Media releases
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter for the NSW South Coast
30 November 2010
Rescue services will be significantly boosted on the NSW South Coast after Westpac announced additional funding for the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service to introduce a dedicated rescue helicopter service for the region.
The boosted financial assistance will allow for the Westpac Life Saver to operate a helicopter on the NSW South Coast from the 1st December 2010, to coincide with the start of the busy summer season.
Westpac Life Saver General Manager Stephen Leahy said the community would reap the benefits of the new rescue service.
“We are extremely grateful to Westpac for the extra funding to provide this invaluable service for the region,” he said.
“As the NSW South Coast continues to grow and tourism increases, we recognise the need to support lifesaving services on the beach with aerial surveillance and aerial rescue capabilities, especially in remote locations.
“It also provides the police and other emergency services with a rapid and responsive rescue helicopter to assist them in search and rescue operations.”
“The new helicopter will be based at Moruya Airport each summer and will cover an area from Shoalhaven Heads down to the Victorian border.”
Westpac Regional General Manager for the NSW South Coast, Troy Fedder said the expansion of services was just another way Westpac continued to support the local community.
“Westpac has a long and proud tradition of working with the communities in which we operate. For us, helping to bring the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter to the South Coast is part of our commitment to champion the things that matter in the local neighbourhoods we are part of.”
The launch of the South Coast service is part of an additional $1million investment Westpac has committed to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service this year, to help expand life saving services to more communities around Australia. We are excited that the local Westpac branches are able to throw their support behind this new service.”
The helicopter will be based at Moruya Airport for the next three summers but planning and fundraising has commenced to make the service a daily service year round.