NSW: Strong winds predicted again from tonight

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2001
NSW: Strong winds predicted again from tonight

By Roz King and Miranda Korzy

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - Destructive winds are expected to blast across New South Wales
again tomorrow, after last night's onslaught resulted in more than 1,400 calls for help.

The state government today offered to step in with assistance as 130 homes faced the
prospect of remaining without power overnight.

The weather bureau said gale warnings remained in place, with strong winds expected
to continue throughout the weekend.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Steve Symonds said the worst affected areas would be
the Hunter, Illawarra and the Central and Southern Tablelands.

State Emergency Service (SES) spokeswoman Laura Goodin said the SES was preparing for the worst.

"We are bracing ourselves to renew our efforts," she said.

The SES advised people to put away lawn furniture, bicycles and other light items,
to keep pets indoors and listen for gale warnings.

Violent winds of up to 100kph uprooted trees and unroofed houses across the state overnight,
leaving more than 35,000 people without power.

The SES received more 1,400 calls for help today and 400 emergency services volunteers
were working to clear fallen trees from houses and cars.

The damage extended from Bathurst and Orange, in the central west, to Wagga in the
south-west, Batemans Bay on the south coast, and through Sydney north to the Central Coast.

In Sydney, damage was concentrated in the south and south-west, around Sutherland,
Hurstville and Campbelltown, with the northern suburbs along the coast also badly hit.

Integral Energy spokesman Ed Husic said there were still about 300 homes without power
late today.

About 130 homes would have to wait until tomorrow for power to be restored in the Illawarra
region, south of Sydney, Mr Husic said.

"We've had large numbers of staff arriving for repair work - many since 10pm last night,"

Mr Husic said.

"All our repairs to our high voltage work have been completed ... difficult faults
triggered by the storms will require more intense repair work."

The state government today made available assistance for people struggling to repair
damaged homes.

NSW Fair Trading Minister John Watkins said people could ring the department and receive
free advice, such as checking whether a builder was properly licensed.

Meteorologists said the winds were typical winter westerlies caused by the passage
of a cold front moving to the north-east.

AAP rk/jjs/vr/de V

KEYWORD: WINDS NIGHTLEAD

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.