Australia’s first drone facility to be built in Cloncurry, run by Boeing and paid for by the State Government

North West Queensland will become the base of Australia’s first ever commercial drone testing facility after the State Government secured a deal with leading aviation company Boeing. •

Boeing employees testing drones. Picture: Supplied

NORTH West Queensland will become the base of Australia’s first ever commercial drone testing facility after the State Government secured a deal with leading aviation company Boeing.

The government-funded $14.5 million facility will be built at Cloncurry Airport, about 780km west of Townsville, in a bid to “diversify” the economy in the mining-dependent region.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who was in Mount Isa with her Ministers for a cabinet meeting yesterday, said 65 jobs would be created during construction, due to begin early next year.

The number of ongoing jobs are yet to be determined.

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“It’s just one of 13 innovative diversification initiatives that tap into the potential of the North West, and further proof that by working together with local councils and the community, we can grow Queensland’s economy,” she said.

The State Government will chip in $14.5 million for the first stage, which will include a hangar, operation room, surveillance radar and communications equipment.

Drones weighing between 30kg and 150kg will be tested at the facility.

The announcement comes more than a week after a Regional Development Australia report found rural Queensland should leverage its “open skies” to create “drone zones”, with drone companies already eyeing off land to undertake testing and development.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said construction of the new facility was scheduled to begin early-2020.

“Our government was the first in Australia to launch a drone strategy, and now we’re well on the way to becoming the nation’s drone technology capital,” he said.

“We have secured the world’s largest aerospace group, The Boeing Company, to be the first to conduct trials at the facility, creating an exciting new aerospace industry for the region.”

Boeing director of Phantom Works International Shane Arnott said the company would use the facility to “safely and securely test the latest advances in unmanned systems”.

“The creation of what will be one of the world’s largest commercial unmanned flight test facilities is critical to establishing Australia as a global leader in autonomous technology,” Dr Arnott said.

Mr Dick said during the initial stages of operation drones will make test flights over short distances of up to 25km.

Originally published as Australia’s first drone facility to be built in Cloncurry, run by Boeing and paid for by the State Government