Risk-e Business and EPA Deliver Discussion Exercise in Menindee on Mass Fish Death

Exercise Baaka Mikatja (Darling River is Sick) was held in Menindee on Tuesday 18 June 2024.

One of the recommendations from the Office of the Chief Scientist review in 2023 was that an exercise should be undertaken, and a Sub Plan developed for a Mass Fish Death. 

As a result of this, the EPA contracted Risk-e Business to undertake the development and delivery of the exercise.

The exercise was designed to be in line with the Local Emergency Management Committee Exercising Toolkit.

The exercise tested the arrangements within the LEMC and EOC for:

• The notification process for a mass fish death event

• Managing a multi-agency response, including the management of the site, disposal of fish carcasses and related materials, investigation of the event, ongoing water quality monitoring and managing public information

• Community engagement, including with Aboriginal communities

• Findings and recommendations made to the Sub Plan following the Mass Fish Death Event Exercise in December 2023

• Debrief and analysis of the findings of the exercise, including a written report detailing actions for agencies, and updates required for the current Interim Sub Plan 

Members of the community, including the Aboriginal community and rangers, were asked to participate in the exercise as observers.

The greatest complement was paid to Risk-e Business and the EPA when one of the community members approached us after the exercise and said, “Today I believe that our voice has been heard and listened to”.