Left: Nar Nar Goon firefighter Claire Healy takes a breather.By Paul Dunlop
A GAS scare last week saw more than 100 people evacuated from Pakenham’s Toomuc Reserve sports complex.
Indoor stadium staff, mums playing midweek netball with children in the stadium’s creche and workers on the aquatic centre job site left the area as a safety precaution after a natural gas main was accidentally breached by a backhoe working nearby.
Authorities sealed off the area around the sports complex off for about an hour and a half while they stopped the leak.
Pakenham police and CFA units from Pakenham, Toomuc, Nar Nar Goon, Berwick and Narre Warren attended the incident after it was reported about 10.40 am.
Police sergeant David Smith said gas could be heard hissing from the breached main and there was a strong smell in the air when authorities arrived.
Firefighters wore breathing apparatus while they fixed the problem. The Environmental Protection Authority and Cardinia Shire Council were also notified.
Sgt Smith said the area was declared safe just after noon.
He said the situation was resolved without mishap.
Sgt Smith said the drama emphasised the value of having a welldrilled emergency plan.
He praised indoor stadium staff and others involved in the evacuation on the smooth running of the operation.
“With an easterly breeze blowing, it was felt best to evacuate the area and it worked very well,” Sgt Smith said.
“It was a precautionary measure and it all ended safely.”
Stadium director Wright Paterson said the incident had been a surprise but it was quickly back to normal at the indoor complex.
Mr Paterson said the evacuation was the first ‘real’ one he had been involved in and was pleased to report everything went to plan.
He said staff were well drilled in emergency procedures and stadium users had taken it in their stride.
“It all went smoothly, we went out to the athletics area and waited for the all clear. Everyone was pretty goodhumoured,” he said.
“We were back inside after an hour or so and it was soon back to business as usual.”
