Marine Rescue Ulladulla to celebrate opening of new base

by Ken McManus on 15 Aug 2015 Members of Marine Rescue Ulladulla will celebrate the official opening of their new $1.4 million base at 11am on Saturday (August 15).

The distinctive harbourside building replaces the unit’s former base, destroyed by fire on the October long weekend in 2013, only four months after the opening of its new $132,000 training facilities.

Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock will officially open the base, with fellow unit patrons, Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis and Shoalhaven Mayor Cr Joanna Gash, and Marine Rescue NSW Director Tony Drover and Commissioner Stacey Tannos also joining the unit’s volunteers at the event.

Commissioner Tannos said the new base had been purpose-designed and built, providing panoramic views over the water, a high-tech Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, dedicated training space, amenities and equipment storage.

“The official opening of this new base today is tremendous news for the members of Marine Rescue Ulladulla, local boaters and the Ulladulla community,” he said.

“The destruction of the unit’s base was really tough for the volunteers but to their great credit, they didn’t allow it to disrupt their safety operations, relocating their radio service first to the rescue vessel on the harbour and then to alternative premises,” he said.

“I thank them for their dedication to serving their community and for their resilience in staying the course, working in small demountable accommodation while the planning and building work was under way.

“I certainly join them today in celebrating the opening of their brand new headquarters, with its top-of-the-range equipment and facilities. I’m sure they will enjoy putting it to good use for decades to come.”

The new unit is fitted out with electronics equipment to improve the clarity and efficiency of its radio communications, including an enhanced radio system for monitoring VHF and 27MHz marine radio transmissions, a voice recording system and integrated computer-based radio operator consoles.

Unit Commander Ken Lambert said the opening of the building marked a new start for the unit’s 110 volunteers.

“Our members have been fantastic throughout the two years since the fire. They have continued to provide their essential services to the boating community, attend training and enthusiastically fundraise, despite our less-than-optimal conditions,” he said.

“This facility is a huge boost to our morale, as well as providing our community with a valuable and attractive new asset here on the harbourfront.

“On behalf of all our members, I want to thank Mrs Hancock, Shoalhaven City Council, Cr Gash and Mrs Sudmalis for their cooperation and assistance, along with our local boaters and members of the community for their ongoing support.

“Thanks must go, too, to Bendigo Bank for a very welcome grant, Coates Hire, Telstra and Super Cheap Auto, who helped get us up and running in the fire’s aftermath, and the Ulladulla Game Fishing Club, which allowed us to use its rooms.”

The new base is on the same Wason Street site as the former building, owned by the NSW Department of Lands. It was built by TDK Constructions in a project managed by NSW Public Works and covered by MRNSW insurance, provided through the State Government’s Treasury Managed Fund.