We save lives too, says under-fire Marine Watch

29.01.2010

MARINE Watch has strongly
defended its role keeping swimmers
safe, after the value of the plane service
was questioned by Surf Life Saving
Queensland (SLSQ).
Just weeks after it took to the Gold
Coast skies, the light plane service has
been accused of being a duplication of
services SLSQ provides to protect people
on the Gold Coast.
SLSQ called on the council to
instead commit the extra funds to its
emergency chopper so it can increase
its operations.
The city council last year agreed to a
three-month trial of the light-plane
service, at a cost of $115,000, and is yet
to decide if it will fund the operation
past late February.
Marine Watch director John
Nielsen argues the two services are different
and complementary.
"We fly every day for four hours,
tracking between Point Danger and
Couran Cove," said Mr Nielsen.
"Our role is preventive action while
the Westpac helicopter is a rapid
response rescue unit. Marine Watch
does not perform rescues ... our goal
is to prevent them."
Mr Nielsen also questioned SLSQ's
claim the emergency chopper was in
the air for two hours a day patrolling
the coast.
"Eight hours a week is more probable,"
he said.
Mr Nielsen said besides looking out
for swimmers who had strayed away
from patrolled areas and other water
users who looked like they might be in
trouble, the service kept lifeguards
aware of sharks and other marine life.
"Marine Watch can see the whitecaps
building out to sea long before the
bluebottles sail in on a strong northerly
wind." he said.