Managable risks on trail
THE new Lake Dunstan Trail is an extraordinary journey into the spectacular terrain of Central Otago.
Keeping people safe on the trail was important, which is why a combined interagency search and rescue exercise was conducted to ensure emergency services were fully briefed on any challenges.
About 30 personnel from Fire and Emergency New Zealand Cromwell and Clyde, Police, Clyde Coastguard, Central Otago Land Search and Rescue, and Otago Regional Council Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook took part in the exercise earlier in the year.
Incident controller for the exercise, Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, said the idea of the exercise was to adopt an interagency approach around familiarisation with the trail and testing a communications plan.
That included looking at how shared and specific agency communication channels worked around the trail.
Testing for communication black spots took place, as well as identifying potential landing spots on the lake shore near the trail.
Each agency worked independently on the trail on specific tasks to test how those channels of communication worked at an interagency level.
The Lake Dunstan trail presented unique challenges for search and rescue operations, Det Sgt Shaw said.
‘‘If something happens in the middle of the Dunstan trail you might have to go 10km either way.’’
While most emergencies on the track would probably be dealt with by helicopter, the exercise was to practise either for helicopter support, or in the event weather or availability precluded the use of one.
The trail was a great asset to the region, and although there were some risks, it was a manageable risk, Det Sgt Shaw said.