Launching drones from Council parks

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) through the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations Part 101, regulates flying of drones and other Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in Australia.

CASA regulates the flying of drones and other RPA when they are in the air.

As the land owner/manager, Brisbane City Council regulates the launching and landing of these aircraft from Council land.

Council has several parks across Brisbane that include designated areas for launching drones and other RPA recreationally.

You can launch and land your aircraft in the designated areas if:

• you are flying for recreational purposes; and
• your aircraft is electric; and
• your fixed wing model aircraft weighs no more than one kilogram; and
• your drone or other non-fixed wing model aircraft weights no more than two kilograms; and
• you are flying no earlier than 7am Monday to Friday, and no earlier than 9am on weekends and public holidays; and
• you are not causing a nuisance, endangering others or damaging the park; and
• you are following the CASA rules for flying drones and other RPA recreationally at all times.

The CASA rules for flying drones recreationally are detailed on the Civil Aviation Safety Authority website. These rules are designed to protect other people, both in the air and on the ground. You must follow these rules at all times, even when you are flying from Council parklands.

The launching and landing of drones and other RPA from Council parkland is a restricted activity. Learn more about launching and landing drones from parks, other than designated areas.

Parks with designated areas for launching drones

Council has provided designated areas for launching drones and other RPA in the parks listed in the table below.

The designated area in Wishart Community Park is now closed permanently to allow for an upcoming park redevelopment.

Map of designated areas for launching drones

View the designated areas for launching drones and other RPA using the map. Select the icons to find out more information about the park location.

Launching drones from other Council parkland

You can launch and land drones and other RPA from any Council parkland, without Council consent if:

• you are flying for recreational purposes; and
• your aircraft is a children’s toy, or weighs less than 0.5 kilograms*; and
• you are flying no earlier than 7am Monday to Saturday, or no earlier than 8am on Sundays and public holidays; and
• your activities do not endanger, interfere with or cause nuisance to the park, park users or adjoining properties; and
• you follow CASA's safety rules for flying drones and other RPA recreationally at all times; and
• the park area is available for public use and not part of a site managed by another organisation, such as a sporting club or community group.

*CASA rules override this in some locations, for example, within 5.5 kilometres of an aerodrome or helicopter landing site. Check the Civil Aviation Safety Authority website or the CASA drone apps referred to on the drone safety apps page on the CASA website.

All other launching and landing of drones and other RPA from Council parks is a ‘restricted activity’ under Council’s Public Lands and Council Assets Local Law 2014 (PLACA). This activity can only be undertaken in designated areas or with Council consent.

Council may issue consent for launching and landing a drone, or other RPA, from a Council park either:

• as part of an event (e.g. filming), or
• on its own (e.g. training, racing).

Council will only consider issuing consent for launching and landing a drone or other RPA from a Council park if:

• the proposed location is considered suitable; and
• the operator can supply current public liability insurance to the value of $20 million per occurrence, which specifically relates to the activity of operating a drone; and either
  • where the drone weighs less than two kilograms; the operator will follow CASA’s standard operating conditions; or
  • where the drone weighs two kilograms or more; the operator has a current remote pilot licence (RePL) and/ or drone operator’s certificate (ReOC) issued by CASA; and
• the operator can confirm they understand and will follow CASA rules for flying drones.

You can apply to Council for consent by completing and submitting the online park consent/booking application form.

Council encourages you to make your application at least five working days before your activity or event.

Filming 

You:

• must apply to Council for consent for filming and taking photos for commercial purposes from a Council park (including student filming)
• do not need to apply to Council for consent if you are a resident or visitor filming or taking photos for personal purposes from a Council park.

If you use a drone or other RPA, Council consent may be required. You can apply to Council for filming consent by completing and submitting the Filming in Brisbane consent online application form. Council encourages you to make your application at least five working days before your activity or event.

Noise nuisance

Council can regulate any noise nuisance generated by the flying of drones from, or over, a Council park under the Environment Protection Act.

You can phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to complain about noise.

Breaches of CASA rules for flying

Drone operators must follow the CASA rules for flying drones at all times. Any breaches of CASA rules for flying from, or over, a Council park are enforceable by CASA.

You should refer your complaint to CASA.

Privacy issues

Council cannot regulate privacy issues that may arise from the flying of drones from, or over, a Council park.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner website provides information about drones and privacy that may assist you in addressing any privacy concerns.

More information

For more information about flying drones around Brisbane, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.