appears to rely heavily on the current limitation or closure of Wolgan Road. However, Wolgan Road is expected to reopen to 2WD traffic in August 2026. A temporary access issue should not be used as the basis for approving a major increase in helicopter traffic.

If the problem is temporary, then any response should also be temporary, limited and strictly controlled. Approving 210 helicopter movements each week risks making helicopter access a normal part of the resort’s operations even after the road reopens. Once the resort adapts its logistics, guest services and marketing around helicopter arrivals, there is no certainty that flight numbers will return to a lower level.

The Department should not allow a long-term aviation solution to be created for a short-term road-access problem.

2. The scale is unreasonable

Thirty helicopter movements per day is not occasional access. It is a regular and repeated aviation presence.

Even if individual flights are claimed to meet certain technical noise standards, that does not properly address the lived experience of repeated helicopter noise. People do not experience this impact as a daily average on paper. A bushwalker, camper or resident experiences it as repeated interruptions to peace and quiet throughout the day.

The real planning question should be: Is it reasonable to allow up to 210 helicopter movements per week over or near protected public landscapes for the convenience of one private resort?

In my view, it is not.

3. Public amenity should come before private convenience

When I go bushwalking, I go to experience the bush as naturally as possible. I go for quiet, stillness, wildlife, walking and a sense of distance from urban noise. Helicopter noise is particularly intrusive because it cuts through the natural soundscape, echoes through valleys and immediately dominates the environment.

This is not comparable to occasional distant background noise. Regular helicopter movements would directly undermine the very reason many people visit these areas.

The Gardens of Stone and Wolgan Valley should not become a private transport corridor for luxury resort access. These landscapes have public, environmental and intergenerational value. They also provide habitat for wildlife that has no say in this process.

4. The proposal is inconsistent with conservation and nature-based tourism

The Gardens of Stone region has been recognised for its environmental, cultural and recreational importance. Its value is tied to its landscape quality, bushland setting, walking opportunities, lookouts, camping areas and sense of natural escape.

Frequent helicopter noise would weaken that value. It would reduce the quality of the experience for ordinary visitors who come to enjoy the area’s peace and natural character, not to hear repeated resort-related aircraft movements overhead.

It is contradictory to invest public money and effort into conservation, walking tracks, lookouts and camping experiences while also permitting a high level of helicopter activity that would damage the quiet qualities those investments rely on.

5. Environmental impacts have not been adequately justified

The Gardens of Stone and surrounding areas should not be treated as empty space on a flight map. They contain wildlife habitat, forests, cliffs, canyons, pagoda formations, cultural values and sensitive ecological areas.

Helicopter impacts are not limited to where aircraft land. Repeated overflights can create noise, vibration, visual disturbance and disruption to the natural character of an area. These impacts may also affect wildlife, especially birds and animals sensitive to repeated disturbance.

The proposal appears to give insufficient weight to bushwalkers, campers and other park users as sensitive receivers. Unlike people inside homes, visitors in natural areas cannot close windows, go indoors or reduce the noise with building materials. They are exposed to the sound directly. In a conservation area, quietness is not a bonus feature. It is part of what is being protected.

A proposal of this scale should not proceed without far stronger assessment of cumulative noise, wildlife disturbance, visitor experience, flight paths, safety, local communities and the wider conservation setting.

6. The noise assessment is too limited

Noise impacts should not be assessed only through the lens of residential-style thresholds. The most affected receivers include bushwalkers, campers, lookout visitors, wildlife, birdlife, nearby Blue Mountains communities and future users of Gardens of Stone visitor infrastructure.

A helicopter can seriously affect the sense of peace in a bushland setting even if it technically complies with a noise limit. The Department should recognise that natural quiet is one of the core public values of this region.

7. Approval would set a poor precedent

If this modification is approved, it would set a worrying precedent that a private resort can respond to a temporary access issue by greatly increasing helicopter use over public and conservation landscapes.

That is not a direction the Blue Mountains or surrounding regions should be heading in. These landscapes are already facing pressure from tourism, development, infrastructure and increasing aircraft noise concerns. Protected natural areas should not gradually become routine commercial aviation corridors.

8. The proposal fails the public interest test

This proposal offers a narrow private benefit while creating broad public impacts.

The main benefit is convenience for a private luxury resort and its guests. The impacts would fall on local communities, bushwalkers, campers, wildlife, national park visitors and the broader Blue Mountains environment.

That is not a fair balance.

The Department should refuse this modification because the road access issue is temporary, the proposed flight volume is excessive, public amenity would be harmed, the natural quiet of the area would be degraded, environmental impacts have not been properly justified, bushwalkers and campers have not been adequately considered, wildlife disturbance remains a serious concern, public investment in Gardens of Stone could be undermined, and the proposal risks creating a long-term aviation operation for private convenience.

For these reasons, I strongly object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310 and ask the Department to refuse the proposal.

I object to the proposed increase of helicopter frequency to Emirates due to the increase of noise and disruption to the Blue Mountains tranquility and impact on bird life. I bush walk and enjoy the Garden of Stone area around Emirates. There are wedge tail eagles there and they will be driven away. The road is due to reopen later in the year providing the organisation with access by vehicle for their operations. Visitors can travel by limo or car and not disregard the amenity of the region in a quick noisy helicopter that shows no respect for the environment they are meant to enjoy.

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310.and I am requesting the Department to refuse the modification because the Wolgan Road is re-opening in August 2026 and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas.

1. The Proposal is Unnecessary because the Wolgan Gap Road is re-opening.
• The resort justifies 210 helicopter flights per week by claiming the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026).
• If the road is safe enough for heavy truck logistics (linen, food, renovation materials), it is safe enough for guests in 2WD vehicles.
• This modification is a permanent "fix" for a very temporary problem. Meaning, the Emirates is unlikely to decrease its flight frequencies once the road is re-opened in August 2026.

2. Excessive Flight Volume
• The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day).
• This effectively transforms a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.

3. Flawed Noise Assessments
• The noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA).
• The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise.
• Studies (like those from the US Forest Service) show that park users are 10dB(A) less tolerant of aircraft noise than people in residential areas. You visit parks for peace and quiet, not the excessive noise caused by helicopters.

4. Impact on Public Investment and Tourism
• The NSW Government is investing $50 million into the Gardens of Stone SCA for walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds, as well as the inappropriate glamping resorts proposed in pagoda landscapes.
• Constant helicopter noise will degrade these public assets, ruin the "peace and quiet" visitors expect, and could lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors won’t come to the Gardens of Stone if it has a reputation for constant helicopter noise.

5. Environmental impacts disregarded
• The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas.
• The proponent’s report understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).

6. Lack of Trust and Accountability
• The resort has a history of unfulfilled obligations, specifically regarding land exchanges with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that have been outstanding since 2007.
• There is no guarantee that this "temporary" increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, its likely that the transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established.

7. Safety Concerns
• The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.

8. Helicopter noise concentration in the lower Blue Mountains
• I object to the intensified noise footprint that will be caused by the ‘vertical sandwich’ of the June 2026 WSI airspace design. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily Emirates helicopter movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310."

I live in the pristine Wollemi Wilderness area on the wild Colo River because I value, peace, quiet, nature and solitude.
I often bushwalk in the Gardens of Stone. It is a magnificent way to experience the spectacular natural world. The brutal noise pollution of unnecessary helicopters flying low over my head would totally destroy the experience of being in that environment. I live in the Colo Valley 30 K from Richmond RAAF Base and every few weeks, the RAAF fly large and very noisy transport planes low over our heads, so I know from bitter personal experience how disturbing this is!! You always expect a low-flying plane will crash into the mountainside in a fireball, which adds to the sense of danger and stress. This is real and ever-present danger, particularly with helicopters.

PLEASE REFUSE THIS TERRIBLE MODIFICATION!

The Wolgan Gap Road will be open in a few short months and the noisy intrusive helicopter flights will be not needed. However, once the road is opened in August 2026, Emirates may continue to operate the heavy roster of helicopter flights, with consequent serious damage to the amenity of this beloved region and the quiet enjoyment of my life and the other residents and users of the Gardens of Stone SCA.

Please refuse this modification because an EIS has not been conducted for the very high numbers of helicopter flights impacting this sensitive Gardens of Stone SCA.

There will simply be far too many flights. It has expanded massively from 4 flights per week.to over 200 flights per week !

The Noise Assessment is flawed because the noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA) and ignores people who use this peaceful and beautiful area like me, hikers and campers. We cannot carry a "Cone of Silence" over our heads to block noise pollution!
We visit this place for peaceful, quiet, meditative experiences of oneness with nature, not the noise pollution of privately owned helicopters shuttling rich people to overpriced resorts.

• The modification fails to address the terrible risk of fatal mid-air collisions and helicopter crashes, given the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.

Please do your duty to us the citizens of NSW and swiftly refuse this modification. The terrible noise of 30 Emirates helicopters flying over people's homes in the Blue Mountains & the World Heritage National Park will be a shocking price to pay for the benefit of a failing foreign-owned airline, who are prepared to desecrate the beautiful and peaceful mountains for the short term profit of the few.

I strongly object to the idea of Noise Polution.

The wildlife & environment has to be protected, as well as a way of life that is Bush walking, hiking & camping.
People escape the rat race & head to the peace & tranquility of nature.

I feel physically sick just thinking about 30 helicopters a day. Who has this kind of money to kerp putting into such a polluting activity, not the average joe-blow who just once a quite escape to the bush.

I object on the ground of Noise Pollution.

I object to the proposed increase in helicopter movements associated with the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort Modification 4 proposal.
This proposal would significantly intensify helicopter traffic across the lower Blue Mountains and surrounding regions at the same time communities are already facing major airspace and noise changes associated with Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).
Of particular concern is the cumulative impact of these changes. From July 2026, helicopters operating in the lower Blue Mountains will be constrained by new WSI airspace arrangements requiring them to fly within a narrow vertical corridor beneath commercial aircraft flight paths. Due to rising terrain, helicopters around Springwood, Winmalee, Glenbrook and nearby townships may be required to operate close to minimum legal altitudes over residential areas.
The proposal for approximately 30 helicopter movements per day therefore cannot be considered in isolation. It must be assessed in the context of:
• cumulative aircraft and helicopter noise impacts,
• changing regional airspace arrangements,
• impacts on residential amenity and wellbeing,
• and impacts on the Blue Mountains World Heritage landscape and national parks.
I am also concerned that the justification for the proposal appears weak and temporary. The application argues the increased helicopter use is necessary because Wolgan Road remains closed for an extended period, yet public information indicates the road is expected to reopen in August 2026. This raises serious questions about whether the scale of helicopter intensification proposed is genuinely necessary.
Further, the scale of operations proposed appears more akin to the establishment of a private heliport operation than a minor modification. Given the potential regional impacts, the proposal warrants a far higher level of environmental scrutiny, including a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The Blue Mountains is already under increasing environmental and infrastructure pressure. Incremental approvals that individually appear manageable can collectively create substantial long-term impacts on communities, natural amenity and tourism values.
I therefore request that the Department:
1. Refuse the current proposal; or at minimum
2. Require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement and cumulative impact assessment before any approval is considered.
Thank you for considering this submission.

I object to this project proposal for the following reasons.
1. As a bushwalker I object to my quiet enjoyment of a bushland setting in national park estate being degraded by regular noise from low flying helicopters.
2. The proposal is completely unnecessary as the the Wolgan Gap Road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026). Emirates will therefore be able to access the resort by road. Modification 4 is a permanent "fix" for a very temporary problem. Unfortunately, Emirates is unlikely to dial back its flight frequencies once the road is opened in August 2026.
3. The modification would result in excessive flight volumes. The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day). This effectively transforms a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.
4. The noise reports presented by the proponent are flawed. The reports are based on data that pre-date the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise.
5. The modification would negate the many millions of dollars that are being invested by the NSW Government in the Gardens of Stone area. This is economically stupid as well as frustrating efforts by both State and Local Governments to attract visitors to the region.
6. The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas. The proponent’s report also understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).
7. The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.
8. The modification would result in a acoustic concentration in the Lower Blue Mountains. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths especially once the Western Sydney Airport opens in 2026. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.
Finally, there is no guarantee that this "temporary" increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, its likely that the transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established.
For these reasons the proposed modification should be refused.

I have been resident in the Blue Mountains for over 40 years and I object to the proposed increase in helicopter movements associated with the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort Modification 4 proposal.
This proposal would significantly intensify helicopter traffic across the lower Blue Mountains and surrounding regions at the same time communities are already facing major airspace and noise changes associated with Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).
Of particular concern is the cumulative impact of these changes. From July 2026, helicopters operating in the lower Blue Mountains will be constrained by new WSI airspace arrangements requiring them to fly within a narrow vertical corridor beneath commercial aircraft flight paths. Due to rising terrain, helicopters around Springwood, Winmalee, Glenbrook and nearby townships may be required to operate close to minimum legal altitudes over residential areas.
The proposal for approximately 30 helicopter movements per day therefore cannot be considered in isolation. It must be assessed in the context of:
• cumulative aircraft and helicopter noise impacts,
• changing regional airspace arrangements,
• impacts on residential amenity and wellbeing,
• and impacts on the Blue Mountains World Heritage landscape and national parks and the Critically Endangered Cumberland Plain
I am also concerned that the justification for the proposal appears weak and temporary. The application argues the increased helicopter use is necessary because Wolgan Road remains closed for an extended period, yet public information indicates the road is expected to reopen in August 2026. This raises serious questions about whether the scale of helicopter intensification proposed is genuinely necessary.
Further, the scale of operations proposed appears more akin to the establishment of a private heliport operation than a minor modification. Given the potential regional impacts, the proposal warrants a far higher level of environmental scrutiny, including a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
This is the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area that we are considering here and it is already under threat from operations of the Western Sydney Airport. Residents in the Blue Mountains are aware of the increasing environmental and infrastructure pressure. Incremental approvals that individually appear manageable can collectively create substantial long-term impacts on communities, natural amenity and tourism values.
I therefore request that the Department:
1. Refuse the current proposal. OR at the very least require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement and cumulative impact assessment before any approval is considered.

Submission to NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Re: Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort – Modification 4 (MP06_0310)

Dear Sir/Madam,
I write as a resident of the Upper Blue Mountains to provide a submission on Modification 4 of MP06_0310.
I appreciate the opportunity to comment on this proposal and ask that my perspective as a community member, who lives within and values this unique landscape, be carefully considered.

Position: While I understand the economic importance of tourism investment and the contribution of high-end developments such as the Wolgan Valley Resort, I object to the proposed scale and intensity of helicopter operations under this modification. In its current form, the proposal does not strike an appropriate balance between private benefit and the broader public interest.

A question of balance - private convenience vs community and environmental impact:
The proposed increase to approximately 210 helicopter movements per week (around 30 per day) represents a substantial escalation from the original approval of just a few weekly flights. This would effectively transform what was intended as a limited-use facility into an ongoing high-frequency aviation operation.
While such access may deliver convenience to a small number of resort guests, the impacts would be widely distributed across local communities, public reserves, and visitors, many of whom rely on the region for recreation, tranquillity, and connection with nature.

Impacts on a World Heritage landscape: The Blue Mountains is globally recognised as part of a World Heritage-listed area, valued for its biodiversity, cultural significance, and natural quiet. Acoustic amenity is not an incidental feature—it is integral to the experience and ecological integrity of these landscapes.
The proposal would concentrate helicopter flights across sensitive areas including the Gardens of Stone region and surrounding conservation areas, where visitors and wildlife alike expect minimal disturbance. Unlike residents in built environments, people engaging with these areas—whether bushwalkers, campers, or families—have no practical means to mitigate intrusive aircraft noise.
A persistent overhead presence of helicopters risks fundamentally altering the character of the landscape from one of natural quiet to one of ongoing mechanical intrusion.

Cumulative impacts and the “vertical sandwich”: From June 2026, the introduction of Western Sydney Airport airspace arrangements is expected to constrain helicopter flight paths, forcing aircraft to operate at lower altitudes over the Mountains. This “vertical sandwich” effect would concentrate noise over towns and natural areas rather than dispersing it.
For communities already facing increased aviation activity, this raises legitimate concerns about cumulative impacts, not only on amenity but also on health, wellbeing, and the region’s reputation as a place of refuge from urban intensity.

Questionable necessity of the proposal: The justification for expanded helicopter access appears tied to access constraints via Wolgan Road. However, there is information indicating that the road is expected to reopen to standard vehicle access by August 2026.
If ground access is restored, the need for such a large and ongoing aviation component becomes far less compelling. There is a real risk that what is presented as a temporary response to access challenges may become a permanent operational shift, without adequate reassessment of long-term impacts.

Broader economic considerations: It is important not to view the economic benefits of this proposal in isolation. The Blue Mountains and surrounding regions depend heavily on nature-based tourism, which is built on the area’s reputation for peace, scenic beauty, and accessibility.
Significant public investment is being directed toward enhancing visitor infrastructure and conservation outcomes in nearby areas. Persistent aviation noise could undermine this investment by diminishing visitor experience across a much larger user base than that served by a single resort.

Environmental and social considerations - I am concerned that the current assessment does not fully engage with:
• The experience of non-residential “sensitive receivers”, such as visitors in open natural environments
• The full spatial extent of World Heritage and conservation lands affected
• The longer-term implications of normalising high-frequency helicopter operations in a protected landscape
These factors deserve closer and more transparent analysis before any approval is granted.

Conclusion: This is not an argument against tourism, investment, or even limited helicopter access where genuinely necessary. Rather, it is a call for proportion, precaution, and fairness.
The Blue Mountains is a shared asset—ecologically, culturally, and socially. Decisions about its future should reflect the interests of the broader community and future generations, not only the operational preferences of a single operator.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Department refuse Modification 4 in its current form, or require a more comprehensive reassessment that better addresses cumulative impacts, World Heritage values, and the public interest.

Thank you for considering this submission.

Yours sincerely, 

Prof. Thomas Maschmeyer AO FAA FTSE
A resident of the Upper Blue Mountains

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310 because of the noise. It will affect multiple people, change surrounding bush for locals and tourists just so one resort can make money. Animals are particularly sensitive to noise, and it affects them in multiple ways. They don't need to use helicopters, as of August people can drive in. The number of flights is also excessive. They have gone from 4 flights per week to 210 flights per week again seeking profit while creating noise for the community. If people going to the resort drive in, they will spend time and money in the wider community, thus giving something back but if they fly in everything is given to the resort.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed increase in helicopter movements outlined in the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort Modification 4 proposal.

As a resident of the Blue Mountains, I view this proposal as highly problematic. It threatens to significantly intensify localized helicopter traffic precisely when our region is already confronting substantial airspace remodeling and noise pollution constraints associated with the rollout of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).

My primary concerns center on the lack of rigorous cumulative impact modeling and the logical inconsistencies within the proposal's
justification:

1. Cumulative Airspace and Noise Topography Constraints

From July 2026, the operational parameters for helicopters in the lower Blue Mountains will be heavily restricted by new WSI airspace classifications. Helicopters will be forced into a highly compressed vertical corridor, pinned beneath commercial flight paths and above rising terrain. Consequently, aircraft navigating over townships such as Springwood, Winmalee, and Glenbrook will likely operate at or near minimum legal altitudes.

Furthermore, the flight trajectory from the Sydney basin to Wolgan Valley guarantees that acoustic disruptions will not be isolated to the lower mountains. Townships along the upper ridge, including Blackheath and Mount Victoria, will also be subjected to this compressed, low-altitude transit corridor, effectively spreading the noise footprint across the entire World Heritage area.

The addition of approximately 30 daily helicopter movements cannot be evaluated as an isolated variable. It must be mapped against this new environmental baseline to properly assess the compounded impact on:

- Regional airspace congestion and safety metrics.

- The psychological wellbeing and baseline amenity of local residents.

- The acoustic integrity and ecological health of the Blue Mountains World Heritage landscape.

- Require the implementation of independent, continuous acoustic monitoring along the proposed flight paths. Baseline decibel and frequency data must be established prior to any approval, with ongoing, publicly accessible reporting to ensure compliance with acceptable environmental thresholds.

2. Flawed Empirical Justification

The core justification for this modification—an extended closure of Wolgan Road—lacks long-term validity. Publicly available projections indicate the road is slated to reopen in August 2026. Authorizing a high-frequency aviation schedule to bypass a temporary, short-term infrastructural bottleneck represents a severe regulatory overcorrection. The scale of the proposed intervention is simply not supported by the timeline of the underlying problem.

3. Scope Creep and Environmental Scrutiny

The operational intensity detailed in this proposal more closely resembles the establishment of a dedicated commercial heliport rather than a minor project modification. Incremental approvals of this nature pose a serious risk of systemic degradation to our local environment, infrastructure, and eco-tourism values. Given the profound regional implications, this proposal necessitates a far more rigorous framework of environmental scrutiny.

Unlike high-altitude commercial aviation, the low-frequency rotor wash and acoustic footprint of constant low-level helicopter flights cause acute stress to endemic wildlife and domestic animals, directly undermining the ecological principles the surrounding National Parks are designed to protect.

Therefore, I strongly request that the Department:

Refuse the current proposal entirely; or, at an absolute minimum,

Mandate a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that includes robust, data-driven modeling of cumulative noise and airspace impacts before any further assessment proceeds.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely, MC, Blackheath, NSW

A road being cut is not a reason to allow a private company to run flights that would cause significant community and environmental disturbance. If they want the road opened quicker to support their business they should work with government and assist with road repairs. This would assist all residents and businesses in the area. To set a precedent that allows businesses to carry out entirely self-serving activities that would otherwise not be allowed simply because a road needs repair would weaken community and environmental protections across the state.

I object to this project as a bushwalker and local resident. The additional noise pollution from this project will negatively impact the experience of using the national park. A huge value of the national park is the quiet it provides, and this would be greatly impacted by 30 helicopters per day flying overhead. This would be on top of the new flight paths for the western Sydney airport which already increase noise pollution and will continue to do so as operations at the airport increase over the coming years.

The proposed helicopter noise would affect me as a local resident and bush walker, it would disturb the peace and tranquility of the area for myself and other nature lovers. It would most importantly disturb the habitats of the birds, animals and insects that have evolved to live and survive in this National Park in the current contaminated environment.
I object to the this Modification 4 and ask the Department to refuse the modification because the Wolgan Road is re-opening in August 2026 and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas.

1. The Proposal is Unnecessary (The Wolgan Gap Road is re-opening)
• The resort justifies 210 helicopter flights per week by claiming the Wolgan Gap Road is closed. However, the road is scheduled to reopen to 2WD traffic by August 2026 (Lithgow Mercury, 7 May 2026).
• If the road is safe enough for heavy truck logistics (linen, food, materials for resort renovation), it is safe enough for guests in 2WD vehicles.
• This modification is a permanent "fix" for a very temporary problem. Meaning, the Emirates is unlikely to dial back its flight frequencies once the road is opened in August 2026.

2. Excessive Flight Volume
• The original approval allowed only 4 flights per week. This proposal seeks 210 flights per week (30 per day).
• This effectively transforms a private resort helipad into a busy commercial heliport, which was never the intent of the original development.

3. Flawed Noise Assessments
• The noise reports provided by the resort use obsolete data that predates the creation of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (SCA).
• The assessment ignores "sensitive receivers" like hikers and campers. Unlike residents, visitors to the Gardens of Stone don't have walls and can’t install double-glazing to block out helicopter rotor noise.
• Studies (like those from the US Forest Service) show that park users are 10dB(A) less tolerant of aircraft noise than people in residential areas. You visit parks for peace and quiet, not the noisy racket caused by helicopters.

4. Impact on Public Investment and Tourism
• The NSW Government is investing $50 million into the Gardens of Stone SCA for walking tracks, lookouts and campgrounds, as well as the inappropriate glamping resorts proposed in pagoda landscapes.
• Constant helicopter noise will degrade these public assets, ruin the "peace and quiet" visitors expect, and could lead to a net economic loss for the region’s tourism industry, as the majority of park visitors won’t come to the Gardens of Stone once it has a reputation for constant helicopter noise.
• The controversial glamping resort proposals among pagoda landscapes is likely to become “stranded assets” as the Emirates’ Wolgan Resort already has permission for up to 10 helicopter flights a day and nobody is going pay $1,000 a day to put up with helicopter noise.

5. Environmental impacts disregarded
• The modification does not consider the adverse impacts of the proposed helicopter overflights above Newnes Plateau passing directly over the Pagoda Walk, a public camping ground on the walk, Birds Rock Lookout and Forest Camp ruining the acoustic amenity of these high use visitor areas.
• The proponent’s report understates the impacted World Heritage Area by nearly half (by omitting the Gardens of Stone National Park from the property).

6. Lack of Trust and Accountability
• The resort has a history of unfulfilled obligations, specifically regarding land exchanges with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) that have been outstanding since 2007.
• There is no guarantee that this "temporary" increase in flights won't become a permanent fixture once established. In fact, its likely that the transport to the resort by helicopter will be permanent, once established.

7. Safety Concerns
• The proposal lacks a rigorous risk assessment regarding potential mid-air collisions, particularly given the high elevation of the Newnes Plateau, the frequency of the proposed flights and use of one flight approach path in and out of the resort.

8. Acoustic concentration in the lower Blue Mountains
• Object to the intensified noise footprint caused by the ‘vertical sandwich’ of the 2026 WSI airspace design. The rising terrain between Glenbrook and Springwood will force helicopters to fly at or near legal minimum altitudes to avoid commercial flight paths. This will concentrate the noise of 30 daily movements directly over lower Blue Mountains townships and the World Heritage National Park, significantly degrading the acoustic amenity of the region.