No drones at Snapper Rocks
Three years ago Swellnet ran an article on the drone industry which was then in its infancy. At that point drones were new on the market and CASA, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, were caught on the hop trying to catch up with the new technology.
“It's hard to write enforceable legislation when we don't know where the technology will be in a few years,” said Peter Gibson of CASA. At the time CASA were in the midst of conducting a two year review which would ultimately update regulations pertaining to drone use.
That review is now complete and CASA is empowered with new laws to penalise rogue pilots. They’ve also released a website that shows where you can and can’t fly a drone in Australia. As someone who’s watched the use of drones rapidly increase in surf videos, it makes for interesting reading.
Amongst the spots where no drones are permitted whatsoever are:
- Snapper Rocks (!)
- Kirra
- Currumbin Alley
- Cape Solander
- Aussie Pipe (or anywhere on the coast between there and Gerringong)
- Green Island
- Anywhere from Flinders to Point Leo in Victoria
- The whole southern Yorke Peninsula
- Strickland Bay and Stark Bay on Rottnest Island
- Every reef from The Bluff to Exmouth - including Tombstones
To check the local rules for yourself visit the site.
CASA’s new rules are only as effective as their ability to enforce them, and in the past this has been a problem. After all, a drone pilot can operate illegally while being hidden in a distant vantage point. The chance of on site apprehension is slim. Yet part of the CASA review involved after the fact capture such as when a user uploads their illegally shot video to the internet.
Recently a drone user was fined $900 when they uploaded footage of journalist Peter Stefanovic’s wedding. The user was fined for "hazardous flying" and CASA’s director of aviation safety, Shane Carmody, made no apology for the fine.
"The rules protect people, property and aircraft from drones," Mr Carmody told the ABC.
In a separate incident, a pilot was fined $1,440 for flying in Sydney Harbour restricted airspace, and flying within 30 metres of people.
Even senator Pauline Hanson came under CASA's microscope after posting a video of herself flying a drone in Townsville.
Aside from CASA’s new laws, the National Parks and Wildlife Service recently updated their regulations to state that drones cannot fly within 300 metres of migrating whales. The maximum penalty for anyone caught breaching that law is $110,000 and two years jail.
Comments
Now just got to enforce the no ski rules if there are paddle surfers around
That was my first thought too Eel.
ditto
Theres bird nest stacks close to a few waves on some photographers radars.
At a few of s.a. best waves theres osprey nests on the rock stacks .
Not to mention a handful of other surf spots that these protected birds habituate.
This type of drone use should be avoided, respectfully.
Theres an osprey nest on the stack on the left in this clip . its an actively used stack , which is good , because at many other surfbreaks the ospreys left due to too many human & jetski disturbances imo.
drone at surfbreak next to nest stack.Give the osprey their space so they dont disappear
Kaptain Kirky flys his anywhere .
Drones should be allowed to fly over all beaches . Re shark surveillance . One of the better less harmful options.
I lived on the North shore of Oahu, they are very common occurrence. It's actually cool to see how many fly right over you at the takeoff zone. I would rather have a light weight drone fly over me in the line up then a helicopter. Which was sometimes the norm on the North shore.... I really think these laws are quite knee jerk . We have to adapt . drones are the future.
If drones disturb sharks , there will be laws made to protect the sharks no doubt .
Interesting really. CASA is purely concerned about them dropping out of the sky and yes they do - expensive way to learn how to use one. Yes, knee jerker.
Yeah probably more to do with proximity to airports and heliports than smashing some random punter's head
Woohoo !
That's a nice little win for a Tuesday.
It's going to make it difficult for the shark drones in the Ballina area. Especially to the north. If I'm reading their map correctly "Sharpies" is in a no fly zone or bloody close.
So now even crew out in the desert will have to find a new way to sell out , good job ! . Beam me up Scotty
Maybe CASA should be giving Queensland maritime some advice ..haven't heard of anyone being nutted by a drone at the aforementioned beaches but it is only a matter of time before someone gets run over on a big ,or even moderate swell by a PWC ....unfortunately nothing will happen until someone gets hurt ....
Fucking beautiful..captain kirky the exposure king....have been practicing my clay pidgeon targets too!!
Yehah most drone operators are kooks that can't surf but think they are cool cause they can use a drone . No more fkn blowflies in the line up , ha ha piss off ya try hard pricks
This is just another freedom we have lost for really no reason.
I personally find this offensive to my civil rights along with every
other freedom this once great country enjoyed. Australia is so
over regulated its embarrassing. I have been O/S and had people
say they would love to holiday in Aus but say its just to over regulated.
I don't have a drone don't want one and was never thinking of getting one
but it just shits me to see these rules come into force and erode harmless
fun. Soon it will illegal to go for a surf because some so called expert with a
platform of some sort will say we put foot prints on the sand disturb the
fish an make the waterfront environment look untidy.
Freedom lost? Completely Disagree. The more of these things flying about, the more we all loose our freedom of privacy. You'd get pissed off if a stranger photographed your videotaped you on their phone. With these things you'd have no idea who is being filmed. Some weirdo could be filming your kids on the beach for all you know.
Couldn't agree more evo. Useless nannystate...just embarrassing as you say.
The real irony for me is Aussies somehow still have this international reputation as being hardy, resourceful, brave and capable people. The fact is though we are not trusted to do the simplest things anymore and are rapidly becoming the most inept pack of uninspiring bed-wetters the globe has ever seen.
Reckon you'll find America's FAA is cracking down every bit as much as Australia, if not more.
Broadwater Seaplanes/Heliports are notably exempt from no fly zone. Why is that?
Last weeks Broadwater near miss serves as a reminder. Wake up Casa!
Gold Coast rescue choppers have had close calls with drones.
What's the point in licensing as most drone operators are remote from accident.
Cowardly nowhere near and very last to offer assistance at incident by their hand.
Myself and other surfers have been hunted down, divebombed & brained by them.
Drone fisherman videos show how to divert gamefish thru kidz swim zones.
Drone led Boardriders mow down line-up, remotely surfed by puppet master sculling XXXX.
Droning out tranquil lyre bird song of World Heritage Gowanda creeks & waterfalls .
Funeral drones dump ashes over Saltwater creator Jellurgal ( Nat Park/World Surf Reserve).
Nesting Ospreys retrofitted [2P] Multi level drone parking to curb demand.
Festival drones loop the rides & balloons then racing wedding doves released to soon.
Drone operators are big brother paparazzi pervs. Drones killed 1000's already...no more.
I agree! Jet Ski experiment failed. Broadwater tally too high R.I.P. Soon be drones killing.
Cereal box kit 5 mins- terrorist drone downs rescue chopper,Headland Plane engine clang!!
Gone with the wind no witness, entitled to refund. Casa sold out our safety!
Well truebluebasher of course I mean in a responsible way I guess its my
fault I didn't spell it out for you. But you really are doomsday in a wetsuit
arnt you. They sound like RPGs according to you.
How did they come up with these spots. Flinders to Pt. Leo??
A lot of Melbourne's old money have real estate along the cliff tops in that area Nick ... maybe its that.
Ha! That's quite a quirky conspiracy theory (Flinders ain't the only expensive coastline in Australia), but in actual fact it's to do with the West Head Gunnery Range.
You can't fly drones within a specific radius of any kind of airport facility (i.e. even a helicopter launch pad) or any kind of Navy or Military facility.
Darn Ben, I hate logical explanations but if that were true the ban would equally apply from Flinders (West Head naval base) to say Cape Schanck going the other way, perhaps it does anyway.
Ben , what about manned drones ( hang gliders ) , there's a launch west of Gunnery <500m.
Also you're not allowed to fly drones at any national park in Australia *without a permit
the only thing i hate more than an over-regulated nanny state are drones, so this qualifies as a provisional victory.
even if they made them available , for a shark warning system?
they've been using them here for over 12 months but they don't hover over the top of you like the wankers trying to get surfing footage.
I prefer a 16/0 circle hook as an early warning system.
There was that infamous case of a realestate agent getting drone footage of a house he was selling and putting it online; only trouble was it also showed the women next door sunbathing in her own backyard.
Jabreen swam to horizon & bodybashed ashore forever entombed & honoured as world's creation swimmer/surfer @ WSR Burleigh Heads/Jellurgal National Park.
This footage shows Drone Pilot breaching this most ancient Surf Sanctuary inside WSR at head of N.P. also traversing crowded beach setting. ( If no respect shown here then where?)
note: (1976 Hang gliders were banned shortly after launches from Burleigh Headland).
Countries are fighting off Drone invasion to reclaim quiet/clear skies...
A dozen or more nations including Canada/India/Sweden banned recreational drones.
E.U. looks certain to follow.
Trump upholds drone ban on All US National Parks.
Oz 'National' Park laws on'National'Casa laws differs from state to state.Why wouldn't they?
Most state Govt's like Casa smell a buck!
Activity in Qld National Parks (Is not well explained, be it Drone position or Pilot position ?)
Day Permit costs $175 for Recreational Activity + $175 for Commercial Photography.
A feelgood Public Liability Policy is also required.
USA National Parks universal ban is in step with world wide outdoor sports bans on drones from open course race circuits to Ski Fields.
It's that simple! WSR is trailing the world on banning drones,jet skis and marine debris.
Surf just surf.
No response from Kaptain Kirky on latest pic/comments on his Insta
I fly drones and fully support and abide by the CASA laws. Sorry folks Australia needs to be a nanny state because we have so many dickheads (with zero respect and/or commonsense) living here. Pauline Hanson being the classic example of a boneheaded drone pilot taking the controls as a complete beginner from a high rise balcony in an urban zone. CASA should throw the book at the imbecile.
Unfortunately we are going to see an accident or serious near miss because wankers think rules don't apply to them and think ignoring expert advice is cool.
Storm in a teacup. Too late. Its in the name of love... of dollars and... peace is very profitable.
'"It's going to be very interesting - it won't just be about who has the biggest swarm but also about who can out-manoeuvre who."'
http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38569027
Anyway its all good. Droning will create more jobs. Plus licenses. Organizations. Governing bodies. Associations. Droners will keep things rolling along nicely. Fuck knows where, but, well, hey, just as long as they're rolling.
https://uavcoach.com/uav-jobs/
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/01/drone-pilot-schoo...
Anyway, not a bad career. A fully licensed, accredited, official droner. Drone chipping would be a good path too. Chipping swarms of drones. A chip for any occasion! We can satisfy any craving! They'll eventually mate one with an osprey. Big bucks in that. Jobs too! Hopefully the seagulls stay away.
Its all happening! You might be wondering when you voted for swarms of soldier drones. So's to keep the peace. It's ok, it was in the fine print somewhere. Its all in good hands. She'll be right! Just leave it to the experts, and keep the fucking knuckleheads away from em!
https://instagram.com/p/BXEQ3TTALHt/
Bit happening on this post re drone talk..
Drones bothering wildlife like nesting osprey at surfbreaks .
What are the laws ?
That would be really cool , to protect the awesome birds of prey .
they could easily spook and not return by the sounds of it
Get an air rifle with telescopic sights and join the drone hunters club of Australia.
How to take down a drone !