2026 LGAQ CONFERENCE MOTIONS & COUNCILLOR ATTENDANCE (Referred from the General Committee Meeting dated 7 July 2026 - Item 7.7) · Attachment 5 - Drone Beach Surveillance

ATTACHMENT 5                         2026 LGAQ Annual Conference –
                                     Proposed Motion

Who is the key contact for   Cr Amelia Lorentson
this motion? (required)
Submitting council           Noosa Council
(required)
Supporting ROC
(if applicable)
Council resolution #         NA
(required)
Date of council resolution   TBA
(required)

 Does this motion have state-wide relevance?

Was this motion suggested by a third party? no
Title of motion (required)   Drone Beach Surveillance - Supporting Lifeguards and Beachgoer
                             Safety

Motion                       That the LGAQ calls on the Queensland State Government to
(required)                   advocate to the Australian Government and the Civil Aviation Safety
                             Authority (CASA) for regulatory reform to enable Queensland local
                             governments to operate beach safety drone programs consistently
                             and without unnecessary administrative burden, and to provide the
                             funding and framework needed to support councils to expand drone
                             surveillance to unpatrolled beaches across the State.
What is the desired          Queensland has over 7,400 kilometres of coastline managed by local
outcome sought?              governments and consistently records among the highest coastal
(required) 200-word limit    drowning rates in Australia. The majority of fatalities occur at
                             unpatrolled beaches. Drone technology has proven its value as a
                             lifesaving tool - enabling faster identification of swimmers in distress,
                             real-time detection of marine hazards including box jellyfish and
                             irukandji, and the ability to deploy flotation devices directly to people
                             in the water before rescuers arrive. The barrier is not technology or
                             community will - it is regulation. Current CASA rules impose
                             individual approval requirements that are costly and time-consuming,
                             and most acute on weekends and public holidays, the days of
                             highest beach attendance and greatest risk. Queensland councils
                             should not be forced to interrupt public safety operations on the days
                             they are needed most. This motion asks the State Government to
                             lead the regulatory reform needed to give Queensland councils a
                             consistent, year-round drone surveillance capability - supporting
                             lifeguards, protecting beachgoers, and extending meaningful
                             coverage to the unpatrolled stretches of coastline where risk is
                             greatest.