Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from across the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers will put their flood rescue and support skills to the test this Saturday (12 July) during a specialised exercise at Red Rock.
Marine Rescue NSW Capability Manager Dave Bowing said the multi-agency exercise, involving Marine Rescue NSW and NSW SES volunteers, would continue to strengthen the cross-agency relationship.
“Marine Rescue NSW has built a State Operations Group with specialised vessels and equipment to support the NSW Government’s response to weather emergencies,” he said.
Marine Rescue NSW has already assisted communities on the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast affected by two separate weather emergencies this year, and volunteers will continue to hone their skills ahead of future deployments.
“These exercises are critical for Marine Rescue NSW to maintain its operational capability and readiness when it comes to flood response,” Bowing said.
“Our volunteers will be practising tasks such as improvised launches and retrievals from unfamiliar locations, assisted evacuations, and simulated in-water rescues.”
Bowing said detailed planning had gone into the exercise, which will involve 18 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers and staff from the Point Danger, Ballina, Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Crowdy Harrington units, along with around a dozen NSW SES members.
“The exercise will take place at Red Rock on the Corindi River and include Marine Rescue NSW volunteers from across the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast,” he said.
Five Marine Rescue NSW vessels and five vehicles will be used during the exercise.
“This is a simulated severe weather event causing extreme flooding. Our crews will be tasked with conducting mock rescues of people from structures or in the water, as well as carrying out assisted evacuations,” Bowing said.
“The scenario will be revealed to participants on the morning of the exercise to ensure they cannot prepare in advance — a true test of operational readiness,” he said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
