The units were presented in a ceremony conducted at the Hunter Region Headquarters attended by more than 30 SES volunteers and staff and representatives of the donor, Reliance petroleum.

The marine GPS units were presented to representatives of the Maitland, Newcastle, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens and Scone SES units by Reliance Petroleum Commercial Manager NSW, Andrew Berry.

The marine GPS units will enable SES volunteer floodboat operators to more accurately locate their position and navigate to the scene of rescues or resupply operations.

They also will enable operators to better estimate water depth, permitting safer navigation over flooded rural and urban areas.

Hunter Region Controller Greg Perry welcomed the donation and said: "We are delighted that the Hunter Region, with its significant flood problem, has been selected as the first region in the state to receive these new units."

"They will prove invaluable during flood operations, particularly to teams from outside the Hunter who are not familiar with out local river systems."

The donation of the GPS units is part of an ongoing commitment by Reliance Petroleum to supply 40 GPS units annually for the next three years, with the next donation to occur in the Riverina region of New South Wales.The units were presented in a ceremony conducted at the Hunter Region Headquarters attended by more than 30 SES volunteers and staff and representatives of the donor, Reliance petroleum.

The marine GPS units were presented to representatives of the Maitland, Newcastle, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens and Scone SES units by Reliance Petroleum Commercial Manager NSW, Andrew Berry.

The marine GPS units will enable SES volunteer floodboat operators to more accurately locate their position and navigate to the scene of rescues or resupply operations.

They also will enable operators to better estimate water depth, permitting safer navigation over flooded rural and urban areas.

Hunter Region Controller Greg Perry welcomed the donation and said: "We are delighted that the Hunter Region, with its significant flood problem, has been selected as the first region in the state to receive these new units."

"They will prove invaluable during flood operations, particularly to teams from outside the Hunter who are not familiar with out local river systems."

The donation of the GPS units is part of an ongoing commitment by Reliance Petroleum to supply 40 GPS units annually for the next three years, with the next donation to occur in the Riverina region of New South Wales.