Approximately 50 emergency services staff and support personnel worked to secure the site of a large chemical spill 55km east of Cobar on the Barrier Highway last Thursday which had the potential for very serious consequences.
The highway was closed in both directions for almost 17 hours after 26 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate Emulsion (which is used in explosives for mining) was spilt onto the road and surrounding area following a truck rollover.
It’s believed the truck, which was heading west, had to avoid an oncoming east bound car. Neither driver suffered injuries.
Police Sergeant Chris Power, who attended the scene, said investigations into the cause of the accident are continuing.
“The incident had the potential to have far more serious consequences,” Sergeant Power said.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Cobar and Condobolin fire stations were among the first to arrive on the scene just after 11am on Thursday. They found the truck with its trailer overturned and set up an 800m exclusion zone.
They worked throughout the day and into the night to secure the site and clean up.
They were assisted by a Fire and Rescue NSW Rehab van from Gulgong and other emergency and support services including Cobar and Nyngan Rural Fire Service crews, the Cobar SES unit, the EPA, RMS, Police, Ambulance NSW, Cobar and Bogan Shire councils (and later Fire and Rescue NSW relieving staff from Nyngan and Trangie).
An explosives consultant was also on site throughout the operation.
Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Anthony Hojel, Duty Commander Region West 1, said clean up efforts were further hampered when a thunderstorm hit around 3pm with lightning having the potential to ignite the nitrate.
Rain and strong winds also impeded and extended the operation and necessitated the exclusion zone to be extended out to 1.5km.
The operation was completed on Friday morning with the highway re-opened to traffic at 4.45am
