The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has postponed its site-wide bushfire evacuation exercise, which was scheduled to occur on Tuesday 7 October 2014.
Different safety exercises and drills are held on site at ANSTO as often as every two weeks, and site-wide exercises involving external response agencies are held at least on an annual basis.
“Given we have already held quite a few safety, bushfire and desktop exercises, drills and practice sessions this year, ANSTO is able to postpone this one,” said a spokesperson.
“We did not want to give the false impression that this was being done in reaction to the recent threat level changes or in response to the NSW Police matter earlier this month.
“ANSTO has a community responsibility to regularly practice our safety exercises but never make our neighbours feel uncomfortable. In this case, the right balance would not have been achieved.”
Several months ago, October 7 was selected because minimal construction and science activities were scheduled for that day, but given the circumstances ANSTO will find another appropriate day for the bushfire evacuation exercise.
The spokesperson said in addition to regular work with local bushfire brigades and police, ANSTO runs regular exercises with various external State and Commonwealth response agencies.
Media contact – Phil McCall 0438 619 987