Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles, often known as drones, offer emerging surveillance technology that provides aerial surveillance of coastal waters and real-time vision of the area.

Since 2017, DPI has been trialling the use of UAV's to detect sharks at NSW beaches in collaboration with Surf Life Saving NSW.

SLS NSW-DPI Drone Trial 2019/20

Drones trials will continue along the NSW coast during the summer-autumn of 2019/20, as part of the NSW Government’s collaboration with Surf Life Saving NSW.

Following the success of the collaborative trials in 2017/18 and 2018/19, this summer will see drones at the following 18 beaches: South Kingscliff Beach, Main Beach Byron Bay, Seven Mile Beach Lennox Head, Sharpes Beach Ballina, Shelly Beach Ballina, Lighthouse Beach Ballina, Airforce Beach Evans Head, Main Beach Yamba, Main Beach Crescent Head, Flynns Beach Port Macquarie, Main Beach Forster, Birubi Point, Redhead Beach, Surf Beach Kiama, South Mollymook, Malua Beach Batemans Bay, Tathra Beach and Pambula Beach.The locations were jointly chosen by DPI and SLS NSW based on the outcomes of the other two trials and the operational aspects of SLS.

Drones are the next stage in the evolution of lifesaving technology.

With strong community support, Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW), the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and local SLS clubs around the State are working collaboratively to lead this world first trial to operationalise drones in NSW.

This is life-saving technology. The drones allow lifesavers to spot the risk and get straight to work to prevent a potential attack or drowning.  We are committed to improving water safety and reducing the number of preventable deaths in the water.

The purpose of the DPI Drone Shark Surveillance trials is to:

• Gather more data on how drones can be used for beach safety and shark surveillance by beach authorities
• Trial real time awareness and beach-based warning to swimmers/surfers of the immediate threat of a shark
• Assist SLS in developing drones into standard operations, including marine hazard surveillance and assistance with rescues

Operation times will reflect the normal patrol hours for SLS of 9am - 4pm. The drones will be piloted by lifeguards during the week and lifesavers on the weekend.

Flights will be approximately 10-15 minutes long, unless hazards/sharks are identified, in which case flight times will be extended to assist with the management of beach users.

Depending on conditions, there will be a minimum of two flights per hour.

Some key stats from the 2018/19 drone trials with SLS NSW:

• Covered approximately 25,000 km
• Nearly 9,000 flights
• Over 2000 hours of flying
• Observed approximately 350 sharks
• Evacuated beaches on 48 occasions

Schedule & Locations