Liberals pledge new vessel for Coast Guard Queenscliff

COAST Guard Queenscliff’s fleet would get an all-new vessel through a $1.5 million election commitment by the Victorian Liberals.

Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Brad Battin and Liberal candidate for Bellarine Donnie Grigau visited Coast Guard Queenscliff’s headquarters at the Queenscliff boat ramp on Monday this week to announce the election pledge, which will fully fund the purchase and fitout of a new vessel for the flotilla.

Coast Guard Queenscliff commander Michael Donohue welcomed the pledge.

He said the funds would go towards a replacement for CG09, which had a refurbishment five years ago to extend its operational life to 20 years.

“For the past couple of years we’ve been planning for a replacement, and we were expecting that in this year’s budget – unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

“It’s an important commitment, and we’re grateful for it.

“The problems that we’ve got is that without some certainty in capital funding for vessels across the Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) sector, it’s impossible for us to run efficiently, and that’s the issue that we struggle with.

“I’ve been in regular contact with the minister to make her awake of what we’re struggling with, so it’s great to see that in Brad we’ve got some people as state members of Parliament who understand what’s going on.”

Coast Guard Queenscliff says the issue is wider than just their flotilla and affects all MSAR services, with 32 vessels reaching the end of their operational life by 2027, meaning six vessels will need to be replaced every year for the next year.

Mr Battin said the announcement was about investing in water safety, and giving the Coast Guard Queenscliff the tools it needs to do its job.

“Only the Liberals and Nationals will give Marine Search and Rescue the necessary funding for the new vessel.

“Looking at the funding models throughout emergency services – I deal with SES as well, and SES is the poor cousin of CFA – I think it’s something that happens throughout the sector, because there’s no fairness.

“At the end of the day, going back to volunteers and saying ‘if you need a new boat, you’ve got to sell two and a half million dollars’ worth of sausages’ is unrealistic; we know that.”

Mr Grigau said his commitment would have a lasting impact, hopefully for decades to come

“Both residents and Victorians from further afield will be comfortable knowing that their Coast Guard has the capability to keep them safe in the water.”