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ABC Tropical North

Can you afford an extra $5.26 a week in council rates?

Mackay residential rates will increase by 7.16% - one of the steepest rises announced by a Queensland council for 2026-27.

Council’s $514 million budget was passed, with councillors Ash-Lee Johnson, Peter Sheedy and Nathanea MacRae opposing.

The budget has a forecast surplus of $1.67 million and allocates $127 million for capital projects.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the budget was “no frills” and described the rate rise as responsible, with no reduction in services despite rapidly escalating costs.

Concessions for pensioners and eligible groups are unchanged.

Cr Williamson said the budget reflected the same cost-of-living pressures being felt by households across the region.

“We know families are tightening their belts right now and council is doing the same,” Cr Williamson said

Mackay sugar harvest halted after major cyberattack on two mills

Two of Mackay’s sugar mills have shut down and harvesters have been requested to stop cutting after an overnight cyberattack.
Canegrowers have confirmed the Farleigh and Racecourse sugar mills were shut down and their control systems isolated as a “safety precaution”.
A grower notice was sent out from Mackay Sugar this morning alerting growers to the issue.

Mackay Canegrowers chairman Joseph Borg said the organisation was not aware of the precise nature of the cyberattack, but were in communication with Mackay Sugar.
“They are working hard to remedy the situation as soon as possible,” he said.

Mr Borg said he was aware of growers with harvested cane in bins at sidings, but said the cane supply agreement would offer growers protection.
“Mackay Canegrowers robustly ensures that the cane supply agreement is upheld for members, although we certainly have faith that the miller will uphold their responsibilities,” he said.
He said because the incident has occurred so early during the harvest there was plenty of time for the industry to recover.

“While the time frame isn’t clear to have the situation rectified, we envisage that it may only be a matter of days lost, rather than weeks,” he said.
“That is recoverable.”
Mr Borg reminded growers to stop all harvesting immediately and not resume until communication from Mackay Sugar.
Marian Mill is not due to start crushing until Monday.

June 3

John Victor Morrison

Thomas Anthony Jones

Samuel John Baretta

Travis Michael Roy Chamberlain

Leigh Wayne Proud

Warren Allan Lange

June 4

Samuel John Baretta

Lincoln Thomas Tibballs

Chloe Anne Ellis

Stacy Collins

Luke Richard Moy

Mackay police, who have arrested 61 people on public nuisance and drug charges since December, are conducting high-visibility patrols throughout the CBD this week in an effort to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Operation Pioneer started late last year.

Police conducted 506 street checks, 29 move-on directions, and 61 arrests for multiple offences.

This week, officers are patrolling Mackay CBD, shopping centres, parks, and community events and engaging with business owners along with the CBD patrols.

Mackay Whitsunday District Officer Superintendent Dean Cavanagh said patrolling officers were working closely with community.

“Our local police and Mounted Police Unit have looked to proactively maintain public spaces that can be enjoyed by everyone through engaging with local business and owners as well as residents to make the community be safe and feel safe,” he said.

“Ongoing operations and high-visibility patrols such as this week’s Mackay CBD operation is one example of our commitment to proactive and targeting action to enforce and engage.

“We will continue to work closely with our community to ensure support is given to those need it.”

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A man has been rushed to hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition after suffering a medical episode while behind the wheel in South Mackay.

Paramedics were called to a single-car crash on Milton St just after 3.30am on Sunday, where it is understood the male driver, aged in his 60s, had suffered a medical episode.

He was taken to Mackay Hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition.

A Queensland ambulance spokeswoman said the man was being treated for the medical episode.

No one else was injured in the incident.

The Central Queensland mayor of a mining town that has just been sold in a $5.43 billion acquisition says there will be a “huge change” in the “social fabric” of the region.

Anglo American walked away from its Queensland coal empire, selling five mines across Queensland and the Isaac region town of Middlemount for $5.43 billion to UK-based mining firm Dhilmar Limited.

The Isaac Regional Council Mayor Kelly Vea Vea said the council did not know what the sale meant for Middlemount.