Council shoots down drone policy

The Christchurch City Council has rejected a proposed drones policy aimed at regulating the increasingly popular hobby, saying the size limits are too strict.

A report from staff recommended the city council take a ‘‘conservative approach’’ to allow people to get used to the growing presence of the hovering machines.

But after hearing from drone enthusiasts, the council’s strategy and finance committee told staff they were unhappy with the policy.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel questioned whether the council needed a drones policy at all.

The proposed policy allowed for drones weighing less than one kilogram to be flown in permitted parks and reserves without consent, providing certain noise and privacy conditions were met.

Council staff said decisions to fly larger drones could be made on a case-bycase basis but the weight restriction would reduce the risk of injury if a drone was to hit someone.

Drone operators told the committee about 70 per cent of the drones sold in New Zealand weighed 1.4 kg.

The proposed 1kg weight restriction would create unnecessary work for the council, they said.

Cr Jamie Gough said drones were the ‘‘21st-century kite’’ and he was among the councillors who felt the proposed pol- icy was not the right approach for the city to take. Christchurch man Ross Lawler said he enjoyed using drones to capture the landscape of his new home and post videos on his YouTube channel.

‘‘It’s like a free advertisement for scenic spots in Christchurch.’’

He said privacy and noise concerns were the top public concerns.

‘‘Usually you can hear them coming and a drone would be too far away to make out people’s faces on video.

‘‘To get that close would breach the [Civil Aviation Authority] regulations anyway,’’ he said.

Committee chairman Cr Raf Manji said council staff needed to do more work on the policy and consider feedback on the proposed weight restriction and areas where drone use was prohibited.