After years of operating with an unreliable hand-me-down vessel, the Port Welshpool Coast Guard Flotilla has finally been promised a new custom-built rescue boat in the 2026 Victorian state budget.
The funding announcement came as a complete surprise to the flotilla, with Eastern Victoria Upper House MP Tom McIntosh making a personal visit to Port Welshpool to deliver the news after the budget was handed down last week.
Flotilla Commander Robin Street said the news was sensational and long overdue. "It means we will be getting a new custom built mono hull craft designed for the conditions we face on Bass Strait," he said. "For the boating community it means our waters will have enhanced rescue capabilities making for better on water security. For our volunteers, we will have a vessel that is reliable and will meet the needs of the flotilla for many years to come."
The Port Welshpool Coast Guard carries out approximately 26 rescue operations and assists each year, a significant workload for a small volunteer flotilla covering such a vast area.
Tom McIntosh MP paid tribute to the volunteers and to Commander Street's persistent advocacy. "Congratulations to Coast Guard Port Welshpool VF20 on their 2026 Victorian Budget win. This funding for a new rescue vessel is a massive boost for safety along the Gippsland coastline. A huge thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who keep our waters safe, and a special shout-out to Robin for his tireless advocacy to make this new vessel a reality."
Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, said it was a relief to see funding delivered. “The Port Welshpool Coastguard does vital work along our coastline and it’s good to see that need finally recognised.”
Emergency Management Victoria is expected to call for tenders shortly, with the new vessel hoped to be in service by early 2027.
