Drones used to scope properties raise privacy concerns for Mosman residents
Mosman residents have voiced their concerns after a drone employed by a real estate agent was hovering in their area.
A real estate agent using a drone fitted with a camera to apparently scout properties in Mosman has been reported to police.
A resident contacted the Mosman Daily about her concerns after spotting the mini-helicopter flying in front of her top-floor apartment on Moruben Rd.
The woman was walking towards her kitchen to make a cup of coffee when she noticed something strange outside her window.
“I got a shock. At first I thought it was a plane in the distance,” she said.
“I could see flashing lights and realised it was a drone.”
The woman contacted police and was told that it was a real estate agent scoping for properties.
She said she was extremely annoyed and felt it was an invasion of privacy.
“What are they looking at, what are they scoping for. It’s crazy,” she said.
“I don’t know what they are they are trying to see. What is it they are doing?”
She said she was initially concerned that the drone was being used by potential thieves to find out when people are at home.
She believed the drone could see into her apartment.
Her neighbour Rob Graham was not home at the time of the incident but was extremely concerned due to privacy issues.
“It is important other people on the street and in Mosman know this is happening,” he said.
Another neighbour is also understood to have spotted the drone hovering on the street at about the same time. The incident happened on Thursday, June 26, about 10.30am.
NSW Police’s Director of Public Affairs Strath Gordon said he understood that police spoke to the real estate agent who had the appropriate documentation to fly the drone.
“The police could not detect an offence,” he said.
Police would not reveal the name of the real estate agent using the drone in Mosman. A spokeswoman stated that everything was above board and nothing illegal was taking place.
The Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) explained that drones are known to be used in the industry for marketing photographs.
“From a marketing point of view it give a good perspective of how that particular property sits in the landscape,” said president Malcolm Gunning.
REINSW do not have any guidelines for the use of drones but Mr Gunning said the body would now look at the issue.
He explained that he thought operators would be mindful not to disturb neighbours and to respect their privacy.
“If it was me I’d be very mindful,” he said.
The drones are officially known as remotely piloted aircraft and are covered by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) legislation.
CASA has written to real estate institutions to inform their members not to use the devices without the right safety approvals.
Anyone using a drone for commercial purposes must have approval from CASA.
There are more than 100 approved operators in Australia and only certain operators are permitted to go within 30m of property.
Drones have recently become headline issues in Australia.
Last year a drone belonging to a member of singer Rihanna’s support crew crashed into the Harbour Bridge sparking a police investigation.
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