Kimba is set to play a pivotal role in the future of emergency search and rescue, with the town selected as a key trial site for South Australia’s State Emergency Service (SES) aerial expansion.
New heavy-duty drones are also being stationed in Port Lincoln and Ceduna to replace ageing equipment.
The local trial is part of a broader $2 million program that is immediately strengthening the state’s response capability with nine new remotely piloted aircraft.
Minister for Emergency Services Rhiannon Pearce said the upgrades were vital for crew safety.
“Ensuring front line responders have access to the right equipment can make the difference between life and death in some situations,” Minister Pearce said.
“This investment in drone technology means our SES volunteers can remotely assess landscapes and situations before they put themselves on the line for our community.”
The new fleet boasts AI-enabled recognition of people and vehicles, thermal imaging, and spotlights—features critical for the 500-plus deployments undertaken by the SES in 2025.
SES chief officer Kristy Phelps highlighted the need for specialized volunteers.
“Drone technology is rapidly evolving and the demand for their use in our operations continues to increase each year,” Phelps stated.
“We know not everyone can or wants to go on a truck, but having a capability such as being a drone pilot is a specialist skill that we will need more of in the future.”
The Kimba trial will involve lightweight microdrones weighing less than 250 grams, designed for rapid deployment directly from response vehicles.
SES chief remote pilot Brad Flew welcomed the modern equipment.
“Drones are now an integral part of the SES’ search and rescue capability,” Flew said.
“These replacement units not only offer improved capabilities in terms of flight times and capturing images, but they also have more safety features to minimise the risk of an accident when flying.”
