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

Please see the attached letter.

See attached letter of objection

I have attached my personal submission.
Thanking you for the opportunity.

Dear Mr Jeffrey Peng, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
I oppose the increase use of helicopters in the Wolgan Valley for the purpose of private enterprise and one that is so extremely exclusive. The Gardens of Stone is currently one of the last areas of relative 'wilderness' and should be classified and treated as precious. Such places should exist for the benefit of all and not just humans. Up to thirty helicopter flights per day into/out of the Wolgan Valley is inappropriate for an area adjacent to a UNESCO World Heritage site and makes for a completely altered and horrible experience for those true and deserving bushlovers who are entering the area on foot.
For the benefit of a few handfuls of rich individuals to pretend to enjoy 'going bush' the experience for those people choosing to have a wholesome true exposure will be taken away.
I have completed a few multi- day hikes in my time, have driven through parts of the Gardens of Stone(which I'm not proud of & I personally think access should be very restricted, except by foot)) and absolutely find so much solace and improved mood when I am able to escape to the bush. Nothing else compares or can offer the same crazy world mental health 'management'.
To have helicopter noise frequently disrupting the bush is wrong.
What about wildlife....has this been considered?
Walking through The Gardens of Stone with helicopters noise and visual disturbance is not my idea of "Visiting NSW".
The Wolgan Valley Resort should not be allowed to further pollute this special place.
I hope NSW Planning will recosider.
Sincerely,
Kim Kindler

The additional flights increase noise pollution and are for the benefit of a small pocket of wealthy individuals only at the expense of surrounding communities and nature. A key factor in nature is silence and this is experienced and treasured by all people regardless of social economic status. This proposal destructs a critical element of peace and positive well-being for the benefit of a small group of wealthy individuals to add to Emirates profits at the expense of nature and the broader communities. Emirates profits in 2025-26 were about AUD24.4billion. Tourism is having a harmful impact across the globe. Let's learn from this and keep some spaces sacred. It is not necessary to consume everything. Greed is taking over.
In addition, the Wolgan Gap Road is scheduled to be re-opened.
I was raised in the Blue Mountains and the bush my playground. The tourism impact is already significant. Preserve nature for the populations to follow us. Money is short term and big money corrosive.

Kindly refer to submission attached.

Full submission from Australian Climbing Association NSW enclosed as a PDF. We represent over 500 rock climbers in New South Wales.
Flights paths used by helicopters from Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley directly cross established and well used rock climbing areas located within National Park managed land. The Australian Rock Climbing Association NSW (ACANSW) strongly objects to the increase in daily flights as part of the proposal. ACANSW prefers the proposed modified flight path (across Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area and Wolgan River) in preference to the current approved flight path down Carne Creek.

Please find attached my letter of objection as the Local State Representative for the Blue Mountains regarding the Emirates One&Only MOD 4 - Temporary Changes to Helicopter Transport application.

I object to Mod 4 of MP06_0310 because there will be unacceptable noise from the many daily helicopter flights over the Gardens of Stone SCA and other areas. The large number of helicopter flights are also visually unacceptable. The Wolgan Road is due to reopen soon, so there will soon be no need for helicopter flights. I ask you to stop this proposal.

To whom it may concern
Re: MP06_0310-Mod-4 Emirates One&Only MOD 4 – Temporary Changes to Helicopter Transport
I am writing to oppose any increase in helicopter flights (temporary or not) for the purposes of guest or material transportation into the Wolgan Valley to the Emirates resort.
I regularly recreate in the Gardens of Stone region and in the Wolgan Valley. I walk, canyon and rock climb and camp.
The proposed flight path will directly impact climbing and hiking areas and there has been no assessment on noise impacts for these user groups. The noise modelling is limited and seeks to obfuscate the true impact of helicopter noise on those seeking quiet time in nature.
This noise, apart from significantly disturbing recreational activities, creates safety considerations in activities where clear communication is essential such as rock climbing..
The noise impact assessment in the application predicts noise impacts for residential receivers near the resort and helipad (within their homes) but does not address impacts on outdoor recreation user groups. The proposed helipad location is less than 3 km from significant established rock climbing areas and the flight path is within 200m of escarpment used by climbers. The noise impacts on outdoor recreation areas in the region should be treated with the same consideration as other sensitive receiver sites in the proposal, and approval of the plan should consider impacts on the amenity of outdoor recreation user groups.
I also have concerns around whether this arrangement, if approved, is really going to be temporary. The consultation documents outline the appeal of helicopter arrival for high end visitors in what is essentially a de facto joyride. The modelling, by its creative use of averaging and limited receiver points seems to be positioning itself to limit the true impact of the extent of helicopter disruption.
Road access with 4wd already exists, with 2 WD access planned within 3 months.

I request that the Department refuse any proposal that would expand tourist helicopter operations in these areas. However, if the proposal is granted there must be set dates in the future to review the flight pattern and if the Wolgan Road reopens to 2WD vehicles that the flights will decrease back to the original Consent

I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310
For the last 30 years I have been a frequent visitor to the areas now under threat from excessive helicopter noise. My family and I holiday, bush walk and camp in the area. One of the reasons we love the area is its natural beauty and tranquility. The area is so quiet that aircraft are a noticeable and unpleasant interruption. 30 helicopter flights per day would be unbearable.

For Emirates Resort to increase their flights from 5 in and out (10 flights) to 15 in and out (30 flights) per day is excessive. The EIS appears to make assumptions based on old and non-specific data. So in reality the negative effects could be catastrophic for some species found under and around the flight path.

The NSW Government has invested large amount of money in the creation of new walks and infrastructure in Gardens of Stone National Park for the benefit of the general public. The walks and campgrounds are not going to be able to be enjoyed as intended with multiple helicopter flights throughout the day.

I believe there are other options such as escorted 4x4 transport that would be suitable for Emirates guests until Wolgan Road reopens.

I request the Department refuse the modification because the environmental effects of such a dramatic increase in helicopter flights have been inadequately investigated. With Wolgan Road close to reopening this proposal appears hurried, unnecessary and potentially damaging.

Please refer to the attached submission by way of objection, prepared by Blue Mountains City Council.

I object, see attachment

Please refer to the attached document containing our objection to the application

I have lived in the Blue Mountains for over forty years and raised my three children here, one of which has settled in Katoomba and another who is keen to return later this year. We love the Blue Mountains for its wilderness and tranquility. I object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310 because I am concerned that this project is a threat to both wilderness and tranquility.

Please refuse the modification. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas. The Wolgan Road is re-opening in August 2026 making this proposal unnecessary. It would create a busy commercial heliport with up to 210 flights per week (30 per day). This was never the intent of the original development.

I suspect a development of this scale would negatively impact the natural environment and quality of life for residents and tourists. I reside in the lower Blue Mountains where it is expected that there will be an 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.

Please refuse this modification to help preserve the qualities that give the Blue Mountains its World Heritage status.

My main concern about the proposed development is that proposal has not assessed the impact of the extra flights on:
• people living under helicopter flight paths away from the resort
• those using the surrounding World Heritage Area and national parks.
The proposal consistently seeks to understate the impact by referring to the number of return flights, which is half the actual number of flights.
The proposed number of weekly trips to 105 equates to 210 return trips -- a significant increase in air traffic, noise and disturbance which would affect many people living under flight paths as well as those people using the Blue Mountains national parks and wilderness areas for recreation.
Additionally, while planning controls may currently prohibit joy flights to and from the resort itself, there are no controls specified for flights en route from source heliports (away from the resort).
These omission needs to be amended, with:
• the impacts of helicopter flights over the Blue Mountains populated areas to be assessed and taken into consideration in evaluating the proposal; and
• all flights transferring guests to and from the resort being specifically prohibited from deviating from specified routes of least impact to main airports in Western Sydney and beyond.
A minor complaint is that the Helicopter Management plan (appendix 5) is badly produced. It has poor readability and the pdf has no interactive functions, making it difficult to use.

Attached is a one page letter. I have had difficulty with this web page etc

Dear Mr Peng, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure,,
I strongly object to the Modification 4 of MP06_0310 which proposes 210 helicopter flights a week in/out the Wolgan Valley.
I know the Wolgan Valley and the Newnes plateau and Garden of Stones very well. I love this area, it is my "happy place". For many years - for decades - I have been visiting this place with my family and with friends for bush walking and holidays. It is the most beautiful and wild and quiet area. With the collapse of the road into the valley access has been more difficult through the tempory access using the donkey track, but that has not stopped me coming for holidays and for walks by myself and with friends to enjoy the beauty, wildness and quiet of the area for walking and for peace and rest. The familiar wild country and the kangaroos and wombats. The wattle in August. The stone gardens. The pagodas.
Please, please refuse this modification proposal. Yes, I know access is more difficult now but the new road is underway and due to be open in only a couple of months; and this fragile sensitive area cannot cope with the impact of the noise and wind of so many helicopter flights.
My understanding is that there has not been an Environmental Impact Study on the impact of so many flights - on the wildlife and on the amenity for those visiting the area for tourism or for wild walks. There is such a major investment planned for tourism in the area with walking tracks and camping areas etc. The area is a wonderful wonderful wilderness for passive peaceful recreation and walking and for an environmentally gentle tourism giving this area a needed tourism and economic boost. This investment will be pointless and the opportunity will be wasted if the area is just overwhelmed with helicopter noise and wind.
The new road is scheduled to open in just a few months. there is no need for this major change in helicopter operations. The original application allowed 4 helicopter flights a week. This application is grossly increasing this. Any flight over the valley or the plateau is disruptive to the peace and amenity of the area. Who knows how it would affect the wildlife to have such a massive increase.
Please refuse this application.
Many thanks

Dear Mr. Peng,
I write to object to Modification 4 of MP06_0310. As a regular bushwalker in the national parks in the area I ask the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to refuse the modification on the following grounds:
. The modification will lead to a very significant increase in helicopter flights causing significant intrusion and noise pollution, adversely affecting amenity. An EIS has not been conducted for high numbers of helicopter flights impacting on sensitive park areas.
. the Wolgan Rd is scheduled to re-open in August 2026, meaning the resort will be freely accessible by road in the near future
Thank you for considering this objection
Kind regards
Mark Bartlett