Have your say on the proposed Marine Rescue NSW funding model

“I speak for all 2,546 of our members when I say I am delighted at the NSW government’s initiative to significantly increase funding for Marine Rescue through a small and transparent $7.50 per year levy on boat licenses and registrations – or the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee per year,” said A/Commissioner Glenn Finniss of Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW provides a wide range of services for boating including Search and Rescue response to emergencies, NSW’s only border-to-border marine radio network with a growing number of 24/7 bases, plus a boating safety education program to build better boating skills throughout the community delivered through training courses and face-to face safety education.

“The proposed funding model is a direct and vitally important result of the establishment of Marine Rescue NSW as the single volunteer marine rescue organization for the NSW boating community,” said A/Commissioner Finniss. “It is a move that will enable us to strengthen and expand the delivery of our range of safe boating services more widely and effectively than ever before.”

For example, Marine Rescue NSW will seek opportunities to extend its training and education services and marine radio network inland from the NSW coast to other major waterways including the Murray River and the lakes of the Snowy Mountains and their large boating communities.

“The government has provided full details of this funding initiative on the NSW Maritime website,” said A/Commissioner Finniss. “Marine Rescue NSW urges everyone who enjoys our magnificent boating waters in NSW to register their support for this funding model to secure the future of volunteer marine rescue in NSW.”

Log on at http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/ read the Discussion Paper and register your support.