DRONES that can drop lifebuoys with precision into dangerous surf may soon be helping keep Gold Coast swimmers safe.

City councillors this week supported a motion for chief executive Dale Dickson to investigate “options for aerial surveillance of the city’s ocean waters with a view to enhancing the safety of surfers and beachgoers”.

That could involve a fleet of airborne remote-controlled robots as an emergency first response option for lifeguards, as well as tracking dangerous sharks.

A report will soon be handed to city leaders on the feasibility of having a small squadron of the remotely piloted aircraft patrolling above the city’s busy beaches.

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media_camera A picture taken on August 29, 2015 shows a drone, called "The Guardian", carrying a life preserver and flying above people at a public beach as it is tested to save swimmers in peril in Lebanon's southern port city of Sidon. Presented to the municipality by the organisation the "Friends of Zira and Sidon’s Beach", it was created by Rabih al-Awji to shorten the time it takes to get help to people in trouble. AFP PHOTO / MAHMOUD ZAYYAT

Gold Coast City Council statistics show their professional lifeguards rescued 1241 beachgoers and undertook 28,176 preventions in the 12 months to July.

Numbers from Surf Life Saving Queensland reveal volunteer lifesavers undertook 721 rescues on the Gold coast in 2014-15.

Rescue numbers are increasing in some areas. Southport had 123 rescues compared to 101 for the previous season.

The idea to introduce mechanical drones as lifeguards was backed by Carrara councillor Bob La Castra who said the cost-effective option, if found to be feasible, would allow multiple craft to operate during the busy beach season as well at major surf carnivals.

“Drones are now being used for all sorts of things — be it crop dusting or pest control — and we think they are a great place to look to improve surf safety,” he said.

“There are now types of drones which can carry inflatable life rings that can be dropped to people in distress while they wait for the lifeguards to get out to them and it would be great to have that here.

The council is also looking to see if a commercial sponsorships could help cover the cost of the craft, which retail for about $2500.

It is the latest sky-high idea to improve surf safety to come out of city hall with late former mayor Ron Clarke successfully funding a daily patrol of beaches using small planes in 2009.

The investigation into drone lifeguards began with city economic development boss Jan Grew meeting with Surfers Paradise businessmen Lukeuce Kleinschmidt and Martin Haynes, whose company Egofun is based on the Glitter Strip.

They proposed the idea of using drones for surf safety.

“In a matter of 10 seconds you can have a craft in the sky and dropping off the buoy, rather than the 45 seconds it can take for a lifeguard to get across the break,” Mr Kleinschmidt said.

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