MORE than 800 homes and some businesses were without power in Cedar Vale on Wednesday morning after a large gum tree fell onto power lines on Fern Tree Court.
It is alleged a bulldozer driver accidentally hit the tree about 9.30am while clearing land at a property on the corner of Fern Tree Court and Bluff Road.
The tree smashed through the power lines as it fell, causing the live wires to snake across the ground.
The tall tree completely blocked access to Fern Tree Court, which was closed while emergency services attended to the scene.
Cedar Grove resident Jennilee Davis, who lives across the road from the property being cleared, saw the tree fall.
"I was just walking out towards my car and the tree fell just as I was walking out," she said.
"There was this huge smash but I saw the (bulldozer driving) still moving about.
"I was jumping up and down telling him 'stop, stop there are live power lines on the road'.
"My house lost power and so did everyone else on the street."
Energex crews attended the scene to remove the tree from the wires.
An Energex spokeswoman said they expected the power to be on again by noon Wednesday.
The owner of the property being cleared said the clearing works were being done in preparation for his family to move into the house next month.
He said the tree was already leaning slightly towards Fern Tree Court before it was nudged by the bulldozer.
