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14 June 2026
Surf Life Saving NSW granted exemption to fly drones over Coogee beach, minister says
In the press conference at Coogee just now, the NSW agriculture minister, Tara Moriarty, said the government was working with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) to ensure that Surf Life Saving NSW would be able to fly drones over Coogee beach as part of its shark monitoring program.
Moriarty said:
We’ve got a partnership with Surf Life Saving NSW and Surfing NSW to run a drone program. They haven’t been able to fly drones over Coogee beach because of proximity to Sydney airport and Casa rules.
Surf Life Saving NSWs have applied to Casa for an urgent … exemption to be able to fly drones over Coogee Beach, that has been granted, and we, as a NSW government, will work with Surf Life Saving NSW to work with Casa to make sure that that becomes permanent.