Filming and Photography

Hawkesbury City Council encourages filming within its Local Government Area

Filming and Photography Application

Complete the online form to apply for approval to undertake filming or still photography within the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.

Please ensure that if this application form is submitted less than 5 working days prior to shoot date, approval is not guaranteed.

All filming applications and Still Photography will be subject to the NSW Local Government Filming Protocol and the Code of Conduct for Location Filming

Hawkesbury City Council encourages filming within its Local Government Area. To lodge an application and book a location here.

You will need to login or register a new account.

Filming and photography application form

Insurance Requirements

All film projects must have public liability insurance of $20 million and a copy of the certificate of currency must be provided along with the application before any approvals can be provided.

Drone/RPA use for Filming and Photography

Drone pilots must comply with regulations set by the Commonwealth agency, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), and must obtain approval from the landowner for take- off and landing locations.

• For all commercial RPA use, the following additional documentation must be submitted with the filming and photography application:
• CASA issued RPA operators certificate (ReOC)
• CASA issued remote pilot licence (RePL) for each proposed operator
• aviation specific public liability insurance certificate
• flight risk assessment
• pedestrian management plan with the proposed pedestrian exclusion zone illustrated (30m and so on, depending on the operator’s licence)
• flight plan if operations are to deviate out of the 30m ground exclusion zone once airborne (maximum altitude must not exceed 120m).

Additional restrictions of use

Further documentation must be submitted for all additional operations as listed below:

• within 3 nautical miles or 5.5km of an airport requires specific CASA approval
• at night requires specific CASA approval
• within restricted airspace requires specific approval from the controlling authority (RAAF Base)
• within military airspace requires military approval (LOA) and CASA approval (RAAF Base)

All UAV operators must ensure that flights remain in line with the requirements of privacy legislation.

Notify the Police

Filming activities on public land may need to be approved by NSW Police to discuss traffic control, user-pays police personnel and working around other activities that may be planned in the area at the same time. Police must also be notified if the filming project involves firearms, police uniforms or any other law enforcement-related props.

Hawkesbury Local Area Command can be contacted on (02) 4587 4099

Private Property

If you are filming on private property, you do not require Council consent. However, it is appreciated that you notify Council of your intent.

For further Information please contact the Coordinator Open Space Services

Phone: (02) 4560 4507

Email: council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au