Thousands of muttonbirds washed up on FNC beaches

Thousands of muttonbirds (short tailed shearwaters) have washed up on Far North Coast Beaches overnight.  Reports of dead and dying birds have come from Kingscliff to Evans Head.

Australian Seabird Rescue advises that due to the number and distribution of the birds across the North Coast, it is unable to respond to individual calls for assistance with muttonbirds at this time.

Anybody that has already collected a live muttonbird is asked to bring the bird to ASR in Ballina or provide care at home (keep birds in a warm, dark, quiet spot).  Most birds are likely to die within 24 hours.

ASR spokesman Keith Williams said: “This season’s muttonbird migration from Siberia and Alaska to southern Australia has been particularly affected by storms in the South China Sea.

“Although the number of birds is distressingly high, this is largely a natural event and apart from removing birds from the beach, there is little that can be done

“I would also like to apologise to the many callers to the ASR rescue hotline that became overwhelmed with the volume of calls last night and that we have not been able to get back in touch with.”

Highway closed following fatal motor vehicle collision near Lismore

A woman and child have died following a fatal motor vehicle collision near Lismore.

About 2.20pm today (Friday 30 August 2013), a Nissan Micra travelling east on the Bruxner Highway at Wollongbar, was involved in a collision with two other vehicles heading in the opposite direction.

Police and other emergency services attended the scene a short time later.

The driver of the Nissan, believed to be aged in her 20s, and a young girl travelling with her died at the scene.

Two other people from one of the other vehicles, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Lismore Hospital in a stable condition.

The Bruxner Highway was closed in both directions and traffic was diverted between Wollongbar and Alstonville.

Investigations into the cause of the collision continue and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Three die in collision near Casino

A brief will be prepared for the Coroner after a man and two children died in a two-car collision in the state’s north this morning.

About 8.10am (Tuesday 4 June 2013), police and other emergency services responded to reports of a collision between two sedans on McDonalds Bridge Road, Dyraaba, about 15km north-west of Casino.

On arrival, police found three people – a man and two children – deceased. They had all been travelling in the same vehicle. A man and two children from the second vehicle were taken to hospital.