Emergency services in Wentworth Shire tested their skills on Wednesday 16 August at Wentworth Aerodrome while undertaking ‘Exercise Ballet’. The multi-agency emergency management exercise was conducted by Wentworth Shire LEMC with the aim of testing the capability, cooperation, coordination and communication between rescue agencies within the footprint of the Wentworth Shire LGA.
In accordance with the Wentworth Aerodrome Emergency Plan, emergency services were put to the test in response to a simulated airport emergency and rescue incident. Participants of the simulation included; NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service and Sunraysia Collaboration with the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health.
The simulated emergency scenario involved an aircraft with two occupants that had failed to land safely on the tarmac at Wentworth Aerodrome. As a result of the impact, the occupants are trapped with a minor fuel spill surrounding the aircraft.
Role playing as the trapped occupants were nursing students Sam and Luci from Sunraysia Collaboration with the Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health.
The objectives of the exercise were to; test the Wentworth Aerodrome Emergency Plan, to test the response of emergency services to an emergency at Wentworth Aerodrome, to test the call out procedures for an emergency at Wentworth Aerodrome and to test the interagency communication at a rescue.
General Manager of Wentworth Shire Council, Mr. Ken Ross observed the exercise as LEMO-Support Exercise Director and was pleased with the response and coordination amongst the emergency services teams.
