The seascape of our marine rescue organisations across the state are about to go through a significant change when Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) amalgamates with Queensland Coast Guard.
It is anticipated that the merge will enable both services to leverage from each other and receive better overall government funding.
Mal Priday from VMR Whitsunday said that, in his mind it couldn’t happen sooner.
“Bring it on! – The sooner the better!” he said.
“The move means we will receive more realistic funding now – we won’t need to spend so much time on our knees begging for funding.”
Currently, in order to keep VMR Whitsunday operating, volunteers need to raise an astounding $130,000 per year to bank as a contingency fund so they can replace a vessel after it’s served its best years, usually after roughly 10 years.
Four years ago, VMR Whitsunday spent over $1 million on their latest boat and only $160,000 was funded by the state government, the remaining was raised through the kindness of local sponsors and the community.
The amalgamation will instantly give VMR across the state access to a bigger pool of funding.
Concerns have been raised, however, that the merge would mean that all VMR resources, including boats, buildings and cash would become property of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) based in Canberra.
Having been part of the Blue Water Review fleet working group for some time, Mr Priday is well-informed about the plans and says all assets will remain in the community it serves.
“It would be morally wrong for it to be taken away by our community,” said Mr Priday.
“All assets will not be taken by the QFES.”
There are 26 VMR squadrons in QLD, locally these include Mackay, Midge Point, Whitsundays, Bowen, and Burdekin.
This is compared to 17 Coast Guard Squadrons with the nearest in Townsville or just south of Mackay.
At the moment the Coast Guard is declining to participate in the amalgamation, but Mr Priday believes a merge is inevitable due to the fact that both New South Wales and West Australia are already operating as one enterprise.
Mr Priday hopes this will happen soon so that our local VMR can receive more state funding and focus on the important job of keeping our local waterways safe.
The VMR Whitsunday rescue vessel sponsored by Coral Sea Marina
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