Not picked up by Townsville media were explosions which reverberated across Nelly Bay , Magnetic Island , on Saturday night . Spread over several hours , there were two very loud explosions in the industrial area off Kelly Street . They took place not far from where the owner of the concrete batching plant fell off a veranda, which had no railings , broke his neck and died , some months ago . There was an exchange of heated words with a man on the premises who had a large fire out in the open . One loud explosion took place after 7pm , another some two hours later , causing birds in the area to call out in fright . Concerned residents called up to try and find out find out what was happening . No sirens were heard . Lesser detonations, which sounded like rifle or pistol shots were heard over the period . It is understood police were contacted about the matter . It will be interesting to see what, if anything , is reported about the incident on the island and on the mainland .