Winds gusting more than 100km/h lashed the Illawarra at the weekend, bringing down trees, lifting roof tiles and blowing several trampolines into unexpected places.
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The most well-traveled of the trampolines became lodged in power lines at Dapto.
Meantime, a car and house at Greenacre Road in West Wollongong were badly damaged when a 20-metre gum tree came down.
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The worst of the storm hit about 8.30pm Friday. By mid-Saturday morning, area SES units had been called to 123 jobs, including 93 in the Wollongong and Coniston areas, said Menno Schaaf, Wollongong City Unit media officer
“Most of the significant jobs have involved trees that have blown over. The strong westerly winds seem to be fairly destructive,” he said.
“We’ve completed the majority of jobs, but we’re getting the same amount arising as we’re clearing.
“It’s a bit hard to recognise the damage at night. People are coming out [the next day], finding the damage and calling us for assistance.”
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind gusts of up to 106km/h in Bellambi and 100km/h in Kiama.
Ann Pettit, the SES’s Illawarra South Coast after hours duty officer, said 20 teams attended callouts on the night.
“It’s a reminder for the community to tie down any loose items, keep an eye on the weather and look out for any weather warnings.”