Gone: This tree was uprooted at Rich River Golf Club. Photo: Rich River Golf Club
The clean-up is under way after Echuca-Moama and surrounds were lashed by a festive season storm.
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Wild winds, lightning and thunder swept through the region as part of the storm front late on Christmas Eve into the early hours of Christmas Day.
Cracking shot: Lightning featured as part of the storm on Christmas Eve. Photo: Melissa Thomas
The SES responded to approximately 50 callouts in the twin towns, while other communities impacted included Rochester, Kyabram and Shepparton.
More than 1000 properties in Echuca were without power on Christmas Eve and into the early hours of Christmas Day.
Powercor said about 70 faults were recorded in Echuca and Shepparton alone.
“Strong winds and lighting have damaged infrastructure ... with the majority of faults occurring in the past 12 hours,” a Powercor spokesperson said on Christmas Day.
“CitiPower and Powercor crews from across the state have arrived in northern Victoria and are assisting local crews with restoration efforts.”
Echuca Aerodrome recorded 48mm of rain in the 24 hours up to 9am on Christmas Day, our wettest day since October 4.
Wind gusts of more than 70km/h were recorded in Kyabram on Christmas Eve, the same day Shepparton had a maximum wind gust of 94km/h.
Trees were the major casualty, with many uprooted, including a giant one in the car park of Rich River Golf Club.
The renowned club was hit hard by the storm, with the championship-calibre courses closed on Tuesday.
“The property has had in excess of 55mm of rain with significant flood damage to parts of the course making access even to some holes impossible,” golf director Steve Loader said.
“The course is also littered with debris, fallen branches and fallen trees that require clean-up over the next few days.”
Mr Loader said the club was aiming to have the East Course open for social play on Wednesday and both courses in “some sort of operation for competition and social play” on Thursday.
“We are calling on anyone with some time to assist our course team in the clean-up to be at the grounds team sheds at 6.30am on Wednesday morning (December 27),” he said.
“If you have a debris rake or blower and can bring it along that would be a great help.”
Debris remains scattered along many of the major thoroughfares, including the Cobb Hwy near Moama, Murray Valley Hwy and Northern Hwy.
On the scene: SES crews work to move this tree on the Northern Hwy between Rochester and Elmore. Photo: Andrew Harrison
The Northern Hwy was blocked temporarily between Rochester and Elmore due to fallen trees, which have been cleared.
There have been reports of sheds, gates and fences impacted by the storm, while minor flooding did take place in some areas.
Elmore residents were told their water is not safe to drink following an issue at the Elmore Water Treatment Plant on Christmas Day.
“The cause of the issue was a fault with the alarm system which caused the Elmore Water Treatment Plant to stop running,” a Coliban Water spokesperson said.
“In addition, at the time of the fault, our region was receiving heavy rain and intense weather.
“Water supply has since been restored, noting the ‘do not drink’ advisory remains in place.
“We will be adding chlorine to the water supply in the short term, as we resume water production. We expect it will be several days before Elmore’s water network returns to normal, and before the ‘do not drink’ advisory can be lifted.”
A water trailer is available at the base of Elmore water tower, while bottled water is also available at this location.
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