Rockhampton, Blackwater region left without power

More than 1500 people remain without power across Central Queensland and the Central Highlands after wild storms tore through the region.

Trees were torn up at Hollie Cope's Gracemere property during a wild storm on January 12, 2025.

About 600 properties remain without power across Central Queensland and the Central Highlands after wild storms accompanied by strong winds tore through the region.

The majority of outages are in and around Blackwater with about 440 properties without power, while 105 properties remain without power in the Rockhampton suburbs of Allenstown and The Range.

Ergon is investigating Blackwater, Dysart, Clermont Bluff, Capella, Comet, Lilyvale, Mackenzie River, Lowesby, Rolleston and Dingo outages and has not provided a fix time.

Ergon Energy spokesperson Danny Donald said 1400 residents in Blackwater remain without power as investigations were underway.

“But we hope to get everyone up and running today,” he said.

There are a smattering of other properties still without power at Keppel Sands, Barmoya, Alton Downs, South Yaamba, Mount Larcom and Biloela.

The Rockhampton homes without power are on Church St, Costello St, Nicholson St, Penlington St, Prospect St and Upper Dawson Rd, according to Ergon Energy, which has estimated the fix time as 2pm on Monday.

The lights have been turned on for all but 21 homes of the 600 Dysart residents that lost power over the weekend.

Coppabella is expected to be left without power until 6pm today.

Trees were torn up at Hollie Cope's Gracemere property during a wild storm on January 12, 2025.

Trees were also uprooted and property was damaged in Gracemere and trampolines were caught up in the strong winds and carried into neighbouring yards across the region.

Gracemere resident Hollie Cope is heartbroken by the huge trees, vegetation and fences damaged by the wild weather, but grateful her house and family were unscathed.

“(We’re) just broken-hearted as our place takes a lot of hard work to make it immaculate always,” she said.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get back to what it was but very thankful the storm was kind enough to not destroy our home structure.”

A large eucalyptus tree has fallen in the centre of Rockhampton Zoo, blocking some pathways.

The zoo have assured locals all animals are safe and well and the zoo remains open, with the tree expected to be cleared by Tuesday afternoon.

1700 Rockhampton residents were left in the dark as storms caused outages across Central Queensland on Sunday, January 12.

More than 2000 people lost power when storms hit Central Queensland on Sunday, January 12.

Ergon Energy, the region’s main supplier of electricity, recorded 260,000 lightning strikes overnight, leaving 14,000 homes and businesses without power during the peak of the storm.

On Sunday, an Ergon spokesman confirmed more than 1700 people were without power across Rockhampton on both sides of the Fitzroy River.

Emergency services were responding to reports of fallen power lines in Allenstown and Park Avenue before 6pm.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman confirmed three trees were down on Tynan St, Park Avenue.

It was reported power lines were sparking on Tynan St.

The vibrant orange sun in the sky as seen from Gracemere following wild storms across Central Queensland on Sunday, January 12.

Emergency services ware also on scene on Upper Dawson Rd where downed power lines caused an outage in Allenstown.

Dysart residents also found themselves left in the dark after being hit by bad weather just after 4pm.

Crews from the Queensland Fire Department are responding to Roper Court where power lines have fallen and Queen Elizabeth Dr where a tree has fallen onto power lines.

An Ergon spokesman confirmed 600 Dysart residents were out of power on Sunday afternoon.

Originally published as Rockhampton, Blackwater region left without power