Drones used to film daredevils at the Pillars, Mt Martha, raise concerns over privacy
In their battle to keep tabs on thrillseekers at a hazardous cliff jumping spot, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has brought in the big guns.
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Drones are being used to film thrillseekers at the notorious cliff jumping spot the Pillars.
Mornington Peninsula Shire is using drones to monitor the effectiveness of a controversial 2m high fence it built to stop daredevils jumping into the sea.
But the move has raised concerns about the privacy of other beachgoers, and nearby residents.
Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’and Residents’ Association president John Cain said while the council had to monitor the area, using drones was “a good thing and a bad thing”.
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He said it was essential privacy of those at the Pillars was not abused as a result.
“There was the incident where an image captured by a drone of a woman sunbaking in her backyard was used in a real estate advertising campaign,” he said.
In 2014 an agent had enlisted a drone to take an aerial photograph of a for-sale property in Mt Martha, which included a sweeping image of the beach.
But the picture also captured small business owner and mum Mandy Lingard sunbaking topless in her back yard. The sale board with the photo was removed after an outcry.
“It’s in the real estate magazine, it’s on the internet and on the board and I’m really embarrassed,” Ms Lingard said at the time.
Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor David Gill said footage captured by the Pillars’ drones showed that the number of daredevils at the site was down and the council’s fence was deterring people.
“Twelve months ago on Boxing Day there was about 800 people and this year police told us there was about 40 on Boxing Day,” he said.
Cr Gill said the council had been unfairly condemned over the $150,000 fence, which critics claim is an eyesore and has done little to deter thrillseekers getting to the clifftop site.
“The dangers were caused by the large numbers and people drinking. We had to take action.”
The Leader recently reported the Instagram hotspot was busy on the Australia Day public holiday with dozens brazenly pushing through the fence, which has multiple signs warning the area is dangerous and closed to the public.
Council executive manager infrastructure services Jessica Wingad said the shire was committed to trialling the fence and reporting back on its effectiveness.
“The drone footage, along with community feedback, parking enforcement numbers and police reports will be reviewed and presented to council and the community as part of our post-summer evaluation,” she said.
Council erected the concrete and mesh fence at the start of December after it was told that it faced liability if a jumper was injured.
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