NSW Premier  Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher recently announced $1.5million in funding for Surf Life Saving NSW to assist the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.

“This funding will ensure this vital search and rescue helicopter service continues to provide a 24/7 service in the Greater Sydney Region and a second service on the NSW south coast, operating daytime, year round” said Mr O’Farrell.

Police and Emergency Services Minister, Michael Gallacher said the search and rescue service had saved countless lives in almost 40 years of operation.

“This search and rescue service has been integral in major operations in our history including the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Waterfall train disaster and the Thredbo landslide in 1997,” said Mr Gallacher.

“The helicopter also played an important role during the floods in Moree, the south coast and Wagga Wagga earlier this year,” he said.

The CEO of the Westpac Life Saver, Stephen Leahy, welcomed the funding announcement.

“We are thrilled with today’s announcement,” said Mr Leahy.  “This allows us to provide dedicated search and rescue helicopters to the communities of the Central Coast, Sydney, right down the Victorian border and beyond”

“We continue to work closely with our colleagues at Surf Life Saving NSW, the NSW Police Force, the NSW State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service and Australian Search and Rescue in providing a rapid, responsive rescue service.”

Just as importantly, we will be working closely with Surf Life Saving NSW to provide regular helicopter patrols along the coastline during the warmer months and this will assist their important work in reducing drownings,” said Mr Leahy.

“An exciting part of this announcement means that we can now provide the fast-growing communities of southern NSW with a dedicate search and rescue helicopter year round.”

“We thank the Premier and the O’Farrell government for their ongoing assistance.  This government support will make NSW a safer place,” he said.

The announcement was made at the helicopter service’s Cape Banks base by Mr O’Farrell and Mr Gallacher and they were joined by the Minister for Sport and Recreation Graham Annesley, the Member for Coogee Bruce Notley-Smith, the Member for Bega Andrew Constance and the Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Phil Vanny.