Finally: a heliport for Sydney's CBD?

In brief: Is Sydney going to make another stab at dragging itself into the 21st century with a permanent helicopter base in the CBD?

That's the hope of the city's Tourism and Transport Forum, which wants to see a full-time heliport established as part of the extensive Barangaroo redevelopment along the western perimeter of the CBD.

In a submission to the NSW Government the TTF proposes that the heliport should be situated in Barangaroo's harbourfront headland park precinct or alternatively a 'central location' on the 23-hectare site.

According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, the TTF says Sydney's lack of a helicopter service operating close to the business district is in "'stark contrast"' to other major international cities including New York and London, which have established city heliports for tourism and to shuttle executives to the airport.

The TTF claims a heliport would ''cement Sydney's reputation as an international city''.

''If we are to be a truly global city it's time to have the debate about whether we have one" says TTF chief executive, John Lee.  "They do it on the Barrier Reef, they do it on the Yarra; it's a no-brainer to do it in Sydney."

Sydney previously had a heliport at Darling Harbour before the area was redeveloped in the early 1980s, but subsequent attempts to open a new heliport were obstructed by the noise concerns of inner-city residents.

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.