Volunteers show strong support for proposed Marine Rescue Levy

The NSW government is proposing a Marine Rescue Levy of $7.50 on Boat Drivers Licences and Boat Registrations. This will all go to Marine Rescue NSW and provide the essential core funding that will ensure Marine Rescue NSW is properly equipped to continue and expand its services to the NSW boating community.

“Marine Rescue volunteers are united in their support for the proposed levy”, said Doug Musker, Unit Commander of Marine Rescue Ulladulla. “Marine Rescue members at bases up and down the NSW coast have been out demonstrating how important this initiative is.”

“In 2009 marine rescue volunteers in NSW gave emergency assistance to around 2,900 boats carrying over 7,000 men, women and children in 2009,” said Commander Musker. “We will continue to raise the funds needed to maintain and operate our rescue vessels and radios. But the levy will give a solid financial base for the organization as a whole to implement a realistic vessel and equipment replacement program. This will ensure that each Marine Rescue Unit along the entire NSW coast is properly equipped to deal with marine emergencies of all kinds. The levy is just $7.50 and that’s no more than two extra cappuccinos or an extra 1kg bag of bait over a whole year.”

“All of our members are right behind this levy,” said Commander Musker. “It will help ensure our boating community is a safe boating community. And we hope our boating community will join us to support it.”

$7.50 a year is a small price to pay to ensure there is a Marine Rescue safety net in place for the more than 1.5 million people who enjoy boating in NSW today. Ask someone who has been rescued what they think. They’ll tell you.

More than 2,500 Marine Rescue volunteers are depending on the public they serve to help ensure that they can continue to do so – to the high standard that the public expects.

To support the volunteers, go to the NSW Maritime website www.maritime.nsw.gov.au  and vote YES for the Marine Rescue Levy