Members of the Australian Defence Force are heading for Victoria to assist storm-affected parts of the state, where electricity might be out for another three weeks.
Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud confirmed the state government put in a request for five ADF planners on Wednesday.
They will arrive in the Dandenong Ranges and Traralgon, in the Gippsland region to Melbourne’s east, on Thursday to assess the damage.
“Hopefully, those five ADF staff will be on the ground today and they will be able to help in that assessment and hopefully be able to encourage the use and the skills and the equipment of the ADF to expedite those issues around energy,” Mr Littleproud told Nine’s Today Show.
He said ADF members were on standby to provide further support.
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The move came as AusNet, the energy provider for Victoria’s east and north-east, confirmed overnight that initial repair estimates had been wrong for the Dandenong Ranges.
With about 9000 properties and businesses across the state’s east still without power, the energy company said the worst-affected Dandenongs areas should prepare to be off the grid until July 10.
“We are deeply sorry. We now understand the extent of the damage and scale of the recovery and repair ahead,” AusNet said.
“This will affect 3000 customers in Ferny Creek, Kalorama, Mount Dandenong, Olinda, Sassafras, Sherbrooke, The Basin, Tremont and Upwey.
“As we progress through repairs, the power will gradually come back on across the region.”
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Frustrated residents have criticised AusNet’s communication since last week’s storm, saying information about the power outages had been insufficient or wrong. Text messages were sent to residents saying power would be returned at times it was not.
Mount Dandenong resident Gail told ABC Radio Melbourne on Wednesday the worst part about the past week had been a lack of communication.
“Don’t tell us that at 12 o’clock on Sunday the power is going to be restored when there are power cords still hanging in trees and lying on the roads,” she said before the updated timeline was announced.
“All of us are feeling the frustration because we aren’t getting this information.”
Meanwhile, nearby residents of three storm-hit Yarra Ranges suburbs have been told not to drink tap water until further notice.
The Department of Health issued an urgent warning on Wednesday morning to people who live, work or are in Kallista, Sherbrooke or The Patch not to drink tap water, even if it is boiled, due to contamination.
It is expected the warning will remain effective for two more days.
Two people died in the dangerous storms last week, with minor flood warnings still current for the Latrobe, Thomson and Yarra rivers.
-with AAP
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