Coast Guard needs a new tower
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard tower on Ballina’s North Wall is a local icon — but it’s past its use-by-date.
Although it still serves its purpose, the tower has health and safety issues.
For a start, climbing the tower is tough enough — it’s a two-storey almost-verticle ladder, and there’s barely enough room to fit through.
Also, there are no toilet facilities in the tower. Volunteers who do regular four-hour shifts have to, well, hold on, because they are not to leave the radio room while on duty.
And there is no way a disabled person could gain access to the tower.
As well, the Ballina Flotilla volunteers say there is no fire escape.
“It’s an icon, but it’s difficult to maintain,” flotilla commander Tony Handcock says, adding that a cherry picker is needed to clean the outside windows, and that costs money – money which the flotilla doesn’t have.
The volunteers who run the service are quick to point out that they get community support, and that the State Government chips in $50,000 every eight years. But all that Government money goes towards renewing the Coast Guard boat, which has to be replaced every eight years.
It’s not a matter of the flotilla wanting to move from their present location. They say where they are is ideal, giving them full view of the bar and surrounding ocean areas where they can watch over the thousands of deep-sea and ocean outings by fishermen and sailors.
The volunteers also play a vital role in tracking yachts and other boats as they transit between Coast Guard locations.
Flotilla volunteers also give surf reports to the many surfers who ring the tower to check on wave conditions, and they provide live crosses to radio stations – even the Coraki FM station – so that fishermen and other beach users can be informed of sea and bar conditions.
Mr Handcock estimates that a new tower would cost about $300,000. He and the other volunteers are hoping for a new tower in time for the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the flotilla, in February 2009.
But for that to happen, they will need the the generosity of the local community, or even a benefactor. All donations are tax deductible. The Coast Guard can be contacted on 6681 4700 or by writing to PO Box 476, Ballina, 2478.
The flotilla is currently raffling a boat. Tickets can be purchased at various retail outlets around the district on specified days.
PICTURE: Coast Guard Commander Tony Handcock and Deputy Commander Norm Lannoy at the Coast Guard tower on Ballina’s North Wall.
