A SERIES of tree-shaking storms has ripped through the Yarra Valley, leaving emergency crews working around the clock to repair the damage.
Shire of Yarra Ranges spokesman James Martin said more than 50 council staff worked throughout the night responding to calls for assistance.
“More than 150 calls were received, with 95 of those taken after hours,” Mr Martin said.
“We had about 20 separate crews working to clear roads and properties in the Dandenongs, Mooroolbark, Lilydale and Healesville.” Healesville SES controller Karen Piccone said VicRoads declared the Black Spur to be unsafe after winds began knocking down giant trees.
“We had SES members working the spur but had to pull them out because it was too dangerous,” Ms Piccone said.
“Trees were falling all around them and some members had to cut their way out of the wreckage.”
Healesville SES deputy controller Geoff Stott said trees were coming down faster than they could cut them up.
“After chopping six trees the police and VicRoads decided it was too dangerous and so they just closed the road off,” Mr Stott said.
“You could hear the trees falling and the ones that fell across the road were as thick as telegraph poles.”
Mr Stott said the crews were called out to a number of places around the Yarra Valley to cut up trees and the furthest they went was Glenburn.
“It was just a wet, cold and windy night when everything decided to fall down,” he said.
– Melissa Donchi
