News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, 18th August 2017

A woman has been rushed to the Mackay Base Hospital after receiving an electric shock at a hair dressers. It happened in Rural View yesterday afternoon and the woman was stable from ambo's arrived.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has visited Airlie Beach, announcing the State Government committing an extra $2.6 million dollars towards the foreshore revitalisation. Whitsundays Mayor Andrew Wilcox says it's a welcome boost as  there's still banks to fix...rockwalls to be rebuilt and cyclone season is just around the corner again. Ms Trad says Labor is pushing ahead with the redevelopment without the LNP's $29 million dollar help.

While the Greater Whitsunday Alliance is seeing another 480 thousand dollars come their way over three years. It's coming from the Palaszczuk Government’s 6 million dollar Advancing Regional Innovation Program.

There are plenty of sharks being caught off the Mackay Coast. According to State Government Data, 43 sharks at least two meters long were caught locally in 2016 and 17 -- the second highest number in Queensland.

The Sarina Beach Coconut Festival is tipped to be a big one. It kicks off this Saturday. Festival Chairperson Megan Thompson says there'll be camel races this year.

LOCAL SPORT

The Audi Hamilton Island Race Week kicks off tomorrow. The final fleet count well over 200, bringing a welcome relief to the Whitsunday's that was hit hard by the Cyclone. The race week was founded in 1983 but is now Australia's biggest offshore yachting regatta.

Only two rounds remain for our Cutters as they gear up to take on the Ipswich Jets on Saturday afternoon. Our boys are sitting eight on the Intrust Super cup ladder. Coach Steve Sheppard says he's pretty pleased with how the boys have performed this season.

WEATHER

MACKAY: The chance of morning fog. Sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late afternoon.

WHITSUNDAYS: The chance of morning fog. Sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late afternoon. 

ON THE WATERS: North to northwesterly about 10 knots. Winds becoming variable with afternoon inshore seabreezes during the afternoon. Seas Below 1 metre. Swell Below 0.5 metres.