Parents in push for tip search

RACHEL Antonio’s parents say they are anxiously waiting for police to confirm if a Bowen tip will be searched for her remains.

Ian and Cheryl Antonio yesterday urged police to commit to the new search as a senior officer assesses advice it can be done quickly and cheaply.

“It’s so easy and quick and cheap. What’s holding them back?” Mr Antonio said.

“It’s not that big a job – it’s only a little project. They should do it as quick as they can.”

Rachel went missing from Bowen in 1998 after being dropped off at a cinema by her mother, but despite extensive searches elsewhere the tip was never checked.

Her parents say that due to the potentially limited time available to dispose of her body it may have been put in a skip and ended up at the tip.

Former dump manager Hugh Smith said last year if Rachel’s body was buried at the tip “we’ll find her”.

Police subsequently interviewed him for the first time.

Mackay detective Inspector Nikki Colfs yesterday confirmed she was overseeing the police investigation into Mr Smith’s new information.

She said a search of the tip was still under active consideration. RESIDENTS at Braemeadows, northeast of Ingham, lost power last night after a transformer caught fire.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said firefighters arrived at Four Mile Rd about 7.30pm and found the transformer on a power pole was smouldering.

According to the Ergon Energy website, power to 12 residents was affected from 7.17pm. Power was restored within two hours. The QFES spokeswoman said the cause of the fire was unknown.