News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, 12th December 2017

It's time for one of the Mackay Police force to retire. At six years old, Police Dog Astro has served the Brisbane Dog Squad and most recently-the Mackay Dog Squad as a general purpose dog for over four years.

Still bearing scars from Cyclone Debbie, the region's being warned, it's time to get ready again. Mayor Greg Williamson said "A well prepared community is a community that will endure the worst emergency". 9 News Mackay was with the Mayor at "Cyclone Saturday" on the weekend.

Mackay MP Julianne Gilbert has been appointed Assistant Minister for State Development after a re-elected Palaszczuk Government shuffle of staff yesterday. First project on her agenda is exploring our waterfront development area.

It's been almost two months since 13 year old Mark Slatter was killed in a car crash at Gillinbin Creek near Carmilla. His 40 year old mother has since been charged with driving without due care and attention and driving with relevant drug in blood. She will face court next week.

Mackay JCU senior lecturer Sanjeev Bandi has been sporting a Triple M style of moustache....all for a good cause. Now in his 10th year of fundraising for Mo-vember Mr Bandi has individually raised over $270,000, this year breaking a record. He says he was compelled to register all those years ago.

A multi-million-dollar Sarina tourist centre redevelopment is nearing completion with construction ahead of schedule. Reece D'alessandro from 9 News Mackay has the details. 

LOCAL SPORT

Veteran of the Mackay Basketball scene Brad Rasmussen has re-signed with the Meteors for the 2018 season. Rasmussen is the latest on board-  joining the announcement of Chris Cedar and Ian Haughton. Business development manager Wade Rebetzke says it's reassuring to see returning players.

In Touch football...Tori Carter and Georgia Harris will be the first locals to play in the Elite 8 competition

WEATHER

MACKAY: Partly cloudy. High (70%) chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming southeasterly 25 to 35 km/h early in the morning.

WHITSUNDAYS: Partly cloudy. Medium (50%) chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southeasterly before dawn then tending east to southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning. 

ON THE WATERS:  Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, tending easterly inshore south of Sarina during the afternoon. Seas 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres offshore south of Mackay. Swell East to southeasterly below 1 metre.

 UV Alert - Sun protection recommended from 7:50 am to 4:00 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 14 [Extreme]