Several officers took part in Exercise Raintree, alongside other State and Australian Government agencies, as well as industry members, to test northern Australia’s ability to respond to an emergency animal disease.
Funded by the Australia Government through the Northern Australian Coordination Network, the exercise centred on a lumpy skin disease (LSD) outbreak at a property near the border of the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The WA State Coordination Centre team also included representatives from the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association (KPCA) and industry, working from the Berrimah Farm Science Precinct in Darwin.
Officers from the Northern Territory and Queensland also established their own State/Territory Coordination Centres, while a smaller operational response team was stationed on the mock infected property.
The three-day exercise provided attendees with the opportunity to enhance their preparedness and collaboration across governments and industry.
DPIRD Surveillance and Control Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Marion Seymour said Exercise Raintree not only allowed DPIRD to test its response capability but also provided an invaluable opportunity to build stronger working relationships with industry.
“We were fortunate to have staff from the KPCA and other industry members working in our Planning Team and in Liaison Livestock Industry roles, and their combined local knowledge was critical in drafting our initial response plan,” Dr Seymour said.
“Developing strong relationships ahead of an incident also enables a swift and efficient response, with relevant communications able to be developed and disseminated through the most effective channels.
“While we hope we don’t have to call on the skills, knowledge and connections developed during this exercise, we know that if we do, we’re very well placed to respond.”
You can find out more about DPIRD’s current incidents and alerts at the department’s online Alert centre.
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