The organisation which provides a vital very high frequency (VHF) communication network to the Upper Clutha has rebranded and is seeking new members.

The Upper Clutha Radio Telephone Users Association, which has been providing radio communication services through VHF Channel 66 and Channel 4 for 50 years, is now called Roy’s Peak Radio Users.

“This service ensures that boaters, lake users, and local commercial operators can stay connected, have peace of mind, and access help when needed most,” Roy’s Peak Radio Users chair Ian Brown said.

The service is “an invaluable safety net for anyone exploring the lakes”, he said.

The association has an updated website and it is asking people to support it by becoming a member.

The association has a communications facility on Mt Roy above Wānaka which houses radio repeater units.

The facility provides 24/7 radio telephone (RT) communications for commercial operators and private operators, including Search and Rescue and civil defence organisations and the Department of Conservation.

Its Channel 66 covers 98 percent of Lake Wānaka and 96 percent of Lake Hāwea for the hundreds of marine users and it also provides internet to Makarora School.

The facility was installed by volunteers in the 1970s and has been maintained by the charitable trust for decades. 

Roy’s Peak Radio Users is run by volunteers and funded through donations and memberships.

People can become a member via the website or the group’s Facebook page.