Surf Life Saving Tasmania (SLST) is boosting its flood and swift water rescue capabilities thanks to a generous $200,000 donation from the Tasmanian Air Rescue Trust.
The grant will enable SLST to better support Tasmanian communities during emergency situations, particularly in the north-west and south-east of the state.
The funds will be used to establish two regional caches of flood and swift water rescue equipment, purchase flood and swift water rescue boats and trailers and cover training costs for SLST volunteers and other emergency service personnel.
The donation is the final allocation from the trust, which is being wound up following the state government’s decision earlier this year to withdraw the volunteer body’s licence to raise public funds and sponsorship for the state’s helicopter rescue service.
Trust Chair Tony Harrison said the organisation had raised an estimated $10 million since 2000 to support the helicopter rescue service through public and corporate donations and Westpac Group sponsorship.
“Since July last year, we have provided some $150,000 for specialist training for police crews, more than $80,000 for other training and equipment for police, paramedics and helicopter crews and $175,000 for a rigid hull inflatable boat and outboard motor for the new police patrol vessel,” Harrison said.
“We wanted our last remaining funds to benefit the Tasmanian public as well as meet a pressing community need and SLST’s Flood and Swift Water Program really meets this criteria.”
Following the 2016 Tasmanian floods, SLST created a dedicated Flood Swift Water Rescue (FSWR) team, setting high standards for training and rescue operations aligned with international best practices.
