Picture special: Trees topple in Darling Point, Bondi Beach clean-up and schools reopen
MASSIVE trees have toppled into the streets at Darling Point with one fig crushing a car; the clean-up at Bondi Beach is underway and some schools have reopened.
City East
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MASSIVE trees have toppled into the streets at Darling Point crushing cars and causing thousands of dollars of damage while the clean-up at Bondi Beach has begun and some schools have reopened to students.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage has been recorded across Woollahra municipality, which is synonymous with corridors of large plane, fig and gum trees.
A large fig in Darling Point Rd caused damage to approximately three cars last night while a Blue Gum, which was being cleared in Marathon St today, damaged another three.
Trees have damaged cars in Gladwood Gardens, Bay St and Court Rd in Double Bay as well as Rain St, Woollahra, Newcastle St, Rose Bay and South St, Edgecliff.
A boat was also crushed by a tree on Hopetoun Rd Vaucluse.
Reader Adam Searle sent in pictures of the aftermath in Darling Point showing cars destroyed and streets till blocked at 2pm today.
“It was very fierce, the winds were very high because of the amount of trees in the area there was debris and branches all over the road it was willy nilly,” he said of the storms the night before.
He applauded the speedy response of emergency workers, saying they were quick to act.
Flood warnings are still current for many places across NSW with the eastern suburbs no exception. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are still possible as is the threat of flash flooding in parts of the city.
Damaging winds with peak gusts of 100km/h are still expected at times along the coastal fringe.
Very heavy surf continues to pound the coast and the SES is warning people to stay well away from the water.
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MASSIVE CLEAN-UP STARTS ACROSS SOUTHEAST
Woollahra Council has responded to hundreds of distress calls, in what a spokeswoman called the” worst damage we have seen in recent memory”.
“Overnight more trees and branches were down due to heavy winds and rain,” she said.
“Woollahra Council is working with NSW SES volunteers and Emergency Services crews on extensive clean up throughout the area and would like to thank residents for their assistance and patience.”
At Bondi Beach today, some rare blue sky allowed Waverley Council workers to use earth moving machinery in a bid to get the sand back where it came from.
Yesterday and today winds swept across Queen Elizabeth Drive, blanketing more sand on to familiar landmarks like the pavilion, outdoor gym and skate bowl.
The council is pushing sand back on the beach using three bobcats and an excavator.
A Waverley Council spokesman said he expected it to “take several days to move the bulk of sand back on the beach”.
He said the majority of staff were “still responding to fallen trees and branches in the area”.
Strong winds also damaged the Bronte Beach promenade fence on Tuesday night and it will be repaired in coming weeks.
“Staff are clearing roads and footpaths as a matter of priority to ensure everyone is safe.”
Bondi Public School has reopened its doors a day after it was forced to close due to strong winds exceeding 155km/h which wreaked havoc over the eastern suburbs.
Twenty five of the 565 students from the school attended classes today, after the roof was ripped off one of the buildings and damage was sustained to a sandstone building, which was still being assessed.
A spokesman for the Education Department said the areas which had sustained damage were still under repair and were out of bounds for the young children.
He said most parents had opted to keep their children at home today.
In Queens Park, Moriah College was still assessing damage as students in years 8-10 stayed home for a second straight day.
“Building damage is limited to the window frames — a few classrooms will still be out of action for a couple of weeks until they are all replaced but all students will be back on board tomorrow,” a spokeswoman for the school said.
INCIDENTS:
— Works underway to clear several large trees which have fallen in Darling Point;
— Flooding at the corner of New South Head Rd and Elanora St, Rose Bay;
— Bondi Public School reopened to students;
— Heavy machinery being used to push sand back on to Bondi Beach;
— Traffic lights flashing yellow at Anzac Pde and Cleveland St, Moore Park;
— Traffic lights out and power failures across the CBD.
KEEPING SAFE:
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
—Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
—Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
—Keep clear of fallen power lines.
—Don’t drive, ride or walk through flood water.
—Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
—If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
—Beware of fallen trees or debris on the road.
—For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES on 132 500, Waverley Council on 9369 8000 or Woollahra Council on 93917000.
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