The 2019-20 NSW Budget will deliver total funding of $1.7 billion for emergency services agencies, including Fire and Rescue NSW, Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service and the Office of Emergency Management, to ensure optimum response to disasters and accidents across the State.
Minister for Emergency Services David Elliott said Marine Rescue NSW will receive funding of $37.6 million over the next four years to enhance its rescue capabilities with 38 new rescue vessels, an upgraded operational centre and improvements to the marine radio network to eliminate black spots along the South Coast of NSW and the Hawkesbury River.
As part of this investment, the NSW Government will deliver a new rescue unit on Lord Howe Island, as well as new or upgraded bases and boat buildings at Tweed Heads, Ballina, Narooma, Lake Macquarie, Middle Harbour, Newcastle and the Central Coast.
“Many of our emergency services organisations in NSW exist because volunteers take time out of their lives to respond in an instant to an accident or disaster. The whole community appreciates their strength and efforts,” Mr Elliott said.
The Volunteer Rescue Association will receive $18.8 million over four years to deliver 30 new rescue trucks, including 18 medium rescue trucks and 12 quick response trucks, to help volunteers respond to road crashes, land searches and even ski-related rescues.
Surf Life Saving NSW have embraced a technology boom supported by the NSW Government’s $16 million investment to fund new jet skis and vehicles, additional emergency response beacons, community engagement officers and an innovative new beach Wi-Fi project to educate tourists.
Emergency Management will be strengthened with $6.6 million over four years to guarantee the operation of an Emergency Alert System, which is a warning system used by emergency services to issue voice messages to landlines and texts to mobile phones.
Surfing NSW will receive $1 million over four years to deliver training in life saving board rescue methods and CPR to around 10,000 beachgoers. Finally, the Government will provide funding to build a new fire station in Kingscliff as well as planning funding for a new co-located Fire & Rescue NSW and ambulance station in Lismore.
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