My question is to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services and I ask: will she meet with members of the Portland Coast Guard to discuss their plans for a permanent home for this vital emergency service group?
At the moment the Portland Coast Guard operates from three different locations and at the location on the dockside, there are no changing rooms, no showers, no toilets and no shelter. Female volunteers are getting changed in the carpark using car doors as a privacy screen.
The group holds meetings at the town’s CFA station and their radio room is based on the other side of town at Keppel Prince.
The group has plans drawn up, a long-term lease for their location and the support of the commercial Port of Portland. They require about $2.5 million to build a new base so they can continue to service the far west coast and provide a critical search and rescue function.
