Transport Minister Michael Wood visited the crucial link with residents who would use it.

The man says he is ‘keeping well’ and work is crucial to his wellbeing.

With rental vacancies across the county dipping to just 1.47 per cent, and conditions showing no sign of slowing down, it's tough out there to be a renter right now.

A woman spent 10 hours buried alive in a tomb in Brazil.

The 36-year-old was found entombed at the Visconde do Rio Branco Municipal Cemetery after gravediggers noticed fresh cement and blood near a grave.

The workers heard cries from inside the tomb after they noticed the clues on the ground. 

READ MORE: 'Very dangerous supercell' to decimate millions' Easter weekend plans

The woman was dragged from the plot by emergency workers after spending 10-hours underground.

She's in intensive care and her finger may have to be amputated, hospital staff say.

It is alleged the mother-of-four was beaten and dragged from her home on 28 March before she was left at the cemetery.

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Police confirm two men have been arrested, and they are searching for a third.

"There is still an individual who is on the run," police chief Douglas Moto said.

"We are still working incessantly to be able to locate this individual and as soon as possible make the arrest and then, leave them at the disposal of the justice."

The arrested pair – aged 20 and 22 – are known to police and have been arrested on weapons and drug trafficking charges before.

They remain in custody.

The woman indicated the ordeal started after she "misplaced" drugs and weapons stored at her home.

READ MORE: Man kills four children with hatchet at daycare centre in Brazil

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Finding a snake in your roof can be an alarming experience but one Queensland snake catcher says it is not always cause for concern.

Between 20 and 30 snake skins were found in the roof of a Sunshine Coast home in one of the latest call-outs for the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers

Owner Stuart McKenzie said this was not an uncommon occurrence.

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"The lady is actually selling the house and she didn't want all the skins up there," McKenzie said.

"There's probably only 20 or 30 (snake skins) but that amount is enough to freak out a pest inspector."

About one in three homes on Queensland's east coast have snakes lurking in roof spaces.

The most common snakes found in roof spaces are carpet pythons and tree snakes.

"It is a common occurrence because it's perfect shelter," McKenzie said.

"They're essentially sleeping where their food is.

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"Everything a snake wants is in the roof space."

McKenzie recommends calling a licensed snake catcher if you're uncomfortable with a reptile in your roof or the noise is keeping you up at night.

"Some people are happy to have snakes in the roof, it's essentially free rodent control," he said.

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Every week or so for the past four years a Victorian mum who goes by the name of 'Betty Bin Chicken' ventures out after the shops have closed – and rakes through their trash.

Like many Australian families, the 39-year-old was struggling with the rising cost of living and was inspired to see what was being thrown away with the intention to use discarded produce to feed her family.

Betty told 9news.com.au she has saved "thousands of dollars" on groceries.

However supermarkets have warned that food in bins is 'not fit for human consumption'.

READ MORE: Aussie families save on groceries by foraging for food

"The last few years I've been doing it for the family," she said.

"I'll at least get a boot load every night."

Betty is what's known as a 'dumpster diver'.

Coined from an American term – a dumpster being a brand of giant moveable bin – Betty rifles through rubbish to find food and other products thrown away by supermarkets and other shops such as chemists and homewares stores.

As well as unearthing food both within and past sell-by dates and goods subject to a recall, she's also taken home everything from dozens of bottles of Berocca to new bedding and even a gazebo.

She posts videos of her "hauls" on YouTube, where some American dumpster divers have hundreds of thousands of followers.

Betty reckons as long as she sticks to bins which aren't locked, don't have any "no trespassing signs", belong to the council or involve trespassing on private property, she's doing nothing wrong.

However police say people who take items from bins could be prosecuted for crimes including theft or trespassing.

Betty said most times she has been approached by shop workers while targeting their bins it's to check she's not actually filling them up with rubbish.

When she says she wants to take items, she says they leave her to it.

Once, the police have been called, but she told 9News.com.au they let her carry on.

"The police weren't very sure and said 'if anyone asks you to leave then leave'," she said.

The mother-of-one, who does some cleaning work, admits coming across a bin full of discarded food gives her a "rush."

"It's kind of like Christmas," she said.

But Betty, who feeds her family first then passes the rest of what she finds to friends, neighbours and homeless people said it's not always a pleasant endeavour.

She's found herself standing in bins full of used syringes, and also had to contend with human waste.

"You've got to be really careful," she said.

Grandfather rummages through bins at night

Western Australian man Brenden Rikihana, 53, said he has been "foraging and rummaging" for most of his life.

The Perth grandfather attracts thousands of views on his YouTube channel, Bin Living with Big B, which shows him venture into rubbish bins belonging to big stores in the dark.

Rikihana has found everything from camping gear and toys to Easter eggs and watches in bins, as well as groceries.

His most popular video sees him grab discarded beer, dozens of boxes of eggs, meat and fresh veg.

A security guard approaches him in the video and merely tells him to "be safe".

Rikihana admits what he does is illegal, but claims his interactions with police have always been "positive."

READ MORE: Why half of all Australians are ditching their travel plans this year

"What makes it illegal is the entering of private properties and damaging private properties," he said.

If he's asked to leave he said he does, plus always cleans up after himself.

Rikihana said he has watched 'bin diving' become more popular with other Aussies as the cost of living crisis bites.

But he said it's not all treasures he unearths.

"When I started I was going out everyday and only 10 percent (of bins) would have anything in it."

What supermarkets say about dumpster diving

Coles said it "discourages" people from trying to get items from bins for health and safety reasons.

"Last financial year we donated more than 18,200 tonnes of unsold edible food to food rescue organisations SecondBite and hunger relief charity Foodbank," a Coles spokesman said.

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Woolworths Group says it's bins are generally locked, unless they're managed by a shopping centre, when they might not be.

It says it's not allowed to give away out of date food, but works with organisations including Ozharvest and WIRES to get items it cannot sell to people and animals.

"We've set ourselves a goal to divert 100 per cent of food waste from landfill by 2025," a spokesman, said.

Aldi also aims to send nothing to landfill by 2025, and works with charities such as Foodbank.

"The only food that should be in our bins is food not fit for human consumption," it said.

"Therefore, we do not condone dumpster diving as it is a safety risk."

What are the rules on dumpster diving?

Both Western Australia and NSW Police told nine.com.au people taking items from bins could be accused of trespassing and stealing.

Queensland Police said it would consider complaints from owners of property, as well as possible trespass offences.

South Australian Police said, "not only is it illegal to take items from a residential, council or commercial business bin or skip, it's dangerous."

Do you have a story? Contact journalist Sarah Swain on ss****@******om.au

Victoria Police also said it would depend on circumstances, but culprits could face theft and potentially other charges.

There are no Australian figures which show if people have been convicted for stealing from bins, as any convictions would be listed with other thefts.

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Millions of Australians will head to the airport and hit the road today as the Easter holiday getaway begins.

Major airports across the country are preparing for their busiest weekend since before the pandemic. Nearly seven million travellers are expected to pass through the terminals at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports.

Sydney Airport predicts that today and Easter are going to be the busiest days, with about 120,000 passengers heading there.

READ MORE: When and where do Easter double demerits apply? 

It estimated traveller numbers will reach about 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Sydney Airport general manager operations Greg Hay told Today this morning staff were prepared to handle the Easter surge.

"It certainly is busy here this morning and air travel is booming this Easter period. We've got so many more staff this year. Last year we lost so many jobs out of the industry, especially here at Sydney Airport.

"But we've rebuilt our teams over the last little while. The teams have got all reskilled again and we're back and ready for this Easter period."

Melbourne Airport is preparing to handle 2.1 million passengers over the Easter holidays.

READ MORE: Easter public holidays differ all over Australia – so when do you get yours?

This follows a busy Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend when more than 375,000 people travelled through the airport over four days.

Brisbane Airport said from last Friday to today, 426,000 people are forecast to pass through the international and domestic terminals.

Travellers are advised to arrive one to two hours before a domestic flight, and two to three hours before an international flight, but no earlier.

And airlines are urging passengers to check limits for cabin and checked baggage before travelling. Excess cabin baggage on board can lead to flight delays.

People travelling to airports in their own vehicle should also book a parking spot early, airports advise. And Uber passengers should pre-book to ensure they reach their destination on time.

READ MORE: Easter long weekend forecast across Australia

Meanwhile, police and traffic authorities across the country are preparing for a busy time on the nation's roads.

Late today and Good Friday are traditionally the busiest times to be on the road, as well as Easter Monday and then when school holidays end, which differs from state to state.

Motorists are being warned to expect delays on major roads and motorways but allow plenty of time to reach their holiday destination.

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A deadly and destructive storm system that has already spawned at least 10 reports of tornadoes now threatens more than 85 million Americans with severe weather.

The storm system is trekking across the central US after battering parts of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Michigan.

Multiple deaths and injuries have been reported after a possible tornado struck Bollinger County, Missouri, Highway Patrol Sergeant Clark Parrott told CNN.

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The exact number of casualties is not clear because reports are still coming in, Parrott said on Wednesday morning (Wednesday night AEST).

"This is an active search and rescue event," he said.

Resources from all across southeast Missouri are assisting local officials, Parrott said.

Scattered severe storms posing a risk for tornadoes and large hail are expected across eastern Illinois through Lower Michigan today, the Storm Prediction Centre said.

Additional thunderstorms accompanied by potentially damaging wind gusts, hail, and a few tornadoes are possible from the Ohio Valley into the Lower Mississippi Valley, the storm centre said.

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At least nine tornadoes were reported on Tuesday, including two in Iowa and seven in Illinois, where several buildings were damaged in the town of Colona and multiple semi-trucks blown over along the I-88.

Softball-sized hail 'sounded like bricks hitting the roof'

The most notable impact has been large, baseball-sized hail. There were over 100 hail reports mainly across Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Michigan Tuesday. Davenport, Iowa, was pelted with 10-centimetre hail – just larger than a softball – while Oswego received smaller, baseball-sized hail.

"Worst hail I've ever heard in Davenport. Sounded like bricks hitting the roof," Davenport resident Paul Schmidt wrote on Facebook.

A tornado warning was issued early Wednesday near Hardy, Arkansas, where the weather service reported the storm had produced "a large and extremely dangerous tornado." Hardy is about 96 kilometres northwest of Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The area was included in a tornado watch that was issued for more than 2 million people in parts of central and northern Arkansas, southern Illinois, and southeastern Missouri until 9am – including in Little Rock, Arkansas, which sustained heavy damage last week and has been clearing debris for days.

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"It's tough to think of the possibility of another round of severe weather in the midst of this recovery, but we must remain vigilant and prepared," Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr said in a statement. "Especially, in our already hard-hit neighbourhoods, please have a plan in place to stay save, and avoid staying overnight in damaged structures."

A separate tornado watch was issued for portions of eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas, and northeastern Texas until noon, the Storm Prediction Centre said. The watch includes Fayetteville and Fort Smith in Arkansas, and Texarkana, Texas.

"Thunderstorms forming along and ahead of two merging cold fronts will pose a threat for all severe hazards: wind, hail and tornado," the storm centre said.

An enhanced risk of severe storms, level 3 of 5, is forecast from northeastern Arkansas to northern Ohio and central Michigan, stretching from Detroit to Memphis, where residents may need to brace for strong tornadoes, damaging wind gusts and large hail.

Storms are expected to continue through the morning Wednesday and redevelop during the afternoon. The greatest threat will be over the Great Lakes region, including Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis, where strong tornadoes are possible from late morning into the early evening hours.

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"Weather conditions in these areas could be life-threatening at times, and those in affected areas should pay close attention to the local NWS Weather Forecast Office for Advisories, Watches, and Warnings," the weather service warned.

Excessive rainfall totals of up to 7.5 centimetres are also possible from eastern Texas to southern Ohio.

Blizzard conditions engulf parts of the Northern Plains

Even as twisters threaten the Midwest and South, winter storms are expected to plague the Northern Plains. The region is forecast to be hit by a blizzard Wednesday, a day after "blizzard conditions" led to the shutdown of more than 100 miles of Interstate 90.

Widespread heavy snow totals are expected from the northern Rockies to the northern Plains.

"Some April snowfall records will be challenged in the Dakotas and northwest Minnesota, and the highest totals may locally exceed two feet," the National Weather Service said.

Heavy snow and strong winds will also combine to create widespread blizzard conditions with near zero visibility, making travel dangerous to impossible.

"Cold temperatures will feel even colder due to the strong winds, and life-threatening wind chills below zero are forecast in the northern Plains," the National Weather Service said.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation urged drivers to stay off the roads, warning that conditions are too dangerous even for emergency crews.

"If you don't need to drive, stay off the roads. It's dangerous for you and emergency crews. If you're stranded, crews may not be able to reach you," the transportation department tweeted.

The Easter long weekend has a reputation for miserable road traffic as families head off on holiday to make the most of the last of the warmer weather causing gridlocks on major roads.

Good Friday and the Thursday evening beforehand are traditionally the busiest times to be on the road, as well as Easter Monday and then when school holidays end, which differs from state to state.

But there are a few ways to make Easter travel less stressful, according to experts. Here's what they say.

READ MORE: When and where do Easter double demerits apply? 

Sydney and NSW Easter traffic

In New South Wales, the expected chokepoints are the major roads heading out of Sydney, specifically:

• M1 Pacific Motorway
• Great Western Highway
• Hume Motorway
• Princes Highway
• Hume, Princes, Kings, Great Western and Pacific highways in the regions

"Transport for NSW will have traffic management initiatives in place at the major known pinch points, but travellers should still be prepared to experience delays," the NSW government said in a statement.

"There may also be other corridors in regional NSW that could experience higher than normal traffic volumes during the Easter holidays."

READ MORE: Easter public holidays differ all over Australia – so when do you get yours?

Brisbane and Queensland Easter traffic

The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) recommends that if you can't avoid travelling on the busiest days, try not to drive at peak times, typically between mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

"If you plan on hitting the road for the Easter break, our advice is to allow as much time as possible for delays and aim to drive outside of peak hours if you can," RACQ Traffic and Engineering Manager Greg Miszkowycz said.

"Traffic can be frustrating, but we must keep a cool head and not let it get the better of us, and the best way to do that is to leave earlier or travel during off-peak times to make sure we're not stressed about being late."

He said motorists travelling in Queensland should expect congestion both north and south of Brisbane, on the Gateway and Bruce Highway towards the Sunshine Coast and on the Pacific Motorway towards the Gold Coast.

Many of the state's major motorways are also undergoing roadworks, which will also add to delays, he said.

The RACQ Road Conditions website can help drivers plan their route.

READ MORE: Easter long weekend forecast across Australia

Melbourne and Victoria Easter traffic

In Victoria, the main exit points out of Melbourne are expected to be very busy on Thursday and Friday.

Those roads are likely to include:

• West Gate Freeway
• Princes Freeway
• Western Freeway
• Maroonday Highway
• Monash Freeway

Following that initial Melbourne exodus, regional roads are expected to be busier than usual over the weekend.

Police are urging drivers, especially those in rural and regional Victoria, to be careful on the road.

"With so many lives lost on rural roads this year, we'll be particularly focused on the major arterials leading to regional Victoria and popular holiday hotspots," Victoria Police's assistant commissioner of road policing, Glenn Weir, said.

Over 60 per cent of road deaths in Victoria happen in rural areas.

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South Australia 

In South Australia, police are preparing for a busy weekend, focused on reducing road fatalities as the state continues to suffer from preventable road deaths.

The Sturt Highway will be busy with interstate and regional travellers.

Police are urging motorists to drive safely as the state is on track for the most road fatalities it has seen in 20 years.

"So far this year we have lost 41 lives on our roads compared to 20 this time last year," assistant commissioner of state operations Ian Parrott said.

"This number is too high, and we don't want to add to it this weekend.

"As thousands of South Australians flock to our regions this weekend, we're urging everyone to drive to the conditions and make sure they get to their destination and back home safely."

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Western Australia 

Motorists in Western Australia have been issued a similar warning, with police warning drivers of the dangers on the roads during the long weekend. 

Western Australia's busiest roads include:

• Mitchell Freeway, West Perth
• Great Eastern Highway
• Great Northern Highway

Police are asking all motorists to be alert and drive with caution, as the state has lost 40 lives to crashes this year.

On average, two people die every Easter from a fatal traffic incident in Western Australia.

"Take your time, be patient and return home," police told 9News in a statement.

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Police in Queensland are appealing for a platypus, which is believed to have been taken from the wild, to be urgently taken to a vet or handed over to officers.

Two people were seen boarding a train and showing the animal to passengers about 11am yesterday in Morayfield in Moreton Bay.

The pair was seen "with the animal wrapped in a towel, patting it and showing it to fellow commuters" as it's believed they travelled toward Caboolture.

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Caboolture Police and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science fear the animal could die if not given immediate veterinary help.

"The animal may become sick, be diseased or die the longer is it out of the wild and should not be fed or introduced to a new environment," Queensland Police said in a statement.

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"It may also have venomous spurs which can cause significant injury to people and animals.

"The animal's timely surrender will ensure its welfare."

Unlawfully taking and keeping a platypus, which is endangered in some parts of Australia, is an offence that carries a maximum fine of $431,250.

Anonymous reports can be made via Policelink on 131444.

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