Marine rescue volunteer quits amid ‘extraordinary’ Torres Strait spend
The organisation and operation of Torres Strait marine rescue services has been described as a “dog’s breakfast” amid the departure of Volunteer Marine Rescue’s regional operations manager.
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The organisation and operation of Torres Strait marine rescue services has been described as a “dog’s breakfast” amid departure of Volunteer Marine Rescue’s regional operations manager.
Willie Wigness’ departure from his role as regional operations manager for the Torres Strait Volunteer Marine Rescue service has effectively delayed the delivery of a purpose-built $1.4m, 12m rigid hard collar fast response rescue vessel that has been sitting on a handstand in Cairns for months.
Mr Wigness was approached to take on the unpaid role as Torres Strait regional operations manager by VMR in 2020 and agreed to the position on the condition he was supported with admin and training duties.
This was provided until June last year when it is claimed a support officer was pulled off the job.
Following inquiries by newly formed Marine Rescue Queensland it was revealed in the 12 months to June this year the Thursday Island VMR boat had no safety gear, flat batteries and it was reported the vessel’s trailer, through poor maintenance, fell apart on the road.
In an email from MRQ superiors Mr Wigness was criticised for not answering the phone or emails, not reporting the status of the vessel, “rarely” attending state council VMR meetings and failing to report missing log books and safety equipment.
Mr Wigness was told by superiors the amount of money and time devoted to the Torres Strait in the past 12 months was “extraordinary”.
Maritime Safety Queensland marine officer Tony Dorante has agreed to step into Mr Wigness’ role until the end of the year.
“At the end of the day MRQ was not happy with the way he was running the show, water police want to task him with jobs but if you can’t get a hold of him, it’s not good for the organisation,” he said.
“Training people about how to run boats is the main thing up here, you have to know that stuff.”
Mr Wigness was also held responsible for a $5000 traffic fine during a trip in a VMR vehicle to Yamba, NSW to train on the new fast response vessel at the licensed Naiad manufacturer Yamba Welding and Engineering.
It can be revealed a state agency paid the infringement notice.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the Torres Strait rescue service was in complete disarray.
“It’s a dog’s breakfast up there at the moment,” he said.
“At the end of the day the operation is not operating, it’s just not working.
“Lives will be lost and we don’t have to go back too far to see one of our own lost,” Mr Entsch said in a reference to respected speech therapist Wendy Richardson who drowned off Mabuiag Island in June.
Adding to the remote volunteer rescue woes is a Seisia Coast Guard vessel that fell off a Sea Swift barge and washed up on Turtle Head Island in late 2021.
It’s understood the boat has not been replaced.
In 2022 it was announced Coast Guard and VMR will merge under the one entity Marine Rescue Queensland following recommendations raised by the Blue Water Review.
The state government has provided $35.38m to support the recommendation of establishing an integrated marine rescue service before the 2024 disaster season.
Next year has been earmarked for the completed transition but Cairns Coast Guard flotilla commander Terry Spurrier said uncertainty remained about how regional flotillas in Ingham, Cardwell, Tully and Innisfail would be impacted.
“There are working groups from both VMR and the Coast Guard that are looking at governance and finance but here is still a fair bit of work to do,” he said.
“And under the new model some of these regions will change.”
Queensland Police stated the new Thursday Island vessel would be delivered “in the coming months”.
The boat was delivered by Yamba-based manufacturer in May.
“The 12m Rigid Hard Collar rescue vessel is the first new volunteer search vessel to be built and delivered as part of the vessel replacement program,” a spokesman said.
“It is being housed at Cairns Marina while undergoing final inspections.”
Despite a number of attempts, Mr Wigness could not be contacted prior to publication.
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Originally published as Marine rescue volunteer quits amid ‘extraordinary’ Torres Strait spend
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