Damage ‘extensive’ in Tasmania as state faces major clean-up, with at least 70 homes isolated or in danger

Damage has been “extensive” after severe weather battered Tasmania in recent days, with at least 70 homes isolated or in danger. Tasmania SES executive director Mick Lowe said there had been more than 800 requests for assistance since last Tuesday; however, only 77 were received in the last 24 hours (10 since 12am Tuesday), marking a reprieve from wild weather conditions. Recent requests for assistance have primarily been people realising damage has occurred that they didn’t see earlier. About 70 homes in the Meadowbank Bushy Park and Macquarie Plains areas are isolated or in danger, with impact assessments under way to confirm the total figure. “I would say that the damage that we saw over the weekend was extensive,” Mr Lowe said. “It was widespread, significant number of trees down across the state, and that’s brought with it obviously damage to houses, rooves … It’s a fair clean-up and very, very widespread.” Mr Lowe urged the community to be aware of river levels, which will remain elevated, and asked people to “stay aware of the conditions and do not drive through floodwaters”. “If a road is closed, it is closed for a reason, and we ask people to adhere to that in the interests of their own and community safety,” Mr Lowe said. Tasmania Police Commander Jason Elmer said the need to launch a rescue operation for a group of 13 bushwalkers – including a child and two teenagers – at Mt Wellington was “incredibly disappointing”. The group called for help about 4.15pm on Monday after setting off on a bushwalk with mobile phones but minimal food and water and no emergency equipment. While City of Hobart personnel assisted the group back to safety, five more walkers who were reportedly similarly unprepared were found coming down the mountain. “It’s incredibly disappointing to see the totally irresponsible decision of a group of people to engage in bushwalking activities on Mt Wellington yesterday that resulted in requiring rescue from the top of the mountain,” Commander Elmer said. “To the community, decisions like this compromises the safety of those that are then required to go and rescue them, take their focus away from their primary role at this point in time, and that is responding to this weather event. “Please obey all community alerts relating to the weather … and please make smart decisions because the decisions that were made yesterday were certainly not smart decisions and very, very disappointing.” Tasmanian residents were earlier advised to conserve water after severe weather battered the state in recent days. TasWater issued the warning for those in the Huon Valley, Upper Derwent Valley, Greater Devonport and Greater Launceston. Schools have also been forced to shut across Tasmania as the severe weather begins to ease. Glenora District School, Exeter High School, Exeter Primary School, Punchbowl Primary School and Wilmot Primary School are closed. Watch and acts have been issued across the Meander River at the Westwood to Hadspen and surrounds and Deloraine to Selbourne and surrounds, as well as the South Esk River at Royal George to Hanleth and surrounds. People in those areas have been urged to monitor conditions, according to TasAlert. Flood warnings remain in place across the state, with moderate flood warnings issued for Macquarie River, River Derwent and South Esk River. Minor flood warnings are in place across the River Ouse, Meander River, Mersey River and North Esk River, while the Isis River, Lake River, Brumbys Creek, River Clyde, Styx and Tyenna Rivers also have flood warnings in place. VICTORIANS COULD BE LEFT WITHOUT POWER FOR DAYS Victorians could be left without power for days as more than 30,000 Victorians remain affected after wild winds lashed the state. Schools across Victoria were forced to close on Monday as watch and act alerts were issued for strong and destructive winds, while some workers were advised to work from home. Wind gusts of 146km/h were recorded at Wilsons Promontory lighthouse between Sunday and Monday as warnings for damaging and destructive winds were issued. Wind warnings eased on Tuesday, with the only active wind warnings being along the East Gippsland Coast, Central Coast and Central Gipssland Coast. However, widespread power outages have left about 35,000 Victorians without power, according to AusNet. There are 25,100 customers in Gippsland without power, along with 9972 in Baw Baw Shire, 7333 in South Gippsland, and 6116 in Latrobe Valley. The suburbs affected most include Newborough (3286), Drouin (1839), Cockatoo (1262), Yarragon (1150), and Warragul (1111). An AusNet spokesperson confirmed the damage to the network has been “severe”, with powerlines down and damage to switches and poles due to fallen trees and branches. The spokesperson also said some customers could remain affected for the next couple of days as crews race to restore power. The update comes as some Victorians remain unable to make or receive phone calls as a result of knocked out power lines. About 2500 Telstra landline phone and internet services remain affected on Tuesday morning, as well as 43 mobile sites. However, 166 mobile sites have been restored, according to a Telstra spokesperson. “The severe weather in Victoria has knocked out power in a number of areas, which has disrupted some mobile and landline services in parts of the state,” the spokesperson said. “Our sites rely on mains power to operate but they all have backup energy supplies, which have helped extend coverage for a number of hours on many sites.” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday revealed 180,000 people across the state lost access to power as of 6.30am on Monday, with that figure dropping to 121,000 as of about 10.30am. “Crews are out there on the ground right now working as quickly as they can but also only working in areas where it’s safe to do so to restore power as quickly as possible,” Ms Allan said at a press conference on Monday morning. More than 660 properties were damaged as a result of the weather, with Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent on Monday revealing some of the homes are “inhabitable”. Mr Nugent also said the SES had received more than 2800 requests for assistance between 7pm on Sunday and 10am on Monday, with 1452 requests remaining active about 10.30am Monday.