A former Mackay Sugar director is suggesting the company sells while they still can. Rex Stroppiana tells the Mercury there's no way growers will pay a levy following the cyclone. The milling company proposing in February they would charge growers a $2.00 levy for per tonne of cane milled for five years. It's all part of a plan to alleviate its $212M of debt.
St Bees Island residents are still unable to get back onto the Island. It's been over a week since the cyclone hit and the managing director and owner of the island don’t have a way to get back to it.
RESTORATION works aimed at returning Platypus Beach in Mirani to its former glory are beginning this week. Cyclone Debbie has helped start the job off for council by clearing some of the weeds. Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson says the recent event will affect their plans for the area.
An alert is being issued to those in rural areas in the Whitsundays who use onsite sewerage treatment plants and disposal systems. Council says residents using them and without power should prepare for the return of the mains power supply. Systems used without power can cause a number of problems and possibly lead to untreated sewage being discharged to the environment once the power comes back on.
Mackay and Whitsunday's residents are urged to look local for licensed contractors to repair Debbie's damages. We can use a new State Government online register to make it easier to find contractors close to us. Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni says there's a lot of work to be done.
The Whitsunday Regional Council will carry out free kerbside bulky goods collection of household goods damaged by Tropical Cyclone Debbie today. They say it could take up to three weeks to make their way around the region.
LOCAL SPORT
NEW Mackay Meteors head coach Cameron Tragardh has arrived. The former Cairns Taipans player set foot in the region this week -- and says he has big plans for the side and is confident a QBL championship win is achievable.
WEATHER
Partly cloudy. High (70%) chance of showers. Winds southeasterly 20 to 25 km/h.