Pittwater Life December 2020 Issue

News
‘Eyes in
the sky’
safety
focus
If you are one of the
“pilots” training to use
drones on our beaches this
summer you can be confident
in the instruction being
offered.
Why? Because your
teachers are none other than
two Qantas A380 captains,
presently grounded due to
the COVID-19 crisis.
Captains Peter Probert and
Greg Matthews have thrown
themselves into the role of
teaching Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAV), with Surf
Lifesaving, ever since planes
were effectively grounded.
According to Northern
Beaches Surf Lifesaving
director Adrian Hill, the UAV
program is of huge benefit to
the peninsula as it provides
better eyes on the beaches.
Its focus will be beach
attendance, rescue, and shark
mitigation.
“So far we’ve trained 60
pilots,” he tells Pittwater Life.
“There are a few main trouble
spots in Pittwater where we
use UAVs. These are Newport
Reef and surf breaks, Mona
Vale Basin and the rockpool,
and Warriewood Blowhole
and Cook’s Terrace.”
Since its inception, Surf
Lifesaving has found the
tech has yielded results and
provided a lifeline to beach
users.
An anticipated recordbreaking
summer on our
beaches due to COVID-19
travel restrictions has
also seen the formation
of a partnership between
Surf Life Saving NSW and
Northern Beaches Council.
Holidaymakers are
expected to flock to NSW
beaches in greater numbers
than ever and council staff
and lifesavers will work
closely to monitor these
numbers.
High-res images taken by
UAVs will be sent to Council
and the new SLSNSW State
Operations Centre.
There will be up-to-theminute
information so
people can avoid beaches
nearing COVID-safe capacity.
Locations approaching
capacity, or where access
is restricted, can be viewed
using the Beachsafe website
or the Beachsafe app.
Mr Hill could not praise
highly enough the use of
UAVs in rescue situations.
“Last season a drone pilot
noticed someone in distress
being swept off the rocks
at Mona Vale,” he said. “The
pilot was able to quickly
notify surf rescue.”
The other part of the
program was shark
mitigation, a partnership
PHOTO: Supplied
between Surf Lifesaving and
the Department of Primary
Industries.
“This is based at Palm
Beach,” Mr Hill said.
“During the peak periods
this is a seven days-a-week
operation.”
He said outside peak times,
this service was volunteersrun,
with the local clubs
training pilots to operate the
drones.
According to Mr Hill, the
technology was cost-effective
and meant lifesavers could
cover a much greater area.
“It costs $10-12,000 to
purchase a drone package –
and $2500 an hour to book a
rescue helicopter,” he said.
The program to train pilots
to fly the drones accurately
has been running on the
Northern Beaches for two
years.
“The Qantas captains bring
PILOT PROGRAM:
(l-r) David Hall-
Johnson, Peter
Probert and Greg
Matthews.
pilot education to another
level,” Mr Hill said. “It’s
one of the reasons they
were selected. Flying
UAVs means being able
to meet Civil Aviation
Safety Authority (CASA)
requirements.”
Furthermore, other
emergency services have
asked to use the northern
beaches’ drones for activities
around headland and
bushland areas.
“People notice the drones
when taking off and landing,”
he said. “They also notice the
lifesaver looking out to sea
while holding the screen and
controller.
“We do get asked questions
around privacy. We have
to adhere to strict CASA
regulations, particularly the
rule of keeping 30 metres
distance from the public.”
– Rod Bennett
Have yourself a
COVID-safe Xmas
We all need some
Christmas cheer
more than ever this
year. With vaccines on the
horizon, though, it feels like
if we can negotiate this one
last COVID social-distancing
minefield, then there is the
promise of greater freedom
in 2021.
There’s no doubt we have
been blessed with relative
Coronavirus scarcity on the
Northern Beaches. Lives and
businesses have been badly
affected, but thankfully case
numbers have been low.
Much as everyone is looking
forward to Christmas, it is
definitely a hazardous time
for potential spreading of
the virus – which would be
devastating with a vaccine
potentially not that far
away. Here then are
some reminders for
a COVID-safe festive
season.
Have fun in the sun
More space, more ventilation,
less surfaces – there’s
never been a better time to
get out in the sun. And the
Northern Beaches is the best
place in the world for being
outside!
Choose a BBQ over a meal
at the dining table. Head
to the beach or park for a
picnic with close friends
and relatives. Get everyone
to BYO when it comes to
rugs, food and drink. You
can even use your rug as
a gentle reminder to keep
your distance.
Virtually together
Restrictions have eased,
borders should be open,
but there will still be some
friends and family who
need to be extra
cautious a little
longer
due to immunity issues –
don’t let them feel neglected
at Xmas. Most people are
by now well-versed in Zoom
and face-to-face interactions.
Get loved ones set up
on mobile or computer, so
that they can be included
digitally in the fun.
Stay safe
If you do have a gathering,
do your best to keep things
safe. Fist bumps rather than
handshakes, and avoid hugs
if possible for just a little
longer. Big smiles and lots of
eye-contact.
Make sure hand sanitiser
is freely available, and if
you’re inside, then keep
things well ventilated.
And if someone is feeling
sick then encourage them to
stay at home – better to be
safe than sorry.
If in doubt, check online
Finally, if you’re unsure of
numbers allowed (currently
20 at a residence and 30 at
an outside event) then head
to nsw.gov.au/covid-19 to
check on latest guidelines
and restrictions. We’re so
close to coming out the
other side of this difficult
time – so make sure a safe
Christmas helps lead us into
a very Happy New Year.
– Rob Pegley
* Pittwater Christmas Guide
– Page 60
News
20 DECEMBER 2020
The Local Voice Since 1991
The Local Voice Since 1991
DECEMBER 2020 21