Batemans Bay SLSC on the Far South Coast can now access a crucial outpost at South Durras to the north, to improve response time to remote incidents and help save lives ahead of what is forecast to be a challenging summer weather-wise.
The club, hailed as a backbone of the community during the 2020 fires, often responds to incidents outside their patrol area at Malua Bay and in the last five years they have attended 61 callouts with a 30-minute trip as far north as Dolphin Bay.
The club says the demand on the team, especially during peak holiday periods, is increasing. They looked at ways to respond faster, with rescue equipment, a need highlighted after a recent drowning at the unpatrolled Pebbly Beach.
“Responding to incidents at the northern end of our branch is tricky with the time, distance and hauling gear,” said Far South Coast Duty Officer Anthony Bellette.
“Mollymook is the next closest club and there is something like 70 unpatrolled beaches, coves and swim spots between Mollymook and Malua Bay so it’s a big area to cover and respond to and can take anywhere between 30-40 minutes to get there,” he said.
Eurobodalla Shire Council and the Durras Community Association were keen to support the club to find a solution.
This week the council has approved the upgrade and fit-out of a sports ground facility at Sth Durras to store vital rescue, first aid and resuscitation equipment ready for summer.
Council’s recreation development coordinator Tina Smith said the vacant sportsground facility was a perfect fit.
“This building has sat dormant for about 20 years – since the last time it was used by the local soccer club,” Ms Smith said about the fast-tracked licence to allow the surf club to begin using the building.
“It’s exciting to get the building back in use and we’ll help make it fit for purpose,” Ms Smith said.
Anthony Bellette has personally responded to many of the callouts in the Durras area and has been helping the team bring everything together to get the facility rescue-ready.
“When we first started talking about how to bring this together we reached out to the Surf Life Saving club at Bondi and the President Brent Jackson was quick to offer us an Inflatable Rescue Boat. It is in great condition and will make a significant impact on our response time – it will give us a 30-minute head start,” said Bellette.
He said the Durras Community Association has also contributed to the gear and equipment with a $5,000 donation that will fund a defibrillator and oxygen kit for the facility, while the local hardware store donated gear and Reflex Roller Doors donated a new door.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to coordinate for the Durras community and we’re grateful for all the support from Bondi and the IRB donation the locals who have helped chip in with all the fit out requirements. It will benefit the whole community and it will save lives,” said Bellette.
Surf Life Saving CEO Steve Pearce was thrilled to hear the news that the facility would be ready for summer.
“There are so many amazing spots to swim and relax on the NSW coastline and so many of them are not patrolled which makes them a danger to the swimming public,” he said.
“Our volunteer surf lifesavers do such inspiring work to respond to emergency incidents out of their day-to-day patrolled areas, particularly in remote areas and we’re thankful to the council and community for helping bring this emergency response facility to life in time for summer.”
Wednesday 6 November 2024