Wind wreaks havoc
Wild winds battered West Gippsland from the early hours of Friday morning, leaving a trail of destruction with trees down, roads closed and power cut to thousands of homes and businesses.
It was the second major storm event in four months, forcing local State Emergency Service crews to work around the clock to support residents.
Hundreds of homes from Garfield North to Tanjil South remained without power yesterday, with AusNet Services indicating power may not be restored to some areas until Friday.
School buses were cancelled, some schools without power were forced to close and VCE students panicked they may not make 9am exams.
Unlike the heavy rainfall based storm that hit the region in June, wind was the biggest enemy in Friday’s storm event.
While the Bureau of Meteorology’s Nilma North weather station has no data recorded from Friday to Sunday, the Mt Baw Baw station indicated northerly winds reached a maximum 88 kilometres per hour on Friday.
Many roads were closed because of fallen powerlines and trees while debris across roads forced drivers to carefully navigate obstacle courses.
Warragul SES unit controller Alan Male said it was the worst wind he had seen.
“It was absolutely horrendous conditions to work in and we had to take safety as a major consideration.
“I had to stand down crews where it wasn’t safe.
“I haven’t experienced winds of that calibre ever. We didn’t have the heavy rain like last time, it was sheer wind.
“We have seen a dramatic change in the weather over the last couple of years and it’s starting to take its toll,” he said.
Mr Male said the unit received 68 calls for assistance with crews working from 6.30am until 11pm on Friday and then starting again at 7am on Saturday.
Calls for assistance included damage to three buildings, fallen trees and powerlines and a road crash rescue.
Mr Male said they worked closely with Baw Baw Shire to assist road contractors around the shire.
He said some major roads were closed because of fallen trees and powerlines across roads were given priority.
At Noojee, residents and businesses lost power at 5.30am on Friday morning.
Crystal Petschack, who owns the post office and Little Red Duck Café said it was disappointing to have no power on the first weekend of re-opening to Melbourne vistors. She said they had no eftpos machines, power, phone signals and most locals were without heating and power.
“The only correspondence we’ve had from any type of authority was one man from the SES popped in to see if we were okay. He was shocked and reported multiple issues and is trying to help us,” she said.
Ms Petschack said residents were forced to drive across multiple fallen powerlines yet there were no road signs or crews providing assistance.
“The locals have been scared to leave town and have not been able to call. We’ve been filling up thermoses with hot water for local residents and providing butane gas cannisters to them for heating,” she said.
Baw Baw Highway Patrol sergeant Andrew Milbourne said members assisted with traffic control on Friday.
Sgt Milbourne said police provided traffic control at the Princes Hwy-Ashby St intersection at Trafalgar for almost 12 hours.
He said there was a lot of traffic heading east for the long weekend and with power cut to Trafalgar, police provided traffic control at the traffic lights from 9am.
Sgt Milbourne said SES provided lighting at the intersection at about 8pm when traffic patrol ceased as traffic volumes reduced.