In the 7 June edition of the Ranges Trader newspaper, the Star Mail examined the ongoing effects of the June storms one year on. Read below the front page summary:
One year ago the Dandenong Ranges was struck by a massive storm event, leaving the region reeling in the aftermath.
Today, residents from the hills are still in the process of recovery and restoration from the damage and destruction on June 9 and 10, 2021.
The storm is still at the forefront of people’s minds as they return to their homes, wait in temporary accommodation and reflect on the trauma of those gusty winds that changed everything in just a few hours.
For many, the power went out as they went to bed without knowing five hours later they would wake to the sound of a tree falling through the centre of their house.
Some members of the community have yet to see their houses rebuilt 12 months later and are facing the question of what their next step will be.
According to the Insurance Council of Australia, as of May 2022 more than 34,000 claims have been made in Gippsland, the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Ranges due to the storm weather event, with an estimated insurance loss value of $302.9m.
From Montrose to Emerald, SES crews worked tirelessly to clear road blockages and make properties safe, even as they suffered from their own losses from the night. While the storm has been labelled a “freak weather event,” SES controllers plead for residents to be prepared this winter.
Residents are asking what has been done to prepare for future events, with infrastructure and telecommunications seemingly no better off than before the storms passed through the area and revealed the fragility of vital emergency response systems.
Significant places in the Dandenong Ranges like the 1000 Steps remain closed to the public due to blocked trails and damaged bridges, while others slowly re-open after lengthy closures.
Several important community buildings like school grounds also remain closed after becoming unusable during the storms, with one teacher saying “there’s no way that we can forget” the damage done.
To read the stories one year on from the June 2021 storm event, turn to pages 8 to 13.
