Emergency services helped make sense of the chaos

The site controller for Ambulance NSW, Inspector Andrew Beverley, arrived at the crash and was immediately confronted by a chaotic scene.

But, the veteran paramedic said, the sheer size of the emergency response on Tuesday ensured his personnel had the task under control.

"The weight of number was a big consideration," he said. "We basically exhausted all our resources to attend it."

Initial assessment of the children and bus's driver took place in a roadside triage, Inspector Beverley said, before those in a serious condition were transferred to Port Macquarie Base Hospital.

"We had six ambulances there and, once we had the loading point organised, we were good to go."

Inspector Beverley said the patients' injuries ranged from suspected limb fractures to bumps and muscular ailments.

"The pressure on us could have been far greater if the injuries were worse, which thankfully wasn't the case," he said.

The coordination required in the response was typical of emergency services in this area, Inspector Beverley said.

"The cooperation between services at the scene was great, especially the clear communication," he said. "Everyone chipped in to ensure the incident was managed very effectively."

FIREFIGHTERS worked into the night on Tuesday to drain the fuel from the wrecked bus. Fire and Rescue NSW crews from Port Macquarie started minimising the chance of an explosion as soon as they arrived on at the site, station commander Gaven Muller said.

While other emergency personnel tended to the injured, the firies plunged into the creek underneath and around the bus.

“We had to decant the fuel and do it fast,” station commander Muller said.

Despite the difficulty of the environment - which included fuel lines positioned on some extreme angles - the operation ran smoothly.

“We use specialised equipment for pumping it out, and it’s intrinsically safe because there is no spark,” station commander Muller said.

Another advantage of the equipment used in the operation is that, when the bus is righted, there is no risk of any fuel leaking out into the surrounding waterways.

“One of our big concerns was the proximity to Fernbank Creek, and there are a lot of oyster farmers around there too so it’s important we look out for them,” station commander Muller said.

The hazardous materials unit was assisted by another crew with the operation, which finished about 7pm on Tuesday.