Application lodged for droneport for grocery deliveries
A development application has been lodged for the installation of a drone launching facility for grocery deliveries from Woolworths' Woy Woy store.
It would operate from the roof of Peninsula Plaza at 48-64 Blackwall Rd, from around the end of the year.
The site is currently zoned E1 Local Centre.
The application was prepared by SLR Consulting Pty Ltd on behalf of its client, which appears to be Zipline, the organisation which would be operating the drones on behalf of Woolworths.
Proposed works consist of "installation of communication mast to equipment container, launcher rail, recovery system frame to roof beams, lightning arrestor tower to existing beams, new roof mesh walkway, new gate and steps to plant deck, new landing and step at lower level to existing deck and new stairs and landing".
The proposed maximum height of the mast, recovery system frame and lightning arrestor tower is 19.72m, under the 19.75m permitted under applicable planning provisions.
The application states: "The proposed works are considered ancillary of the existing, and approved, commercial use on the site, and is consistent with the E1 Zone Objectives under the Central Coast LEP 2022."
It claims: "The proposal is compliant with all other Environmental Planning Instruments applicable to the site and development and is compliant with the Central Coast Development Control Plan."
A detailed compliance document is supplied, which claims compliance with all requirements: "The proposed new drone launching infrastructure satisfies the controls outlined in the Central Coast DCP, including requirements relating to area character, scenic prominence, architectural form, and streetscape character.
The application states: "Consent requested from Council is for the physical infrastructure only and in no way provides approval for the commercial flying of drones.
"In Australia, commercial drone operations are licensed and regulated by both the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
"CASA is responsible for regulating all safety aspects of civil aviation, including drone flights.
"It does so by licensing drone pilots, approving companies to conduct commercial drone operations, and conducting oversight of operations once approved to ensure that risks to persons and property (including other airspace users) are appropriately managed."
"The Department of Infrastructure's mandate is to ensure that the social licensing considerations of drone delivery operations (ie noise, citizen privacy) have been duly considered.
"Accordingly, Zipline must obtain the necessary approvals from both CASA and the Department of Infrastructure before launching its drone delivery project with Woolworths.
"Council may also choose to include a condition which ensures the launching of drones are in accordance with all Federal requirements."
Zipline must obtain a Remotely Piloted Aircraft Operator's Certificate, which allows Zipline as a business to trade as a drone service provider and conduct a range of drone operations.
The application states that an Area Approval is also required for the area in which Zipline wants to routinely fly.
"In the case of the Woolworths partnership, the first area approval will be for a defined area around the Woolworths store in Woy Woy, Central Coast.
"Specific authorisations that are more tightly regulated include ... flying the drones beyond visual line-of-sight, flying over people, air-dropping packages in flight, and having multiple autonomous drones monitored in flight by a single Zipline flight controller.
"Zipline aims to submit its Area Approval application to CASA between March and April."
The application states that Zipline is also required to obtain a noise approval from the Department of Infrastructure addressing the noise created by its drones in all phases of flight.
is currently on public exhibition on the Central Coast Council website and open for written submissions on the physical infrastructure only. The closing date for submissions has not been advised as yet.
SOURCE:
DA Tracker, 16 Mar 2024
DA/204/2024, Central Coast Council