News Headlines for Mackay & the Whitsundays, Tuesday 20th February 2018
Here is the latest from the Newsroom.
Dawson MP George Christensen has refused to apologise for the controversial photo that went across social media at the weekend. Mr Christensen used a ring road construction depot as a backdrop to defend a controversial Facebook post.
Traces of rat bait have been found in a sick dog in South Mackay. Toby the staffy was found by his owner after work on Friday looking agitated and extremely unwell Rushing him to the vet it was confirmed he had consumed rat bait. The owner told Police they didn’t use the substance in their home. Police are asking for anyone with information to contact Crime stoppers
Thieves in North Mackay have allegedly struck gold at a home on Holack Street. It had been unoccupied between January 15th and February 15th, with owners using it to store their belongings. It is alleged that someone has gained entry through a rear window making off with a range of high quality goods. Among the finds were an out-board motor, washing machine, single water ski, and a wakeboard.
Mackay Council are hoping a two day workshop is the help not for profit businesses need. It's weekend event helping to upskill community groups on leadership, governance, sponsorship and budgeting. They'll be on in March and you can register on the councils website.
Businesses in the Whitsundays are having difficulties paying their power bills. The information coming from a survey that was conducted by the Queensland Electricity Users Network. They look at 741 businesses across here, Mareeba, the Southern Downs and Mount Isa. QEUN Coordinator Jennifer Brownie explains what they found if bills get worse. Meantime - they want local business owners to sign up to the Queensland Competition Authority's workshops in town next month. A chance to get your voice straight to the State Government
LOCAL SPORT
The Mackay Mavericks have gone down to Cairns in the gridiron. The score 35 to 20 in Mackay, our boys conceding three early touchdowns in the first half. Cairns made the 10 hour trip to Mackay with only 17 players, while Mackay had 28
Magpie's Captain Michael Lyall escaped trouble following a one game suspension. He scored opening goal on Saturday night for the team's first 2018 win. The boys bruising the Sunshine Coast team with a fierce 3-2 win
WEATHER
MACKAY & WHITSUNDAYS: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm inland, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Slight chance near the coast. Light winds becoming NE 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to the low to mid 20s with daytime temperatures reaching the low to mid 30s.
ON THE WATERS: Variable about 10 knots becoming easterly 10 to 15 knots in the middle of the day. Winds reaching up to 20 knots on exposed waters south of Mackay in the evening. Seas Below 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre by early evening. Swell Easterly below 1 metre.
UV Alert from 8:10 am to 4:10 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 14 [Extreme]