A field emergency operation was held at the Coopers Road crossing off the Brolgan Road west of Parkes last Saturday morning.

The scenario involved a train colliding with a passenger vehicle on the crossing.

Emergency operations commenced with the train driver making a radio call to his central control at Broadmeadow. This resulted in calls to the various emergency services agencies requesting their on-scene attendance.

They included police, SES, firebrigade, Rural Fire Service, ambulance, Pacific National and Australian rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

Students from the Parkes Christian School assisted by donning the appropriate make-up and playing the roles of injured passengers.

Inspector David Cooper (Duty Officer – Operations, Lachlan Local Area Command) said the operation was designed to test the emergency services capabilities in the event of a serious incident with an emphasis on on-scene communication and team work.

“All services worked extremely well together under trying circumstances including severe heat,” Inspector Cooper said.

“It should be noted that the majority of the emergency services workers are volunteers and gave of their time, as always, for this operation which was conducted under the watchful eye of official observers including local Independent Member Dawn Fardell, Acting Superintendent Scott Rayner and Steve Barry (Director of Operations, Parkes Shire Council).”

Inspector Cooper acknowledged the great work undertaken during the operation by fellow emergency service workers.

“I would also like to thank Parkes Shire Council for support in planning the operation – particularly Greg Godde and Andrew Francis,” he said.

“Thanks also to the students and staff of the Parkes Christian School for adding to the realism of the incident with their wonderful role playing.”

Inspector Cooper said a full debrief will be held at next Wednesday’s meeting of the Parkes Shire Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC).