Emergency services will converge on Risdon Brook Dam today for a multi-discipline and multi-agency search and rescue exercise controlled by Tasmania Police.

“Today, the 2023 Southern Search and Rescue Exercise (SarEX) ‘Operation Brook’ will be held at Risdon Brook Dam,” said Senior Constable Callum Herbert from Police Search and Rescue.

“The full-day multi-discipline and multi-agency exercise will put emergency service members through a scenario-based search and rescue of a person missing in the Risdon Brook Dam and Mount Direction area.”

Involved in the exercise will be members from Tasmania Police Land Search and Rescue (SAR), State Emergency Service SAR and Incident Management teams, Ambulance Tasmania, local bushwalking clubs (including the Pandani Bushwalking Club, Hobart Walking Club and the University Bushwalking Club); with support from Tas Water.

Senior Constable Herbert said, “This is an important and much anticipated exercise that will have over 70 participants.”

“This exercise will give us a chance to practice our skills and train others in how a large-scale search operates in a controlled environment – this will include coordinating more than 10 search parties, information management and navigation.

“If the teams find our missing person they may be injured and require extraction by stretcher, vehicle or helicopter.”

Risdon Brook Dam will remain open during the exercise. Members of the public should not be alarmed by the increased police presence in the area.