PORT Macquarie will have a new life saving training centre next year, after a $1 million injection from the Federal Government.
Surf Life Saving NSW will use the money to part-fund its new operations and training centre at Central Road.
Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott, who negotiated the billion-dollar Regional Development Australia fund with fellow independent MP Tony Windsor in 2010, said the $1 million contribution would go a long way.
“The RDA fund will meet half the cost of the project, which will be a base for training and education of Surf Life Saving members, a first-aid and CPR training facility for the public, an administrative centre for Surf Life Saving NSW’s clubs and members, and a centre for related rescue services, storage and education,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“Surf Life Saving NSW is one of Australia’s largest volunteer organisations, so a centralised Operations and Training Centre has the potential to deliver great outcomes for the 32 surf life saving clubs and 30,000 members in northern NSW.”
Mr Oakeshott said it the new centre would also generate employment opportunities in Port Macquarie through administrative positions, first-aid trainers and radio network operators.
“We’re talking about 30 local jobs during construction and then at least three full-time and several part-time jobs once the centre opens,” he said.
“It will complement other emergency response centres established in the Central Road precinct.”
Tony Marshall, the chairman of the Mid North Coast RDA board, said he was thrilled with the funding boost.
“The RDA Mid North Coast Board is delighted with the result. The operations and training centre will provide critical education and integrated rescue services for the whole of the Mid North Coast,” he said.
Surf Life Saving NSW president Tony Haven said the organisation already had approval to build on the Central Road site, which was purchased from council.
“All our members used to come down to Sydney to do their training – not now,” he said.
“They will be able to train in their own location and, more importantly, we’ll be able to train community groups.”
Surf Life Saving NSW estimates the project will be completed by July next year.
The other grant winner from the Mid North Coast was Greater Taree City Council, which secured $10 million in funding towards a transport hub interchange.
