A COMMUNITY petition to reinstate winching capabilities of the local rescue chopper service may be launched as early as next week.
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Tamworth Regional Council deputy mayor Russell Webb said plans were well afoot to initiate the petition, which he hoped would garner 10,000 signatures.
The news comes as Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service regional co-ordinator Barry Walton reassured community members yesterday that cuts to Sydney’s surf lifesaving helicopters had no bearing on the Tamworth service.
Mr Walton said the funding cuts were “totally separate to our current situation”.
On Wednesday the state government announced it had reduced its annual funding for the La Perouse-based service by $400,000, prompting calls from New England North West locals who feared the chance to reinstate winching capabilities here had taken a turn for the worst.
Mr Walton said while both services looked very similar and displayed the Westpac logo, they were completely separate organisations.
The Sydney service is sponsored by Westpac but operated through Surf Life Saving Australia and is known as the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.
Mr Walton said as far as he was aware the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service didn’t have a health department contract like the Tamworth and Newcastle service.
Meanwhile member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson yesterday confirmed he had made official representations to Minister for Health Jillian Skinner to discuss the winching reforms.
“We’ve put the request through for her and Ambulance NSW to meet and that’s where we are up to,” Mr Anderson said.
He said Ms Skinner, who is currently on leave, would return from holidays shortly and be in a position to respond then.
“Parliament’s sitting next week so she’ll definitely be back,” he said.
The state government put a halt to Tamworth’s winching service late last month, citing safety concerns.
