Red tape cut for introduction of drones

DID you know the City of Logan has been a frontrunner in adopting drone technology for over half a decade?
I was part of council in 2019 when we welcomed leading drone delivery operator Wing to set up a base here.
Wing recognised the population growth and our positive attitude to innovation in Logan and linked with a range of local companies and outlets to deliver items such as coffee, fast food, pharmaceuticals and hardware.
They also teamed with food delivery outlets and delivery services to launch drones from the roofs of the Hyperdome at Loganholme and the Grand Plaza shopping centre at Browns Plains, which is Wing’s largest delivery site in Australia.
Our Logan community has also helped shape what drone delivery looks like today, with feedback from the Logan experience being taken onboard by Google.
We cut lots of red tape to make Wing happen for our city – and the success of this technology shows the possibilities of what Logan offers.
Logan schools have been at the forefront of developing our next generation of drone pilots for a number of years, with Mabel Park State High and Woodridge State High among the first schools in Queensland to offer courses that allowed Year 11 and Year 12 students to gain official drone pilot certification.
As we continue striving to be more efficient, Council is using drone technology too.
Drones help council teams assess the capacity of our landfill sites, boosting the efficiency of the Logan Waste Commercial Business Unit’s reporting.
They’re used for building and bridge inspections when derelict properties may not be safe enter due to asbestos or structural issues.
Council has even been able to map overland flows onto a residential property using drones. On one occasion this allowed council to fix a drain issue in a road reserve – and solve this issue for a resident.
And in the middle of the flooding following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, half a million people were able to see footage of Beenleigh station underwater and flooding around Waterford bridge, thanks to one of the skilled staff in my office using a drone. Drone technology enables council to do much more with less, and that means better value for you.