News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, Thursday 22nd March 2018

Here is the latest from the region.


Article heading image for News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, Thursday 22nd March 2018

Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed off Hamilton Island this afternoon. The helicopter, which was a Whitsunday Air Services aircraft, crashed into the water 250 metres from the Hardy Reef pontoon. Four passengers and one crew member were onboard the chopper when it went down.

Whitsunday Air Services said the accident occurred while the helicopter was on final approach for a landing at the heliport. Emergency services were working on two people who subsequently died. The three others were able to extricate themselves; one has serious injuries and two have minor injuries. "We are extremely saddened by this incident and our deepest condolences are with the families of all of the passengers," Whitsunday Air Services  said in a statement. "(We) will be suspending all operations while a full review process is undertaken. Further information will be released in due course."

 

 

Mackay Base Hospital to conduct a clinical trial for pain meds. The trial looking to develop non-addictive pain drugs. Eventually it'll be tested across various diseases, however initially it'll just be tested for painful wounds

Mackay Schools are getting a facelift. New Air conditioning for Mackay North State High School and a demountable Admin building at Dundula State School. The upgrades making up part of six state school refurb projects this financial year. While the admin building went up fast in term four of 2017. The air-con is finally due to be switched on sometime next week

Mackay Regional Council pays tribute to World Water Day. With Parks and Environment working on projects to improve our Freshwater Resources. Council say the use of natural resources such as clearing invasive weeds and revegetating with native plants reduces bank erosion and urban runoff. Projects such as the Gooseponds extension, and the Pioneer catchment showing quality on the rise

 

MACKAY savvy households with battery storage are being encouraged to register it, for $50 cash back. The Queensland register is the first of its kind in Australia. Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham says a centralised battery network is essential for the safety of emergency services personnel.

 

Rural View's Maxine Ottowa is a finalist in the QLD Young Achiever Awards. Founding design studio Spaces for Maxine during her studies she also works part time as a carer for spinal injury patients. Winners will be announced on May 4th

LOCAL SPORT

Mackay girls wanting to give football a go have their chance. The Football Community Cup Mackay Rep teams come and try night kicks off from 6 tonight. Come on down to City Brothers Fields to get amongst the action

Go Wake Club Mackay are hosting  their next clinic. The Short Rope course teaching flat water tricks to confident riders Capped at nine people pre-bookings are essential for this Saturdays clinic

WEATHER

MACKAY & WHITSUNDAYS:  Partly cloudy. High chance of showers in the south, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm from the late morning. Winds SE 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming SE 20 to 30 km/h early in the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 18 and 22 with daytime temperatures reaching 27 to 32.

ON THE WATERS: Southeasterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore south of Mackay in the evening. Seas 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres offshore. Swell East to southeasterly around 1 metre offshore.

 UV Alert - 8:20 am to 3:50 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]

Missed Jay and Dave on Wednesday? CatchUp here

21 March 2018




Listen Live!

Up Next