More than 100 emergency services responded to a simulated terrorist attack on the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) at Lucas Heights on Sunday.
The joint Commonwealth-State training Exercise Baryon involved NSW Police, paramedics, firefighters, The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Defence Force.
ANSTO’s abilities to deal with emergencies is routinely tested, as are most transport, road, health, mining and other major infrastructure providers around the world.
Emergency vehicles were stationed in and around the Lucas Heights centre throughout the day, including patrol cars, paramedic and armoured vehicles, and the tactical operations unit. ANSTO runs Australia’s only nuclear research reactor, the $460 million OPAL, used for nuclear medicine production, and environmental, minerals and health research.
See more in Thursday’s Leader.
Do you think it is important for ANSTO and emergency services to test its capabilities in case of attack?