Port Fairy has received a new marine rescue boat worth $1.25 million, but exactly where the new vessel will be berthed in the long-term is worrying volunteers.
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The 12-metre boat, owned by Emergency Management Victoria, arrived at the town's waters on Wednesday and will be temporarily moored at a depot jetty on the eastern bank of the Moyne River.
Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service volunteers are now training to use the boat and will continue to use their 6.5 metre stabicraft until they are fully qualified.
The new vessel can travel about double the distance than the rescue service's current craft.
Port of Port Fairy chair Colin Ryan, also a Moyne Shire councillor, welcomed the boat's arrival.
"(It) is a great asset for the port, the local community and to seafarers along the west coast of Victoria," Cr Ryan said.
But he said a long waiting list for berths in the Moyne River meant the boat's berth was temporary.
"Due to no permanent berths being available in the Moyne River, an agreement has been signed to allow temporary berthing of the vessel at the depot jetty for six months," Cr Ryan said.
He said if no permanent river berths became available during that time, the vessel would be moved to Martins Point Jetty, on the other side of the river.
But Cr Jim Doukas said that Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service volunteers were concerned the Martins Point Jetty was two kilometers from the group's headquarters and would add additional time to emergency situations.
He accused the port of being "unhelpful" in accepting the new vessel.
"Where is the common sense in all this?" Cr Doukas said. "Martins Point is a poor location because it's exposed to tidal and wave surge."
The rescue service's headquarters has been on Griffiths Street for about decade, on the opposite side of the Moyne River to Martins Point.
The arrival of the vessel has also brought an end to a long campaign by Port Fairy volunteers to get a replacement for their old rescue boat.
The push for new vessel began in 2012, with lobbying eventually leading to the state government's decision to fund the new vessel.
Cr Ryan said the board would undertake a new port master plan to determine if more berths could be allocated in the future.
"Key stakeholders, including Port Fairy Marine Rescue Service, will be involved in this planning process," he said.
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