Yarra Ranges clean-up in full swing after Sunday’s wild weather

A MAJOR clean-up operation is underway across the Yarra Ranges after Sunday’s wild weather as work continues to restore power to thousands of homes.

A fallen tree on the Maroondah Highway in Healesville. Picture: Supplied

A CLEAN-UP is underway across the Yarra Ranges with the SES expected to be helping the community for the next 24 hours.

An SES spokesman who did not want to be named said there had been 4000 requests for assistance across the state since 7am on Sunday.

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The spokesman said there were 140 calls for help from around Emerald and Healesville was dealing with a large power outage.

The historic Healesville Railway Station copped storm damage. Picture: Supplied

A tree fell over on the Maroondah Highway in Healesville. Picture: Supplied

“Statewide there were 67,500 households were without power last night and 6500 were in Healesville,” he said.

Wesburn Millgrove CFA was called out to a woman killed when a tree, weakened by the strong winds, fell on her house.

Emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley told a radio station Menzies Creek Primary School will be closed today after a large tree fell, damaging classrooms and the playground.

Storm damage in Lilydale captured by resident Nicole Andrew. Picture: Supplied.

Damage to a Healesville house and property. Picture: Supplied

SP Ausnet spokesman Hugo Armstrong said power would not be fully restored before tomorrow.

“We have spent the night making lines safe,” he said.

“We have more than 400 powerlines down so we worked to make those safe and were gearing up to do work today.

More damage at the Healesville property. Picture: Supplied.

“We were able to last night get back into Woori Yallock sub station and into our Belgrave sub station so today we are working on the main lines that run from those substations.

“We will certainly get a large number back online today but we don’t believe we are going to get through that work before the end of tomorrow.

“We will obviously do the larger faults first so it may take us time to get through all the service lines — the lines that run from the street to your house.”

Mr Armstrong urged people to check AusNet’s website for updates but warned people not to “go anywhere near” fallen powerlines.