A spate of drownings has sparked a call for the State Government to help establish a helicopter search and rescue base in northern NSW.

Key points: There is growing demand for a dedicated search and rescue chopper in northern New South Wales

There is growing demand for a dedicated search and rescue chopper in northern New South Wales The latest data from the Royal Life Saving Society shows 87 people drowned in NSW in 2017/18

The latest data from the Royal Life Saving Society shows 87 people drowned in NSW in 2017/18 The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is proposing a funding commitment of $2.5 million to help it manage a permanent chopper based at Coffs Harbour

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is proposing a funding commitment of $2.5 million to help it manage a permanent chopper based at Coffs Harbour.

It follows a number of drownings in recent months, including four at Moonee Beach and one at Woolgoolga, both north of the regional centre.

A search for a missing swimmer at Ballina has been suspended this week, while efforts to find two European backpackers feared drowned off the coast of Port Macquarie since Sunday have been scaled back.

The Life Saver chopper's chief executive, Stephen Leahy said there was a demand for a dedicated search and rescue helicopter in the state's north.

"The intention is to extend our current operations from Sydney and south up into the northern part of the state," Mr Leahy said.

"There is a clear need for it."

The not-for-profit helicopter service was split into two, separate entities in 2017.

The Northern NSW Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, which has bases at Tamworth, Lismore and Newcastle, is contracted by New South Wales Ambulance to perform hospital transfers as well as attend crashes and other medical emergencies.

Whereas the southern service, similarly named the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter based in Sydney and the south coast, is purposed for search and rescues.

A recent drowning at Moonee Beach was one of a spate of drownings in the region. ( ABC News: Meghna Bali )

'Clear need' for extra chopper

Mr Leahy said the northern Westpac chopper fleet and other aircraft such as PolAir do provide assistance during search and rescues, but — like his own service — the capacity was limited due to other obligations.

The latest data from the Royal Life Saving Society shows 87 people drowned in NSW in 2017/18 — the highest in the country.

And with six drownings in northern NSW in the past two months, Mr Leahy said having an extra chopper based in the north would take the pressure off existing resources.

A round trip from Sydney to Ballina can take up to eight hours and cost thousands of dollars, he said.

"Our helicopters have been relocated up to Coffs Harbour, to Ballina, to Grafton to Port Macquarie for search and rescue operations. That pulls those helicopters out of their normal operating areas," Mr Leahy said.

Discussions have taken place over the past 14 months with Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser and the local council about establishing the dedicated, search and rescue base.

A council spokeswoman said no agreement had been reached whether a hanger at the local airport would house the aircraft.

Mr Fraser said he's for years campaigned for a chopper to be based in Coffs Harbour, and told the ABC he's put Mr Leahy's proposal to the Emergency Services Minister, Troy Grant.

A Westpac Life Saver chopper ate work. ( Supplied: Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter )

What more can be done?

For Tommie Strydom, a volunteer surf lifesaver in Coffs Harbour, a dedicated helicopter on the Coffs Coast was "a great idea".

"I'd love it, the more assets we have the better, especially if someone goes missing time is imperative," Dr Strydom said.

Despite beach signs, patrolled beaches and other safety campaigns, Dr Strydom isn't seeing the message get through - especially when it comes to swimming between the flags at patrolled beaches.

"I've seen people walk right past my flags, put their stuff down right next to the flags, jump in and get taken out in a rip," he said.