Tasmanians to remain without power for long time yet after storm damage

It could be a long wait yet for those still without power since wild weather struck with TasNetworks saying it's a complex operation. Also, the latest flood warnings >>

Image: TasNetworks

Thousands of homes and businesses across North and North-West Tasmania are still without power or any clear idea when it will be restored, after freak storm fronts tore through the state last Sunday.

More than 3000 Tasmanians remain in the dark as TasNetworks crews continue to work to restore 113 outages, warning the remaining power restorations are likely to be among the slowest and most complex so far.

TasNetworks acting operations executive Tim Gowland said the smaller outages that remain involve some of the worst storm damage and most difficult faults to access.

“We feel deeply for Tasmanians who’ve already gone several days and nights without power in their homes, businesses and farms,” Mr Gowland said.

“As strange as it may sound – getting these last few thousand customers restored is probably going to be at least as challenging and painstaking as the 150,000 we’ve restored already.

“That’s because these are often complex outages affecting a small number of customers, but needing a lot of time and crew resources to fix. Many are in isolated and hard-to-access areas.”

Trees bring down power lines at the Launceston Gorge entrance on Basin Rd. Tasmania wild weather event September 2, 2024. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Crews have been working through the night to clear debris, and repair damaged powerlines to try to reconnect the properties in the North and North-West.

But given the extent of the damage, it could take days or more than a week to restore electricity to those impacted, Mr Gowland said.

“In any widespread outage recovery, the bigger and simpler outages get fixed more quickly; the smaller, complex, and more isolated ones involving heavy vegetation take a lot longer,” he said.

“People should therefore expect outage and affected customer numbers to start declining more slowly than they have been. The unfortunate reality is that some customers will be without power for many more days.”

On Thursday, TasNetworks brought in 22 interstate crew members from New South Wales to help accelerate recovery and restoration efforts.

Mr Gowland said as of Friday, 10 southern-Tasmanian-based field crews were travelling to join northern and north-western colleagues in restoring remaining customers as quickly as possible.

“Our TasNetworks team members and contractors have been working long, hard hours, in extremely difficult conditions, to restore Tasmanians’ power. They’ve been outstanding in their commitment and professionalism,” he said.

Mr Gowland said TasNetworks was acutely aware that many Tasmanians were still struggling without power and needed new or ongoing support.

“We’re throwing absolutely everything at this,” Mr Gowland said.

“We still have a lot of hard work ahead. We’ll succeed more quickly with extra field crews available.

“We appreciate our southern people leaving their homes and families for a few days to help support our people and customers up here.”

Flooding at Bushy Park on Monday 2nd September 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

Flood watch

Warnings are in place for several Tasmanian rivers. Here are the ones which could flood:

Liffey River

Areas on flood watch: Bracknell, Bishopsbourne and surrounding areas

Macquarie River

Areas on flood watch: Cressy and surrounds

Minor warning: Westmoor to Chatswood, Ross and surrounds

Meander River

Areas on flood watch: Westwood and Surrounds

Minor warnings: Carrick to Hadspen and surrounds, Deloraine to Selbourne & surrounds, Meander to Red Hills, Deloraine & surrounds

South Esk River

Areas on flood watch: Fingal to Hanleth,

Minor warning: Royal George to Avoca and surrounds, Conara to Western Junction, Hadspen to Trevallyn Dam, Perth and surrounds

Further flood advice to monitor conditions at:

Derwent River

Threat reduced, stay informed: Meadowbank to Macquarie Plains, Bushy Park and surrounds

Minor warning: Derwent River, Bushy Park to Hayes, New Norfolk and Surrounds

Ouse River: Ouse

Nile River: Deddington to Nile and surrounds

North Esk River: Corra Linn to Mowbray

St Pauls River: Royal George, Avoca and surrounds

What to do:

• Check your flood emergency plan.

• Monitor conditions and be ready to go to a safer place if conditions worsen

• For SES Flood Warning updates, visit TasALERT

Originally published as Tasmanians to remain without power for long time yet after storm damage