Storms batter Victoria

In early June heavy rain and strong winds caused widespread damage in Victoria, with the Dandenong Ranges and Traralgon being especially hard hit.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE DANDENONG RANGES

A devastating storm brought down so many trees in the Dandenongs that the electricity network was extensively damaged, and some people had to wait for several weeks before power was restored. Across the state, more than 9,000 requests for assistance were received during the storm and in the following days. CFA volunteers worked tirelessly alongside SES members and other emergency services agencies to clear massive trees that came down onto homes and across roads. Dandenong Ranges Group Officer Stuart Parker said he had never seen a storm of this magnitude. “On Wednesday evening, 9 June, as the winds really picked up, we kept getting pager reports about structure collapse, trees through houses and possible people trapped,” Stuart said. “There were also reports of gas leaks because tree roots were getting pulled out of the ground which was then pulling out the gas mains.” Given the dangerous environment, Stuart said he was grateful that no community members, firefighters or first responders were lost during the storm. “At one incident on Thursday morning, someone was trapped at Olinda and the responding brigade and Strike Team 1313 not only had to cut the access for the ambulance on the way in, but trees were falling behind them so they also had to cut the access for the ambulance exit as well. “There was a lot of damage right along the ridge of the mountain in areas like Kalorama, Olinda, and Sassafras, but the outlying areas like Monbulk, Silvan, Lilydale were all impacted as well. The extent of the damage and the clean-up was just huge. “Knox Group members also helped on the weekend, and individual brigades came to do some welfare door knocking on Monday. It’s been great to see all groups out of District 13 helping out throughout the week, as Maroondah and Yarra Valley Groups have all been up on the mountain.” On Saturday Clematis Fire Brigade Captain Jarryd Miller was part of a strike team that helped to clear fallen trees. “Arriving at Olinda on Clematis Tanker 2, I was honestly shocked to see the amount of damage through the town. It was crazy. There was so much ruin it was hard to even get through the roads,” Jarryd said. “Parts of the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road had been wiped out by enormous historic trees, some of the biggest trees I have ever seen. I instantly thought what It must have been like on Wednesday night hearing and seeing these horrific conditions. “We managed to get some support from Forest Fire Management Victoria and their excavator which could lift big chunks of tree. “It was probably one of the most rewarding strike teams I’ve been on. To be able to see the job through and work alongside the residents, I’ll always remember that. You could see just how much it meant to these people.”

STORY MARK BLACKMAN

FLOODING HITS TRARALGON

There was heavy rain in Central Gippsland and the wider southeast region on 9 June that continued into the early hours of 10 June. Traralgon Creek burst its banks at about 6.30am, and shortly after water streamed down residential streets of Traralgon and an evacuation warning was issued for the Traralgon Creek area. Eighty-seven houses were damaged by flooding. Traralgon Creek rose four metres in around four hours on Thursday morning and the area peaked at around 5.8 metres, its highest since 1978. Brigades in CFA’s Hyland and Merton Groups were busy across the La Trobe Valley region, banding together to help community organisations and residents. Traralgon East 3rd Lieutenant and 1st Deputy Group Officer Hyland Group Leigh Roberts said following the destructive

weather the Hyland Group organised a coordinated clean-up effort over the long weekend. “We spent the entire day on Sunday and Monday helping the local Football Netball Club, Traralgon Tennis Stadium, Traralgon Showgrounds, Men’s Shed and Roller Derby Club to clean up those facilities,” Leigh said. “This was a massive effort by everyone involved and I’m proud we were able to help. “After the major flooding and storm on Thursday, the rain came back Friday night and Saturday morning which increased water levels in Traralgon Creek again. There was a lot of work to do over the following weeks. Hyland Group Officer Simon Lund said members have been putting the ultra heavy tanker to the test, using its 9,000-litre capacity to clean up facilities using recycled water. “Members were out moving debris and clearing mud all weekend,” Simon said. “There were some brigades within the group that couldn’t assist because the damage had restricted their access, but those members helped by remaining on standby, ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Our group really came together that week and I was rapt with everyone’s effort.” He said the group liaised with the district office to coordinate teams for chainsaw operations to help clear trees from roads. Leigh said in times of emergencies it can be easy to forget emergency services members can also be directly impacted, so many volunteers checked in on one another. “I reached out to most of the captains from surrounding brigades to see how their members were going,” Simon said. “It has not been easy for Gippsland and the broader South East Region with fires, the pandemic and now major flooding, but the community response in times like these is still overwhelming. “Not just emergency services, but the broader community have given up their time to help one another – there are so many helping people they’ve never met before – our community spirit has been phenomenal.”

Previous page and below left: Damage in the Dandenong Ranges Above: Members of Traralgon East brigade help with the clean-up Below right: Flooding in Traralgon PHOTO BLAKE BOURNE

STORY MARK BLACKMAN AND MITCHELL GASTIN