NATIONALS Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, revealed a close personal interest in getting the Port Welshpool Volunteer Coastguard a new ocean-going rescue boat.
It was one of his first jobs as a new MP, 25 years ago, to help the coastguard get their present vessel, a second-hand Noosa Cat, from the water police at Paynesville.
“So, it came as a bit of a shock to hear that they were in need of a new one, and it reminded me how long I have been around,” Mr O’Brien told State Parliament this week.
Speaking during the Adjournment Debate on Tuesday, September 10, Mr O’Brien again raised the issue of Port Welshpool’s failing rescue boat and whether or not the Minister for Emergency Services and Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery Vicki Ward could find $2 million for a new one or even identify where a used ship might be found.
Commander of the Port Welshpool Volunteer Coastguard, Robin Street, is most appreciative of Mr O’Brien’s on-going support, and will also be welcoming Labor’s Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh, to Port Welshpool next week for a visit.
“Danny has been fantastic,” said Commander Street.
“Yes, it’s amazing to think he helped get us this boat 25 years ago but it’s in for repairs at Paynesville now, as we speak.
“There’s something wrong with the electricals, which means we can’t get it started sometimes but it’s just too old now, working under the conditions we work in down around the Prom and further out.
“It’s out in Bass Strait afterall.”
The Port Welshpool Coastguard responds to upwards of 40 emergency calls a year, many of them life and death circumstances for boats and ships using the local water ways.
“It’s such a long way for anyone else to respond,” said Commander Street.
What they are ideally looking for is a boat similar to the 12 metre boat just in the process of being delivered to the Queenscliff Coastguard, a Rescue203 boat designed by Chris Tucker Marine Design Pty Ltd, and built locally, at Inverloch by Alumarine to Vic Emergency and Queenscliff specifications.
“We’re looking at $2.1 million to $2.2 million for something like that but we’re getting pretty desperate now,” said Commander Street.
The group, which boasts 25 active volunteer members, made a submission to the Emergency Services Minister earlier this year and will be reinforcing the points of their submission when they meet Mr McIntosh next week.
“Hopefully when he sees the situation first-hand, we’ll be able to convince him of the situation here.”
What Danny O’Brien MP had to say
“The adjournment matter I raise this evening is for the Minister for Emergency Services, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide funding for the replacement of the Port Welshpool coastguard vessel.
“I have previously written to the minister and have more recently provided a business case for the replacement of the vessel to the minister, but I want to impress upon her the need for this.
“I met with the coastguard last week. The Port Welshpool coastguard provides coastguard services within Corner Inlet and down to the tip of Wilsons Prom.
“There is not a replacement or an alternative option between, basically, Port Welshpool and the water police at Paynesville.
“There is the Port Albert coastguard, but it does not have a boat that can do the same work that the Port Welshpool guys can. They are a fantastic crew of volunteers who undertake quite a number of rescues and other options every year.
“Unfortunately, their current vessel is now 25 years old and last year was out of action for about 60 per cent of the time due to maintenance issues.
“I have a personal interest in this. The current vessel was the previous Paynesville water police vessel. One of the very first things I was able to do as an MP in the upper house, in the other place, was secure that vessel for Port Welshpool, so it came as a bit of a shock to hear that they were in need of a new one, and it reminded me how long I have been around.
“The Port Welshpool coastguard does a great job. It regularly looks after all of those maritime activities in Corner Inlet and around Wilsons Prom, ranging from accidents on the prom with hikers who might need to be picked up from a beach to passing yachts, to boaties who get into trouble in the inlet and even down to kayakers.
“One of their recent rescues was some kayakers that got caught by the weather in a difficult position.
“The coastguard provide a wonderful service, and they have put together a really good business case which explains why their boat needs to be replaced quite urgently.
“It is estimated as possibly a $2 million buy for a new vessel, and I have asked the coastguard whether there is the prospect of another vessel that could be repurposed for them. They are not aware of any at this stage, but I would be happy if the minister and her department could provide any advice on that.
“Certainly, though, their preference is for a new vessel, and I encourage the minister to give this urgent consideration.
