By JESSE GRAHAM
POWERLINES came down across the valley last week, as wild weather tore through towns and twisted lines off their poles.
Badger Creek CFA was called out to Chalet Road, Badger Creek, at 12.15pm on Thursday 31 July, when the wind had twisted and torn powerlines, leaving them across driveways and sagging across the road.
Incident controller, First Lieutenant Murray Ellis, said the lines had shorted out, and did not pose a threat to residents, but that the crews exercised caution in case they flared back up.
“Even when you know they’re dead, you’ve got to treat them as live,” he said.
“Basically, we’re just here to make sure that everyone stays safe, and that there’s no more trouble until the power company comes down to rectify the problem.”
Powerlines hung low across the intersection of Chalet and Swiss Chalet Road, and the CFA crew blocked off the road until Australian Traffic Control members arrived at about 1pm.
The day saw havoc across the valley and the Dandenongs, with trees falling across roads and powerlines, and power outages occurring in Yarra Junction, Hoddles Creek and the surrounds.
On the same afternoon, a tree fell across two of the three lanes at the intersection of Maroondah Highway and St Huberts Road in Coldstream.
Mr Ellis urged drivers to be cautious when driving on extreme weather days.
“There are a lot of branches falling, and the possibility of trees falling, so be very careful,” he said.
On days with severe winds, the SES advises residents to move vehicles under cover and away from trees, secure loose items around their yards and to keep clear of fallen power lines.
