A new skydiving operator wants to move into the Illawarra with their sights set on Shellharbour to base their business.
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Blue Sky Adventures, trading as Beachside Skydive, are planning to run a new venture from Shellharbour's South Beach on weekends and public holidays offering tandem skydives.
"Beachside Skydive is a new, Australian, family-owned and operated business," they state in a development application currently before Shellharbour City Council.
"The owner has been working in the skydiving industry for 25 years and has been a skydiving instructor for over 20 years.
"This new tourism business will expand on the Shellharbour City Council's economic and tourism development strategy. In addition to bringing a new tourism attraction to the area, the business would be creating new jobs within the local economy."
Beachside Skydive wants to utilise parts of South Beach (which is on the northern side of Shell Cove Marina) as its primary skydiving landing area and an area of Pioneer Park as the secondary landing spot in case of strong winds, tides and other hazards.
The business plans to "check in" clients at the entrance to South Beach at the public car park at the end of Boollwarroo Parade, using a non-permanent structure such as a gazebo on the grassy area.
Punters ready to jump from the heavens would then be ferried in an eight-seater vehicle to Shellharbour Airport before being flown to 12,000 feet above sea level.
According to the DA, a maximum of three tandem skydive parachutes would land at any one time, with an estimated one group on average landing during each hour of operation.
"The business plans to operate on weekends and public holidays initially but, in the interest of operational flexibility, seeks approval for all days of the week ... hours of operation would vary based on demand, with the longest days expected in summer."
The public can view and make submissions on the DA, which is on exhibition until April 16, through the council's website.