Border protection in the north of Australia has been boosted by the arrival of a new Coastwatch helicopter in the Torres Strait, Minister for Justice and Customs David Johnston
said today.

The Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel is part of a new contract with Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd to provide services in the highly sensitive and important Torres Strait.

"The larger and faster helicopter will operate from Horn Island and will conduct maritime surveillance in Torres Strait region," Senator Johnston said.

"The entry into service of this new helicopter is an important step in the Coastwatch Sentinel program, which will provide effective civil maritime surveillance through to 2020.

"This new helicopter demonstrates the Australian Government's ongoing commitment to protecting our borders against threats such as illegal foreign fishing, people smuggling and quarantine risks."

The Sentinel program is valued at about $1 billion over 12 years and is integral to the activities of Border Protection Command in managing Customs and Defence assets to ensure that activity in Australia's northern waters is monitored and borders are protected.

Australian Helicopters Pty Ltd has been operating the Coastwatch helicopter surveillance and response service in the Torres Strait since 1995.

Australian Helicopters won a new contract to provide the Torres Strait helicopter service with two helicopters from July 2007.

Under the new contract the Eurocopter AS350B3 Squirrel, with its greater speed, operating range, and updated communications equipment, replaces the Bell Longranger IV single engine helicopter.

Coastwatch's second helicopter in the Torres Strait, a Bell 412 twin-engine helicopter, will continue to be used but it has been upgraded with new surveillance and communications equipment to provide enhanced capabilities.

This helicopter service will continue to provide effective surveillance and response in the remote and sensitive Torres Strait area.

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