Durban - DurbanNorth retired businessman, Jack Lemmer, said the proposal to move Virginia Airport to Scottburgh, about 80km away from his promenade home, was music to his ears.
Lemmer felt his prayer has been answered after his failed attempt to have the operators deal with the level of noise at the neighbouring facility.
In 2011, Lemmer filed an application for an interdict against the eThekwini municipality, the SA Civil Aviation Authority, the minister of transport and six helicopter companies, saying he wanted no helicopters to use the airport except for emergencies.
He demanded that they do something to minimise the level of noise at the airport. His house is about 100 metres from the facility. He lost the application with costs.
“Unfortunately I don’t have much to say but I’m happy about the idea and I can’t wait to see the end of it. My attempt to have the airport deal with the noise was unsuccessful as the court ruled against me,” Lemmer said yesterday.
However, it appears the operators are not giving in without a fight.
Daryl Mann, owner of Aero Natal operating from the airport, expressed his dismay when asked about their future plans yesterday.
“We are not leaving this airport. I don’t care what the newspapers say. There has been zero consultation with us about the plan to relocate to Scottburgh. Until such time that there is proper dialogue, we are not moving.
“We are ready to take the matter to court if need be, and we know the municipality has no leg to stand on in court,” Mann said.
He said they were unhappy to read about the plan to move the airport in the media. Last week the Daily News reported that a report proposing the relocation of the airport was tabled at the municipal executive committee meeting.
Municipal spokesman, Thabo Mofokeng, said they were not worried about legal threats because the municipality had made a commitment to consult the operators at the airport.
“That report was just tabled for council to familiarise itself with the contents. The operators will be engaged before decisions are taken on issues involving the airport,” Mofokeng said.
Daily News