TROY BELL MP
Member for Mount Gambier
Your Independent voice
in State Parliament
Dedicated rescue
Tuesday October 10, 2023THERE have been fresh calls for a dedicated marine rescue facility to be funded for Port MacDonnell with Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell once again teaming up with Grant District Council.
Mr Bell will put a motion forward during parliament next week requesting the state government "recognises the important assistance professional and recreational fishers play in emergency marine safety situations" along the Limestone Coast.
He will also call on the state government to "provide funding for a marine rescue squadron, association SES marine unit" which would incorporate a rescue vehicle to be based at Port MacDonnell.
Speaking with The Border Watch, Mr Bell said he believed the region needed a dedicated facility with many areas across the state already having marine rescue capabilities.
"At the moment the state government is relying on the good will of local fishermen to answer the call," Mr Bell said.
"We need to recognise that our part of the world can be difficult in terms of marine rescue and we need people with specialised training and equipment and facilities to perform those rescues safely."
He said the community response to the callout had been positive and he was "very happy" that Grant District Council had committed to supporting and lobbying for the establishment.
"As a local member it is my role to make sure those wishes are heard at a state government level and that is what I am doing," Mr Bell said.
"I am realistic the emergency services budget is extremely stretched at the moment due to the flooding which occurred in the Riverland area and parts of the Murray River and in terms of a budget allocation for this year it is a bit of an ask to be included.
"What I am really hoping for is this issue staying on the agenda and the government is fully aware of it and when we start looking at election commitments and we start looking at budgeting beyond this cycle that marine rescue for Port MacDonnell is high on the agenda."
Mr Bell said the marine rescue facility would provide support along the coast and tie in with Kingston and provide cover right along the coastline.
"These facilities strategically placed around South Australian coastlines allow cover when the need arises," he said.
Grant District Council chief executive officer Darryl Whicker said council supported having the marine rescue and had been advocating for some time "given the danger at sea" amid the rise of recreational fishing.
"Council supports the establishment of a sea rescue and we believe it is fundamentally important considering commercial and recreational fishing," Mr Whicker said.
"We do not have to look far past the shipwreck walls and Maritime Museum at how dangerous the South East coastlines are."
He said the establishment of a marine rescue dedicated facility was a "key advocacy" piece for the Limestone Coast Zone Emergency Management Committee which comprised all seven regional councils.
"It is extremely important to service our region and not just Port MacDonnell," Mr Whicker said.
"When fishermen undertake rescues which they do so selflessly - there could be exposure to their downtime in a robust rescue operation so having this would share the burden and also give them the framework to do it in a safer environment."
He said many people would be able to volunteer while still providing the rescue and support but in a "better and safer environment".
"We need to acknowledge the community led rescue by community fishermen who have fulfilled this gap and that should be undertaken by an official body," he said.
"A fishing zone of this size should be supported with the establishment of a sea rescue and the associated protection within the emergency within the emergency management environment led by the SES but where the community can still take an active role with the appropriate training and resourcing."