Auckland councillors could soon take the initiative to prohibit private helipads in residential areas.

Waitematā and Gulf councillor Mike Lee intends to put the controversial issue to a vote this month after rich-listers Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray were given the green light to fly helicopters from their $24 million home in Westmere.

The decision by an independent hearings panel to approve flights from the couple’s waterfront property has shocked opponents, who made up about 90% of the 1400 submissions on the application.

Lee has written to Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson advising him of his intention to raise two notices of motion at the policy and planning committee meeting on July 24.

Councillor Mike Lee is seeking the support of colleagues to get the ball rolling to prohibit helipads in residential areas. Photo / Michael Craig

The notices of motion would ask council staff to begin work to make private helipads a prohibited activity in residential areas under the Unitary Plan, and a prohibited activity in residential areas on Waiheke and Aotea/Greater Barrier Islands under the Hauraki Gulf Islands section of the District Plan.

In his letter, Lee says the extraordinary ruling of the hearings panel effectively deregulates helipads to the same status as garages or bike sheds.

The panel agreed with the applicants’ lawyer that helicopter take-offs and landings were essentially a residential activity and should be permitted as long as they complied with noise standards in the Unitary Plan.

The panel’s decision said that, for whatever reason, the Unitary Plan was not clear about helicopters in residential areas. “It is a matter for the council to address, if it chooses to do so.'

Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams have gained approval for a helipad at their $24m Westmere home. Photo / Alex Burton

Lee said that treating helicopters the same as cars and bikes under the Unitary Plan was “clearly a damaging, socially destabilising outcome for the community” and increased reputational damage to the council.

The three Local Boards in his ward - Waitematā, Waiheke and Aotea/Great Barrier - had called for helipads to be prohibited in residential areas, saying there were 60 helipads on Waiheke, 11 on Aotea/Great Barrier and four in the city’s western bays.

This is Lee’s second attempt to win the support of his colleagues to prohibit helipads in residential areas.

In March last year, councillors voted 10-8 against a notice of motion by Lee at the planning committee to prohibit private helipads in residential areas in the city, Waiheke and Aotea/Great Barrier.

The eight councillors in favour were: Lee, Christine Fletcher, Lotu Fuli, Kerrin Leoni, Greg Sayers, Ken Turner, Wayne Walker and John Watson.

The 10 councillors against were: Mayor Wayne Brown, Andy Baker, Josephine Bartley, Angela Dalton, Chris Darby, Julie Fairey, Shane Henderson, Richard Hills, Sharon Stewart and Maurice Williamson.

Urban Auckland chairwoman Julie Stout. Photo / Nick Reed

Writing in the Herald today, Urban Auckland chairwoman Julie Stout said the Williams/Mowbray decision “rocks one’s faith in the resource consent hearing process”.

She said the Unitary Plan did not adequately control the adverse effects of helicopter flights in the city’s urban residential areas, saying Sydney and Melbourne allowed helicopters in residential areas only where Fly Neighbourly Agreements had been reached with neighbours.