Volunteers who perform 68 percent of marine rescues in NSW have failed to be acknowledged in the Budget handed down by the State Government yesterday.

Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, Anthony Roberts, said the Budget had ignored urgent calls by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol for increased government assistance to help voluntary marine rescue organisations meet dramatic increases in fuel costs for rescue vessels, compliance, government fees and equipment.

“No mention of any increased funding has been made in the Budget for this valuable service which performs up to 88 percent of rescues in some Water Police Marine Area Commands and 100 percent of rescues in other areas.

“The State Government collects some $60 million from the boating community each year in fees, yet won’t even provide adequate funding for volunteers conducting many hundreds of rescues each year,” Mr Roberts said.

It is a sham that 90 percent of funding for coastal patrol services has to be raised by the volunteers themselves, Mr Roberts said. The State Government contributed a paltry $1.271 million last year between three voluntary organisations for rescue services along the entire NSW coastline that costs more than 10 times that to provide.

Three voluntary bodies – the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association (Marine) – have 56 volunteer bases with assigned rescue craft.

Mr Roberts said it was estimated that it would cost the State some $30 million plus substantial operating costs annually to operate a marine rescue service itself. It therefore stands to reason that a realistic investment in the current excellent volunteer operation is well worthwhile.