Bellarine hosts maritime emergency exercise

THE Victorian Department of Transport and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are putting their emergency response capabilities to the test in a large-scale exercise along the Bellarine Peninsula this week.

Starting on Tuesday this week and concluding today (Thursday, October 5), Exercise Kunawarra is a full-field exercise involving vessels, aircraft and first responders from a range of local, state and federal agencies.

Department of Transport head of network operations Brett Langley said the exercise would help to ensure the department and its emergency response partners have the correct emergency response processes and capabilities in place.

“Working alongside AMSA, we’re making sure that our people and processes are equipped to respond to a large-scale maritime emergency.

“This ensures that in the unlikely event of an emergency of this kind, Victorians can be assured that we’re able to deliver a quick and capable response.”

AMSA executive director Response Mark Morrow said it was vital for federal and state authorities to work closely together to practice and test arrangements to ensure an efficient and effective response.

“Because these types of major incidents are uncommon in Australia, joint operations like Exercise Kunawarra provide an important opportunity to practice the response needed and to work collaboratively with all relevant agencies,” Mr Morrow said.

“Overall, there will be about 190 personnel involved in the three-day exercise from government and volunteer organisations Australia-wide, including about 12 people from AMSA.”

The exercise is occurring between 8am to 5pm and will have minimal impact on the local community.

An on-water exclusion zone was to be put in place about 1.5km offshore from St Leonards between 9am and 5pm yesterday (Wednesday, October 5).