Funding for water safety programs

The Hon Michael Gallacher MLC Minister for Police and Emergency Services recently announced eight water safety initiatives will share $2 million funding as part of the 2011/12 Water Safety Black Spots Fund.

"These organisations are passionate about identifying problem areas and ensuring lives are not put in unnecessary danger," the minister said.

"These organisations provide water safety initiatives on known black-spot locations, address high-risk populations, or emerging water-safety issues," he added.

BIA of NSW was awarded $194,300 to deliver the Boat Smart Safe Boating Program to more schools in NSW.

BIA’s General Manager Roy Privett said: "The BIA and its members will work with the Marine Teachers Association of NSW and NSW Roads and Maritime Services as project partners to focus on preventing boating accidents with the expansion of this part of the Marine Studies Syllabus to four new marine education hubs following a successful pilot Student Boat Training Program at Menai High School which services all marine studies high schools in southern Sydney”.

"The project will provide the education hubs with equipment and resources to expand the reach of safe boating education to surrounding schools. The BIA estimates that 4,000 students will have access to the program. Prevention is the primary focus on educating youth regarding safe practical boating habits," Privett said.

Greg McNeil President Marine Teachers Association NSW said: "This will give many schools access to hands-on practical safe boating training which would otherwise be financially out of reach due to lack of resources or distance constraints".

"The Marine Teachers work extremely hard to provide safe boating education and applauded the initiative of BIA and Roads and Maritime Services to support this community education project, "McNeil added.