Green Point is sick of sirens and choppers

A noisy siren at the harbour and sightseeing helicopters increasingly soaring over their homes are making residents of Cape Town's upmarket suburb of Green Point sick.

They claim that a buoy equipped with a siren to warn passing ships in Cape Town harbour keeps them awake at night, leading to stress, anger and poor health. They also fear for their lives as the number of helicopters flying over the area on leisure excursions has increased.

Jenny McQueen, a member of the managing committee of the Green Point Ratepayers and Residents Association, said yesterday residents had written to Cape Town harbour master Captain Vernal Jones about the noise but their appeals had fallen on deaf ears.

"It goes on 24/7 non-stop, irrespective of whether the visibility is poor," said McQueen.

Cape Town councillor Benedicta van Minnen said the city had investigated the matter but there was nothing it could do.

"We considered dampening the sound but legally we can't change the characteristics of the sound signal.

"The office of the harbour master and the Lighthouse Services is testing a possible solution."

V&A Waterfront spokesman Carla White said there was no need for safety concerns over the helicopters as the operators adhered to Civil Aviation Authority guidelines and we re licensed.

"From our perspective, helicopter operators offer an excellent way for local and international visitors to experience the unique geography of the Cape Peninsula," said White.