What is believed to be a unique combined search and rescue facility for New Zealand will be officially opened in Twizel tomorrow.
The combined search and rescue base, which also incorporates civil defence for the Twizel sector, comes after of hours of community work and fundraising that have resulted in a building worth about $100,000.
It has already been used for two search and rescue operations, in January.
The building, with its sophisticated communications and location electronics, brings together LandSAR, Mackenzie Lakes Coastguard (which covers down to Lake Waitaki) and police in one facility.
It will be owned by the Mackenzie Search and Rescue Trust. The trust's chairman, Twizel's Constable Joe Rush, said the building had a satellite communications system, fibre optics for ultra-fast broadband and GPS tracking for the coastguard boat.
The coastguard will keep its boat there, with the rescue kit, and the LandSAR crew on the other side of the building will have work space for uniforms and low-angle rescue gear and search equipment.
The Mackenzie District Council will have its civil defence base there, too.
Tomorrow's opening starts at 3pm.
