News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, 30th August 2017

Investigations are underway into a fatal crash between a freight train and a truck at Pindi Pindi. 66 year old Robert Reid from Calen died at the scene yesterday morning. Police say the service truck was carrying harvesting equipment on Wagoora Yalboroo Road when it was struck by the Aurizon train at the level crossing.

A 28-year-old Oakenden man is being charged with drug trafficking. It's following police conducting a search of a rural property yesterday morning and allegedly finding ice, Cannabis and cash. The accused is due to front the Mackay Magistrates Court today.

While people are on the hunt for three men who allegedly assaulted a 25 year old man in East Mackay and stole his camera bag. It's alleged one man punched the photographer in the face on Binnington Esplanade on Monday night before the trio took off with his bag that contained his camera, iphone and laptop. Anyone with information on the incident is urged to come forward.

The Insurance Council of Australia has deployed teams to the Whitsundays to help policyholders with Post-Debbie claims. The service will be available from September 8 to 10. Appointments via their website will be essential. Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan says 6 months has been a long time to wait for help but it's better now than never

A Mackay man is looking at bringing his retirement forward a few years after winning "Set For Life". Golden casket waking him up yesterday morning to tell him he'll be receiving 20 thousand dollars a month for the next 20 years. Mathew Hart from Golden Casket the local's yet to make any plans.

LOCAL SPORT

The Mackay Cutters are already looking good ahead of the 2018 season. They're resigned a few of their top players already in Yamba Bowie, Cooper Bambling and seven others and have also signed three of the under 20's boys.

Mackay district lawn bowlers are proving to be tough to beat after winning six of seven zone final games. They were up against Leichhardt in Emerald and the winners are now off to play in the State finals on the Gold Coast in October

WEATHER

MACKAY: The chance of fog in the early morning. Mostly sunny day. Light winds becoming easterly 20 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late afternoon.

WHITSUNDAYS: Areas of fog in the early morning. Mostly sunny day. Light winds becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the evening

ON THE WATERS: East to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots, tending northeasterly inshore south of Mackay during the afternoon. Seas Around 1 metre. Swell East to northeasterly below 1 metre.

SUNRISE: 6:14AM & SUNSET: 5:53PM