Drones weighing 500 grams to 2 kilograms can now take off and land at Cliveden Park in Fig Tree Pocket.
Following Brisbane City Council’s six-month trial of the designated areas for launch and landing of recreational drones in 10 parks across the city, permanent drone launch pads have been established in the selected public parks.
According to Environment, Parks and Sustainability Chairman Cr David McLachlan, the trial, which started in December 2017, is a response to the growing number of hobbyists and drone users across the city.
Cr McLachlan said that the Council has received positive feedbacks from its trial of 10 sites and hundreds of people have been taking advantage of the designated areas to take off land their drones that are up to 2 kilograms.
“More than 700 people provided feedback to Council following the trial and 80 percent of those support Council in providing spaces in parks for the launch and landing of drones,” Cr McLachlan said.
“After reviewing the current locations, Council has determined the current sites will remain available to drone users and Council will look to additional sites that could be leased by clubs for drone racing and fixed-wing aircraft activities,” he added.
Cr McLachlan stated that regulations for drone activities during flight will still be governed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority while the Council is responsible for the regulation of the launching and landing of these unmanned aircraft from Council land, including parks.
Drones weighing less than 500 grams can be launched from any Council park but users must comply with CASA restrictions and flight-restricted areas for the Brisbane Airport, Archerfield Airport, and helipads. Here are helpful drone resources and links that every drone user should know.
For drones weighing 500 grams to 2 kilograms, other designated areas for launching drones, apart from the Cliveden Park in Fig Tree Pocket, include The Common Park in Coorparoo; Preston Road Park in Carina; Carindale Recreation Reserve; Canterbury Park in Bald Hills; Lacey Road Park in Carseldine; Wishart Community Park; Voyager Drive Park in Kuraby; Moggill Ferry Reserve; and Keperra Picnic Ground Park.
Learn more about the CASA rules for flying drones recreationally from the CASA droneflyer website. These rules are designed to protect other people, both in the air and on the ground and must be followed at all times, even when you are flying from Council parklands.
Visit the Council’s flying drones in Council parks page for more information.