The problem is the CASA site is about airspace and safety. You have to search other sites for other rules. The National Parks authorities have rules on their website. When I have challenged drone operators in National Parks they respond
they are obeying CASA rules, which they can quote.
I had this issue at Morialta Falls in SA, when I saw 2 drones launched on the same day near a breeding pair of Peregrines. The local rangers stepped up patrols after I told them but their rules are pretty clear down there:
It is an offence to fly drones (remotely piloted aircraft) in South Australia's national parks, reserves and marine
park restricted access zones without a permit. Permits are considered for scientific research and commercial filming.
NSW are bit more accommodating:
NPWS recognises that drones can sometimes be used in a park for recreational and commercial purposes that are unrelated to park management.
Flying drones in parks can impact visitors and disturb native animals. Drones can also dangerously interfere with fighting bushfires and other park management activities. Careful management
of drone use is required to avoid these risks.
Drone users must get approval before launching, landing or operating a drone from within a park.
As you say someone, with authority, has to enforce the rules.
Danny
From: Martin Butterfield <>
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2020 5:46 AM
To: sandra henderson <>
Cc: Cog line <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] drones
On Sat, 11 Jul 2020 at 05:34, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:
There are rules about how close they are allowed to be to people. I shall try to find them.
On Sat, 11 Jul 2020 at 05:31, sandra henderson <> wrote:
is anyone else encountering these annoying machines? Both yesterday and today I've been birdwatching in public parks when someone has come along with a small drone. Yesterday it was a young person - maybe young teenager - using a drone
at Point Hut Pond Park - and actually chasing a swamphen with it! The adult with this young person was on his phone the whole time, not watching what was going on. Today it was a park in Macarthur, and almost as soon as I arrived there was a VERY noisy small
drone being operated by a young man. The birds all took off in alarm - rosellas, cockatoos, noisy miners etc. I gave up and left.
The ACT government apparently isn't responsible for drones in the ACT - CASA is, and there don't seem to be any rules about their use in places like suburban parks..
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