UAScend Aerial Solutions
Service Area & Travel Policy
UAScend Aerial Solutions proudly serves clients across the Townsville region and throughout North Queensland. We're committed to delivering our Faster, Safer, Smarter drone solutions wherever your project takes us. While our competitive package pricing offers exceptional convenience for local work, we frequently travel to meet client needs further afield. This page details our standard Local Service Area (where travel is included) and explains our transparent approach to travel costs for locations beyond this primary zone. We welcome all inquiries – please read on for details and contact us to discuss your project, regardless of location
Our Local Service Area (Included Travel)
To provide straightforward pricing for our local clients, travel costs are included in our primary service region within a 40km radius of our operational base. This Local Service Area covers the vast majority of the Townsville region, generally including the following suburbs, towns, and localities:
Included Areas within our Primary Service Area:
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Townsville City & Central: Townsville City (CBD), North Ward, Castle Hill, West End, Hyde Park, Pimlico, Currajong, Hermit Park, Rosslea, Railway Estate, South Townsville, Belgian Gardens, Garbutt.
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Northern Suburbs: Burdell, Bushland Beach, Mount Low, Deeragun, Jensen, Bohle, Bohle Plains, Mount St John, Cosgrove, Pallarenda, Shelly Beach, Black River, Yabulu, Toolakea, Bluewater.
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Thuringowa & Western Suburbs: Thuringowa Central, Kirwan, Mount Louisa, Heatley, Cranbrook, Aitkenvale, Vincent, Gulliver, Rasmussen, Condon, Kelso, Pinnacles, Alice River, Rupertswood.
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Southern Suburbs: Mundingburra, Douglas (inc. JCU & Hospital), Annandale, Idalia, Oonoonba, Cluden, Wulguru, Stuart, Roseneath.
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Further North Localities: Rollingstone, Balgal Beach.
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Magnetic Island (Over water Logistics fees may apply - Contact Us for Quote)
Areas Near Service Boundary
Please note that for addresses located in the outer parts of the following areas, we recommend confirming inclusion during booking, as they may fall near or just outside the local service region depending on the specific location:
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Alligator Creek (township generally included, areas further south/east may be outside)
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Nome
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Calcium
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Outer Bluewater / Toolakea / Yabulu
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Areas significantly north of Rollingstone/Balgal Beach
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Lower slopes of Hervey Range or Paluma Range
Other Potential Fees
Our goal is transparent pricing. While our standard packages cover the defined services within our Local Service Area, certain project-specific requirements or locations may involve additional third-party costs. These are not UAScend fees but are related to regulatory compliance or specific site access for your particular job. We will always identify, discuss, and include these in your formal quote before work begins:
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Local Council Land Access Permits: Operating commercially on Council-managed land (e.g., public parks, beaches, reserves, certain roadsides) may require a permit from the relevant Council (e.g., Townsville City Council).
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UAScend will manage the application process where required.
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Associated council application and/or usage fees (which can range from minimal for low-impact activities to potentially several hundred dollars for more complex shoots) will be passed through at cost.
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Processing Time: Please allow ample lead time. While simple permits might occasionally be processed within approx. 5-10 business days (Best Case), a lead time of ideally 2-3 weeks is recommended for standard requests. Complex applications requiring detailed review or multiple approvals can take 4-6 weeks or significantly longer (Worst Case). Early notification from you is essential.
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National Park Permits (QPWS): Commercial drone operations in Queensland National Parks are strictly regulated and always require a specific permit obtained by UAScend from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
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This involves mandatory QPWS application fees and potentially substantial daily usage fees, which can total several hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on the park and activity.
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Processing Time: These permits require significant lead time due to thorough environmental and safety assessments. We strongly recommend allowing at least 6-8 weeks for the application process as a realistic minimum (Best Case is rarely faster). Complex applications, operations in sensitive areas, or requests requiring further consultation can easily take 3-6 months or longer (Worst Case). Approval is not guaranteed and is subject to QPWS discretion and strict operational conditions.
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Site-Specific Access & Inductions: Accessing certain private or restricted sites (e.g., ports, mine sites, industrial facilities, airports) may incur mandatory induction fees, security escort charges, or specific access levies imposed by the site owner/operator. Lead times for inductions can also vary (days to weeks). These costs will be identified and included in the quote.
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Complex Airspace Authorisations: While standard airspace notifications are included, projects requiring flight in restricted airspace or needing specific CASA authorisations beyond our standard permissions may incur additional planning costs and require significant lead time (potentially weeks to months) for CASA processing.
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Highly Specialised Requirements: Requests significantly beyond standard package deliverables (e.g., rental of unique sensors, advanced non-standard data processing/analysis, major post-delivery revisions) may be quoted separately based on the specific requirements and resources involved.
We are committed to ensuring you understand all costs and potential timelines associated with your project upfront. Please discuss any specific location requirements (especially council or national park land) or complex needs with us as early as possible in the planning process.
Extended Travel Fees (Outside Local Service Area)
For projects located outside our 40km Local Service Area, a per kilometre (GST Inclusive) rate will be applied to fairly cover vehicle costs and travel time. This fee will be clearly calculated and shown on your quote.
Major Travel & Logistics (Custom Quote Required)
Projects requiring significant travel or complex logistics fall outside standard pricing and require a custom quote. This typically includes:
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Locations requiring more than 2 hours of driving time each way from our Burdell base.
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Projects necessitating overnight stays due to distance or required timing (e.g., dawn/dusk shoots).
Custom quotes for major travel will transparently outline estimated costs, which may include:
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Extended travel time compensation.
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Vehicle distance charges.
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Accommodation.
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Meals / Per Diems (standard reasonable rates).
Our Commitment to Clarity
We aim for clear, upfront communication regarding all potential costs. Standard package prices are fixed within our Local Service Area for the defined deliverables. Any additional costs related to extended travel or specific requirements will always be discussed and agreed upon via a formal quote before work commences.
For any questions about our service area, travel fees, or for a customised quote, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
