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

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation has today announced Mackay's batonbearers who will carry the Queen’s Baton during the 100-day countdown. Mackay Regional Council’s 20 16 Citizen of the Year Samantha Bliss is one of 34 batonbearers for our region. Another is Year 11 student Damian Shearer.

There's been a win for sugar in the senate overnight. Dawson MP George Christensen says there was an attempt by a southern Senator to interfere with the sugar marketing code of conduct for Queensland cane growers but it was soundly defeated by a vote of 37 to 18.

Mid Water-week Whitsundays MP Jason Costigan is re-calling for the construction of the Urannah Dam. He says it's an issue that's been on the cards for 10 years but is yet to take off.

People in the Mackay region are being urged to visit the Botanica-Useful Plants exhibition. Artist Mayah Harrison says that people will appreciate the hard work than goes in to Botanica art.

The Greater Whitsunday Farmers' Market to be held at Bluewater Quay on River Street today has been cancelled due to the wet weather

LOCAL SPORT

Mackay's Dane Gagai could miss out on one of the final 17 spots in the Kangaroos squad next Friday after coach Mal Meninga is left with only 4 spots to fill.

A women's only triathlon will be held this Sunday in Mirani. A team of 24 local ladies will take to the starting line in what will be their first ever race. There's still time to take part. Registration fees start from as little as $5 dollars.

WEATHER

MACKAY: Cloudy. Very high (near 100%) chance of rain – Between 100mm – 150mm. The chance of a thunderstorm. Heavy falls possible. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h tending southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then turning east to northeasterly 20 to 25 km/h in the evening.

WHITSUNDAYS: Cloudy. Very high (95%) chance of rain. The chance of a thunderstorm. Heavy falls possible. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h

ON THE WATERS:  Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 15 to 20 knots mid-afternoon. Winds tending northeasterly during the evening. Seas Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell Easterly 1 to 2 metres offshore.

Flood Watch for coastal catchments from Bowen to Hervey Bay. Minor flooding is possible in the Flood Watch area during the next few days. An upper trough over central Queensland combined with a surface trough off the Capricornia coast is expected to produce heavy rainfall over the Flood Watch area during Wednesday and Thursday. Next Warning will be released today.

SUNRISE: 5:29 AM & SUNSET: 6:07 PM

With the Wet Weather continuing for the next few days, all the information on road closures, warnings and information can be found here.