Groceries to be delivered by drone to Qld homes

Groceries to be delivered by drone to Qld homes

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No… it’s a loaf of bread and carton of milk.

That will soon be the reality for Queenslanders with Google set to launch its new drone delivery service this September.

Logan has been revealed as the first city to receive the innovative delivery service, with Wing teaming up with a range of businesses in the suburb to deliver a range of items such as fresh bread, hot coffee, non-prescription drugs and other food items directly to homes within minutes by simply using a mobile app.

Wing said they chose the suburb as it’s one of Australia’s fastest growing communities and home to the eighth largest population in the country.

 

“We also believe our air delivery service can help reduce the traffic congestion and air pollution that often accompany such growth,” Wing said.

A similar service has already been rolled out in Canberra and is proving to be a huge success.

“One of the things we’ve learned from our first several thousand deliveries in Australia is that families with young children seem to particularly enjoy our service,” the company said.

“They tell us the convenience and ease of air delivery saves them having to bundle the kids up in the car to drive to the shops. Logan has a booming population of young families, and we’re excited to see if they find drone delivery as beneficial as other Australian parents.”

It’s understood Queensland’s commitment to drones was also a big selling point for the service.

“Queensland is a natural choice because the State is at the forefront of drone technology leadership,” Wing said.

“The Government recently released the Queensland Drone Strategy, and the State hosts the annual World of Drones Congress, which brings together industry and academic thought leaders from around the world.”

Innovation Minister Kate Jones said the new service would also create jobs for drone pilots in Queensland.

“We’re working with the world leaders in drone technology to create jobs for Queenslanders,” she said.

“That’s why we’re partnering with Wing today to make sure that we lead the way when it comes to capitalising on the opportunities provided by technological advancements in drone technology.

Ms Jones said that during a trade mission to the United States in June, the Minister met with Wing to explore the opportunities in Queensland.

“Building partnerships with industry and trade leaders is a key part of our Advance Queensland innovation strategy – to grow and diversify our economy,” she said.

“Whether you’re a parent who forgot to pick up fresh bread for your kids school lunches, or you simply want to order your weekend coffee without having to drive to the shops, Wing is teaming up with local Logan businesses to give customers the opportunity to have a range of goods delivered in a handful of minutes.”

Deliveries of items up to 1.5kg are expected to be made in Logan later this year.