Leading the Way in UAV Coastal Surveillance

SLSNSW is the largest UAV coastal surveillance operator within the Southern Hemisphere delivering advanced shark/marine coastal surveillance services on behalf of the  NSW Government to the community of NSW since 2017.

It has been awarded numerous industry awards at the Australian Aviation Awards, including being named a three time winner of the UAV Business of the Year recognising the organisation’s excellence nationally.

While reducing the risk of shark interactions remains the primary objective, UAV operations provide far broader public safety benefits. UAV surveillance enables early detection of rip currents, swimmers in distress and other coastal hazards, supporting proactive warnings and faster, better-informed responses to protect the community.

Government Response to 2026 Shark Incidents

From 1 July 2026, the NSW Government’s significant investment will deliver the largest expansion of aerial shark surveillance in the world.
This program uplift will include:

  • Year-round drone coverage across all Sydney beaches (Palm Beach to Cronulla)
  • Expanded coverage to additional high-use coastal locations
  • Longer daily operations from dawn until dusk
  • Surveillance extending beyond patrolled beaches to popular unpatrolled areas
  • Continued integration of AI and advanced monitoring technologies

This investment strengthens our ability to detect hazards earlier, respond faster, and provide timely warnings to the public, ultimately saving more lives.

Sydney Drone flying schedule 2026/27

Everyday
North Palm Beach
Palm Beach
Whale Beach
Bilgola/Avalon Beach
Newport Beach
Mona Vale/Bungan
Warriewood Beach
North Narrabeen/Turimetta South Narrabeen/Narrabeen
Collaroy Beach
Long Reef
Dee Why Beach (incl. Dee Why Lagoon)
Curl Curl (North & South)
Freshwater/Queenscliff Beach
Manly/North Steyne

Everyday
Tamarama/Bronte Beach
Bondi/North Bondi

Everyday
Clovelly (Incl. Gordons Bay)
Maroubra/South Maroubra
Beach
Coogee Beach
Malabar
Little Bay

Everyday
Wanda/Greenhills Beach
Elouera/North Cronulla/
Cronulla Beach

North Coast Drone flying schedule 2026/27

Everyday
Kingscliff Main Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Fingal Head Beach
Salt Beach
Cabarita Beach

Everyday
Byron Bay Main Beach/Clarkes Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Brunswick Heads

Everyday
Lennox Head Main Beach
Sharpes Beach
Shelly Beach
Lighthouse Beach

Everyday
Evans Head

Everyday
Yamba Main Beach

Everyday
Sawtell Main Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Woolgoolga Beach

Everyday
Urunga (Hungry Head)

Everyday
Macksville-Scotts Head

Everyday
Crescent Head

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
South-West Rocks (Front Beach & Horseshoe Beach)

Everyday
Town Beach/Oxley Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Tacking Point/Lighthouse Beach

Everyday
Crowdy Head
Forster/Tuncurry Break Wall

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Black Head
Cape Hawke
Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest

Everyday
Birubi Beach
One Mile Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Fingal Bay

Everyday
Dixon Park/Bar Beach/Merewether Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Nobbys Beach

Everyday
Redhead Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Catherine Hill Bay

Everyday
Avoca Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Winter & Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
North Entrance Beach/The Entrance
Ocean Beach
Killcare

South Coast Drone flying schedule 2026/27

Everyday
North Wollongong Beach/
Puckeys Beach/Towradgi
Beach/Fairy Meadow

Every weekend +
Everyday in Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Helensburgh-Stanwell Park
Coledale Beach

Everyday
Shellharbour

Everyday
Surf Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Gerringong

Everyday
Mollymook Beach

Every weekend +
Everyday in Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Nowra Culburra

Everyday
Broulee Surfers

Every weekend +
Everyday in Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Batemans Bay
Narooma

Everyday
Tathra

Every weekend +
Everyday in Spring School Holidays +
Everyday 1 Dec 26 – 30 Apr 27
Pambula Beach

A sandy beach scene with a yellow warning sign in the foreground reading “BEACH CLOSED – Dangerous Surf.” Behind the sign, a red-and-yellow Surf Life Saving NSW tent is set up near the shoreline with two empty chairs underneath. To the right, a person wearing a red and yellow shirt labeled “UAV PILOT” on the back stands on the sand, operating a remote controller and facing the ocean. A white drone with multiple propellers hovers in mid-air in front of the person. The background shows choppy waves, a cloudy sky, and low green vegetation along the dune.

Event Water Safety – Surfing & Sporting Events

Surf Life Saving NSW’s is committed to ensuring that athletes competing in their events are afforded the highest possible level of safety. UAVs offer an added aerial dimension to safety surveillance and a dynamic capability to respond to any incidents that might arise. The Australian UAV Service (AUAVS) is engaged as part of the Event Water Safety Team to provide specialist pilots to support coastal safety at these events.

This requires working in cooperation with a team of professional lifeguards to maintain a presence both on the water, in the air and on the beach. The AUAVS forms the ‘Aerial Patrol’ element of the Water Safety Team. Our role is to provide advance notification and intelligence on the presence of any hazardous marine life within the vicinity of the athletes and monitor general safety to allow direct and efficient response as required.

Organisations that AUAVS has provided aerial surveillance for include:

  • World Surf League
  • Surfing Australia
  • Surfing NSW
  • Cole Classic Manly Beach
  • The Big Swim Whale Beach
  • Australian Surf Rower’s League
  • SLSNSW State Championships
  • SLSNSW Country Championships
  • SLSNSW IRB Series
  • SLSNSW Community Education