Airbase simulates oil spill
It was all hands on base for an Upper Harbour air base carrying out essential emergency training.
Around 200 at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Auckland in Whenuapai took part in a fullscale base wide response to a simulated emergency situation on June 22.
The four-hour event centred around emergency response to spilled oil from the base’s fuel storage tanks.
Base Auckland airfield manager and the exercise controller David Bacon said one of the advantages of such training meant connecting with outside agencies.
‘‘It’s the relationships side - getting to know those people and what they can bring to the table [in terms of] resources and managing the situation,’’ he said.
Around an additional 60 people attended from organisations such as the New Zealand Fire Service, Maritime New Zealand, Harbourmaster, Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
Staff from Whenuapai School were also involved.
Teams at the base’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) went through protocol as to how to best handle the incident. Emergency incidents are simulated twice a year.
Bacon said while the likelihood of such an event was ‘‘very, very low’’, the purpose of carrying it out was to ensure the safety of personnel and the surrounding community.
‘‘It's the relationship side - getting to know those people and what they can bring.’’