Perth council grounds Rinehart’s helipad plans for $270m Hancock headquarters

The City of Perth has knocked back a request by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart to build a helicopter pad at her company Hancock Prospecting’s $270 million headquarters.

Despite two councillors backing the proposal, and Perth’s lord mayor describing Rinehart as an “amazing Australian”, the council sided with city officers’ recommendation and refused the application 6-2 during Tuesday night’s meeting.

A Hancock Prospecting spokesman described the result as disappointing and said the company would consider further options.

Councillor Adam Pacan moved an alternate motion, telling the meeting he was a qualified pilot and “could speak on several of the concerns” raised.

Pacan told the meeting the flight paths would affect the neighbouring City of Subiaco more than Perth, nearby building heights would not be affected, and reiterated only about one flight a month would land at the helipad.

Councillor Catherine Lezer seconded the alternate motion, encouraging councillors to “welcome investment”.

“The City of Perth is more YIMBY than NIMBY. We’re committed to economic growth, and the data we’ve provided is pretty simple,” she said.

“As councillor Pagan said, the proposed use is a maximum of 12 times per year, and in daylight hours only.

“Let’s approve this investment. Let’s make sure the City of Perth is always seen as a thriving and adaptable centre for commerce.”

Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds told the meeting Rinehart was an “amazing Australian”, but in this case he would side with the administration due to the technical safety and environmental issues raised.

The original motion to reject the helipad passed 6-2, with Reynolds, Deputy Lord Mayor David Goncalves, and councillors Liam Gobbert, Lisa Ma, Viktor Ko and Raj Doshi voting for the motion.

Pacan and Lezer voted against the motion.

Rinehart had applied to include the helipad to accommodate an eight-seat Bell 429 helicopter on top of Hancock’s five-storey Ord Street headquarters in West Perth, which will eventually house all of Rinehart’s mining and agricultural businesses.

Hancock has argued the pad would only be used 12 times a year and the Bell 429 would only generate noise in the West Perth area for about 5 minutes during landing and 5 minutes during take-off.

But city officers recommended the council refuse the helipad on the grounds it would “have an adverse impact on the amenity of surrounding residential land uses” and the noise impacts could not be mitigated.

The Hancock Prospecting spokesman cited a phone poll conducted on Radio 6PR’s Morning’s program last week as proof the helipad had public support.

“A poll conducted by 6PR Perth Radio of their listeners on 2 December 2025 showed overwhelmingly strong support for the proposed helipad, with respondents backing it by a margin of five to one,” he said.

He also reiterated the company’s argument made to the council at an agenda briefing session last week that the helipad could operate without noise and safety issues impacting surrounding residents.

“Independent technical assessments confirmed noise would not exceed existing ambient noise levels for the area, in fact, even reaching the highest current ambient noise level would occur for less than one minute per month – and only during daytime hours,” he said.

“Other expert technical reports addressing aviation safety and wind downwash confirm the helipad can operate safely and appropriately within the existing and future inner-city context.”

The spokesman said the decision was a missed opportunity for Perth to “cement its reputation as a growing globally recognised hub for international mining and business investment” and was out of step with the city’s own Future Perth policies.

“Rooftop helipads are commonplace in major and premier CBDs around the world including New York, London and Tokyo,” he said.

The spokesman said the decision also had ramifications for emergency services and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

“With the building’s location right between Perth’s two major trauma hospitals, and the Perth Children’s Hospital, the helipad would have life-saving potential as it has the ability to serve as a crucial backup landing option for these services,” he said.

Hancock’s new headquarters were approved by the city in 2023 and construction is already under way.

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