Exercise Bayswater: Bassendean and Bayswater councils team up for emergency training run

TOWN of Bassendean and City of Bayswater joined forces to respond and recover from a severe storm scenario in light of recent flooding as part of ‘Exercise Basswater’ yesterday.

Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) members, Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), Kiara Police and Bayswater Police officers-in-charge Mark Stoneman and John Waghorn took part in the exercise in the Town’s community hall.

According to the State Emergency Management Policy, the LEMC was required to conduct at least one emergency exercise each year.

The exercise was based on a severe storm that affected both authorities where LEMC members applied recovery management and responsibilities to combat hazards, power outages and extensive damages.

DFES district officer Graham Sears said the aim of the exercise was to test local government’s recovery processes.

“The police, myself and the other agencies do this as part of our daily business but this is more for local governments’ benefit,” he said.

“They are going to have a greater knowledge of the processes and what to expect should we have a real incident.”

Town of Bassendean community development director Graeme Haggart said the exercise would help improve post-emergency processes.

“It is not only looking at how we exercise our own arrangements but how we can work collaboratively across different arrangements to ensure a synced up and effective response and recovery,” he said.

“If we do not do these exercises and we do not keep on improving capacity all the time, then we will be found wanting.”

City of Bayswater local recovery co-ordinator Michael Worthington said both local governments last conducted a joint exercise in 2015.