MEMBERS of the Wauchope Fire Brigade used specialised equipment to avert the pollution of the Hastings River after underground tanks containing a fuel and water mix were ruptured in Bransdon Street on Friday.

Brigade captain Brian Smith said workers were excavating the site to remove the tanks when one of the tanks was ruptured.

“The tanks go back to the old days of when Beaurepaires operated at the site,” said Mr Smith.

“The underground tanks were still there and for whatever reason - they are supposed to be filled with sand or water – they were not and it caused a problem.

“The tank still had in excess of 400 litres of fuel and water mix. It is just unfortunate that the excavator punctured one of the tanks.

“This resulted in this fuel and water mix running down the waterways.

“Our members plugged the stormwater system to stop it going into the river and then completed a very successful mopping up operation and made it safe.”

Mr Smith brigade members continually monitored the site during the afternoon.

“We placed booms in the stormwater drain and at the end of Cameron Street to collect any contaminants that looked like going into the river system.

“We had both Wauchope trucks on site and a hazmat specialist unit was also there from Port Macquarie.

“We have trained for this kind of operation and everything turned out really well from our point of view.”

Mr Smith said the brigade members reacted well to the situation.