Whitsundays drenched by torrential rain

Flooding rains have caused havoc throughout the Whitsundays, blocking the highway near Proserpine on several occasions and shutting shops across the entire region.
Fourteen homes at Hydeaway Bay were evacuated by police on Wednesday night after landslides occurred, with the area being declared a natural disaster zone.
Meanwhile the heavy rain has badly affected the region's roads with council's mayor Mike Brunker saying the Bruce Highway in particular has seen a lot of potholes appear.
"Council workers are out assessing the entire road network and a report will be compiled by week's end so that we can get crews out there working on patching up the roads," Cr Brunker said.
To read more on this and other Whitsundays news stories, pick up a copy of the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, available now (in spite of the rain!) from leading newsagencies, Coles (Cannonvale) and the Chapman Street office in Proserpine.