MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN HIGHWAY CRASH

A motorcyclist died this afternoon after colliding with a truck on the Pacific Highway near Kempsey.

The motorcycle crashed head-on into the truck, which was carrying a full load of sugar.

The rider died instantly and the truck driver was taken to hospital where he was treated for shock.

The highway was closed for several hours, with vehicles being diverted around the crash scene.

POLICE SHOOTING AT VALENTINE

Police are piecing together events that led to a pursuit and the shooting of an alleged offender in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Valentine this morning.

Detectives are carrying out a critical incident investigation at the scene on The Park Chase where one man was shot in the thigh by police and another arrested after a brief chase in bushland.

Police have confirmed the incident is linked to an earlier home invasion in the Newcastle suburb of Kotara

At one stage the Westpac rescue helicopter was called in to help search for the men.

The wounded man is in a stable condition in Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital. Another man is in police custody.

KNIGHTS HOUSTON ON DRUG CHARGES

A second Newcastle Knights player has been charged with supplying ecstasy and cocaine.

Detectives attached to Strikeforce Welham this afternoon served a court attendance notice on 25-year-old Chris Houston via his legal representative.

Houston was immediately stood down by the club.

A statement released by the Knights this afternoon said “Newcastle Knights player, Chris Houston has been stood down immediately and indefinitely following reports he was charged this afternoon on drug related allegations.

The Newcastle Knights will not be making any comment until further notice.”

Strikeforce Welham was set up to investigate drug supply in Northern New South Wales and resulted in the charging of Newcastle Knight Danny Wicks.

Houston is due to face court on April 13th.

AUSTRALIA ON TSUNAMI WATCH AFTER QUAKE

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION VISIT THE BOM WEBSITE http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami/

Australia’s east coast has been put on tsunami watch following a major 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Chile where at least six people have been killed.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (JATWC) issued a tsunami watch at 7:45pm (AEDT) on Saturday declaring a “potential tsunami threat” to New South Wales, Queensland, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

“Tsunami waves have been observed on the coast of Chile that may threaten Australia,” the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said in a statement on Saturday.

The BoM said tsunami waves could start affecting Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands after 8:30am (AEDT) on Sunday.

NSW could be hit after 8:45am (AEDT) on Sunday while Queensland could be hit after 8:15am (AEST)

Duty forecaster Jake Phillips at the BoM says the NSW coast north of Broken Bay and up to Queensland’s south coast as far Double Island Pt near Brisbane could experience strong waves.

“But at this stage we want to stress that there is no concern about land inundation,” Mr Phillips told AAP.

“But there is a marine threat and that would include anyone out boating or rock fishermen.”

The quake struck off Chile’s coast at 3:34am local time (1734 AEDT) on Saturday, shaking buildings in the capital, where some have buildings collapsed.

The epicentre of the tremor was 100 kilometres north northwest of the Chilean town of Chillan and 115 kilometres northeast of Concepcion, Chile’s second-largest city, where more than 200,000 people live along the Bio Bio river.

It was also 97km from the ski town of Chillan, a gateway to Andean ski resorts that was destroyed in a 1939 earthquake.

Phone lines were down in the country, making confirmation of damage difficult, especially further south toward the epicentre.

The quake was felt in Argentina as well.

The US Pacific Tsunami warning centre has also issued a tsunami warning for Chile and Peru, and a tsunami watch is in place for Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama and Costa Rica.

Japan’s meteorological agency also warned of a tsunami risk across large areas of the Pacific as US geologists said the risk extended as far as the Antarctic.

“There is a possibility that tsunami will widely occur in the Pacific Ocean,” an official for the Japanese agency said.

ROCK FISHERMAN DROWNS ON CENTRAL COAST

The dangers of rock fishing have again been highlighted, this time by the death of a 26-year-old Sydney man on the Central Coast.

The man was swept into the water early this morning, and couldn’t be revived.

AUTHORITIES SICK OF SAVING PEOPLE, FROM THEMSELVES

Authorities on the Gold Coast say they’re sick of saving people, from themselves.

It follows that rescue from a flooded drain last night, and six rescues on Sunday.

In all cases crews risked their lives to save others.

DAM OVERFLOWING BUT NO EASE ON RESTRICTIONS

The Hinze Dam is again overflowing after the weekend rains.

But the Queensland Water Commission is adamant permanent water restrictions are here to stay.

DRAMATIC CAR RESCUES AS WATERS RISE

At least half a dozen people were rescued from cars during last night’s downpour.

More than 338 millimetres fell on Mount Tamborine in just 20 hours.

DRUG ARRESTS PUT DAMPENER ON BIG DAY OUT

Police with sniffer dogs have cracked down on misbehaving music-lovers at the Big Day Out on the Gold Coast.

Officers arrested a number of people on drugs charges, but the festival’s founder isn’t happy, labelling the searches an ambush.

POLICE SHOOTING IN BENOWA

Police have shot a man on the Gold Coast.

It’s believed he rushed at police with a knife in the suburb of Benowa, just before four this afternoon.

“Police were called a male was causing a disturbance at the address. And when they arrived they were confronted by the male who was subsequently shot.”

A 45-year-old man has been taken to hospital suffering a gunshot wound to his lower left leg.

Ethical standards police are investigating.

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