By Cassandra Morgan and Lachlan Abbott
Wild winds and floodwaters are causing havoc across Melbourne, with a pedestrian injured after a six-metre section of wall came off a live-music venue in the inner north.
Fire trucks, police vehicles and paramedics choked Sydney Road in Brunswick near the corner of Union Street on Wednesday afternoon after triple-zero callers reported the roof blowing off the Stay Gold venue.
Firefighters at Stay Gold in Brunswick on Wednesday.Credit: Justin McManus
Firefighters arrived at Stay Gold about 4.40pm to find that about six metres of parapet wall had fallen from outside the venue and struck an awning.
One person was assessed by paramedics but was not taken to hospital. The pedestrian was believed to have sustained minor injuries and was in a stable condition, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.
Fire crews taped off the venue, fearing more of the structure could injure passersby.
“Firefighters established a collapse zone and made contact with customers and staff inside to ensure their safety. Crews directed patrons towards a safe means of egress,” a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said.
Crews declared the incident under control at 5pm and handed the scene to a building surveyor.
About 6pm, northbound traffic on Sydney Road trickled slowly past the venue as a police car blocked one lane.
Red and blue lights lit up the facade of the building where the parapet once stood.
Firefighters and police huddled along a roped-off section of Union Street in a “feels-like” temperature of 3 degrees, waiting for a building surveyor to arrive. Only a few pedestrians walked along the usually bustling Sydney Road in the heavy rain.
Cars drive through water at the intersection of Lorimer Street and Wurrundjeri Way in central Melbourne.Credit: Simon Schluter
Department of Transport spokesman Chris Miller said flash flooding was affecting many parts of Victoria.
“People need to drive to the conditions, and slow down. Braking distances double in an emergency,” Miller said.
The West Gate Freeway’s Montague Street exit was closed for several hours due to flooding before it reopened about 6pm after crews mopped up the water.
Across Victoria, 165 people called the State Emergency Service for help between 12am and 7pm Wednesday. Of the calls, 112 were for downed trees and 24 were for building damage.
A coastal hazard warning remained in effect on Wednesday evening, advising that abnormally high tides could lead to flooding in low-lying coastal areas east of Point Lonsdale, including Port Phillip.
Water was seen lapping underneath the Brighton bathing boxes.
“Tides are likely to rise well above the normal high-tide mark during this afternoon and evening high tides,” the Bureau of Meteorology said in a warning.
“Abnormally high-tide conditions are expected to ease this evening for Central Coast locations, including Port Phillip, and early Thursday morning for remaining coastal areas.”
The bureau was forecasting winds of up to 30km/h in Melbourne on Wednesday, decreasing to between 15km/h and 20km/h in the late evening.
Conditions were expected to ease slightly on Thursday with a top of 13 degrees, and winds of up to 20km/h.
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