"The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for our teams to all work together in a simulated real-world scenario," says Mr Kelliher.

The exercise, on 26 February, was led by the Otago Regional Council’s Pollution Response team, in collaboration with staff from the Queenstown Lakes District Council and its Harbourmaster team - responding together to the simulated real-life emergency scenario.

"It’s vital that we regularly test and refine our response strategies to ensure we can respond effectively to any environmental emergencies which may arise," he says.

The event highlighted the strong collaboration between the ORC, QLDC, and the QLDC’s Harbourmaster, showcasing their combined efforts to safeguard the pristine environment of Lake Whakatipu and its surrounding areas, Mr Kelliher says.

The oil spill exercise not only tested the technical aspects of spill containment but also emphasized the importance of teamwork and communication between multiple agencies in times of crisis.