Shire of Victoria Plains ‘Bitter Road’ LEMC Emergency Training Exercise

The Shire of Victoria Plains Emergency Management Team has been continuing to improve emergency management capacity and outreach through the joint Shire of Victoria Plains and Shire of Wongan-Ballidu Local Emergency Management Committee. The Committee held a successful emergency response exercise followed by a productive meeting and debrief with several lessons learned that will further guide the response to local emergencies.

On Saturday 14 June, the Shires of Victoria Plains and Wongan-Ballidu conducted a joint Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) Emergency Training Exercise. Held at the intersection of Depot Road and Short Street in Wongan Hills, the scenario involved a ute crash, into a power pole, carrying an intermediate bulk container (IBC)of Paraquat—a hazardous agricultural chemical. The exercise incorporated hazmat and road crash elements, with five mock casualties.

Nearly 40 participants from a range of agencies and organisations took part, including Western Power, Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), Wongan Hills Police, Wongan Hills St John Ambulance, Wongan Hills Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Ballidu Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service, Wongan Hills District High School YES Cadets, and representatives from both Shires. The exercise tested multi-agency response, including scene control transitions between WA Police Force and DFES, chemical identification, safe extrication, decontamination, and coordination using the Shire’s Local Emergency Management Arrangements. It was a valuable learning experience that reinforced the importance of collaboration, clarified roles and responsibilities, and helped identify local resources.

These exercises are essential in ensuring the community is ready and resilient in times of crisis.

This activity aligns with the RoadWise Framework under Coordinated Response. The aim of Coordinated Response is to increase responsiveness to post-crash emergencies and work with communities to provide appropriate road safety solutions and health treatments for road crash casualties.

Crash victims have a better chance of recovery if they receive timely medical treatment at the scene. Significant improvements in safety outcomes can be made from improving existing emergency response services.^[1]

^[1]International Road Assessment Program (iRAP), Road Safety Toolkit, https://toolkit.irap.org/safer-people-treatments/emergency-response/, 8 September 2025.

Shire of Victoria Plains Intersection Realignment

Shire of Victoria Plains has recently completed a realignment of the intersection of Calingiri-New Norcia and Toodyay-Bindi Bindi Roads, with the final seal now applied. The Shire worked with ARC Infrastructure, the Public Transport Trust and Yued Aboriginal Corporation over many years to deliver the project, which included obtaining clearing permits, land acquisition and overcoming rail infrastructure issues. In addition, as part of their vegetation clearing, the Shire is finalising a vegetation offset on Crown Reserve on Old Plains Road.

The final stage of connecting to the New Norcia Rd occurred in January 2025, while the Toodyay-Bindi Bindi Road project was being completed, to minimise the time between traffic management and seal works for both projects. ARC Infrastructure installed a new rail crossing, drainage works are complete, and the pavement has been widened to 10m with an 8m seal. Line marking is coming soon.

The main issue being addressed in this project was the inadequate approach ‘stacking’ distance from the rail line out to Toodyay-Bindi Bindi Rd. Initially, only one truck and trailer could safely stop at the rail crossing without impacting passing traffic on Toodyay-Bindi Bindi Rd. Not only has the stacking distance increased, access to CBH has been improved with upgraded entrances from New Norcia Rd, a welcome improvement for all road users.

The Shire promoted the completion of the project to the community, by sharing drone footage on their social media. See Shire of Victoria Plains Facebook for drone footage of the finished project.