Marine Rescue NSW has put down its anchor in its dispute with Newcastle council.
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After being told to remove a radio tower from its former base at Shepherds Hill Cottage, the voluntary rescue service says it will not remove the infrastructure until the council finds it a new home and responds to a “significantly overdue” expression of interest on the historic building.
Marine Rescue received a boost this week with the NSW government pledging it $37.6 million if re-elected in March.
Newcastle was one of seven units slated for a new base as part of the funding.
The unit has been operating out of temporary facilities since its former HQ at Shepherds Hill was damaged in a storm in April, 2015. It has been based at the less-than-ideal inland location of Warabrook for the past 18 months but retains hope of a return to its former base.
Those hopes took a blow when Newcastle council called for expression of interests on the historic cottage, proposing future uses as a hospitality or arts space.
Deputy Commissioner of Marine Rescue NSW Dean Storey told the Herald funds would go to a “new or upgraded unit base for Marine Rescue Newcastle, when and where a long-term viable solution is found”.
“The unit’s position is that it still wishes to return to its former unit home at Shepherds Hill, despite previous statements from the Newcastle City Council CEO that he would not let the volunteer unit return,” he said.
“MRNSW submitted an expression of interest (EOI) for the Shepherds Hill building despite these statements from council but one year on, council has yet to announce an outcome on the EOI.
“An outcome on the EOI for Shepherds Hill is significantly overdue from council.”
Mr Storey said Marine Rescue NSW had been actively looking for alternative bases for the Newcastle unit “based on the council CEO’s previous statement”, but no viable alternative had been found.
The council recently sent the organisation a letter instructing it to remove its public safety marine radio mast from Shepherds Hill.
However, Mr Storey said the council had not provided a viable alternative location for the “vital 24/7 boating safety infrastructure”.
“The Council CEO has previously stated that council would provide an equally effective elevated/coastal location for the mast before requiring any movement of the existing mast at Shepherds Hill,” he said.
“Despite this, a letter directing its removal was received just before the start of the boating season with no prior discussion from council.
“MRNSW will not remove this mast/equipment without a viable alternative location being provided by council. Doing so would place the boating public at unnecessary risk.
“Should the unit not be able to return to Shepherds Hill, the continued operation of the radio mast at the site must continue, in order to maintain effective boating safety services for the Newcastle and Greater Hunter community.”
A council spokesperson said restoration work on Shepherds Hill Cottage was half completed and should be finished in late 2019.
“A revised conservation management plan (CMP) for the whole defence site was placed on public exhibition in late 2018 and is currently being finalised,” the spokesperson said.
“This revised CMP was at the request of the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and is required to be resubmitted for approval.
“It makes sense to delay awarding a tenancy until the CMP has been endorsed by the OEH.
“Once this sign-off occurs, council will also need to consider a revised plan of management as required under state legislation.
“City of Newcastle will work with Marine Rescue to find a suitable location for their radio infrastructure, which will allow for the works to continue and the continued operation of Marine Rescue.”