Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie third busiest in state with 35 September missions

Newy 87.8 FM – Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie was the third busiest unit in NSW during September, completing 35 responses as volunteers across the state performed 298 search and rescue missions.

Statewide, Marine Rescue NSW crews safely returned 659 people to shore during the month, including 77 emergency responses. Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking was the busiest unit in the state for the first time this year with 43 missions.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews commended boaters on and around Lake Macquarie for heeding boating safety advice and weather warnings during the month.

"Boating requires a huge amount of personal responsibility and accountability, and boaters on Lake Macquarie took notice of the advice last month," he said.

Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie also recorded a significant increase in local Log Ons over the past three months, with 1,449 vessels logged on, up from 860 during the same period last year.

"We would like to see that continue," Commissioner Andrews said.

Following the second busiest winter on record for Marine Rescue NSW, volunteers across the Hunter Central Coast, Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Illawarra and Monaro all experienced a dip in on-water responses during September, while Greater Sydney recorded record demand with 156 missions.

Last month, volunteer radio operators managed 16,700 calls, including 10 MAYDAYs, and kept watch over almost 22,000 people on board vessels that had Logged On.

"Logging On takes about 60 seconds through the free Marine Rescue NSW app or on VHF Channel 16," Commissioner Andrews said.

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