MOSSMAN FUTURE: Tourism, Mill, or both plus more for local economy?

LONG TERM

David Gardiner

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Can Mossman’s economy afford to rely on the Sugar Mill alone, or should it expand more into tourism? Picture: File

Are new, previously untried tourism ventures a future option that Mossman should consider, rather than relying mainly on the sugar industry in future?

That’s a question that might be as much contemplated as the future of the Mossman Mill, now going through the final stages of an agreement that will hopefully give it an extension of life for up to another four years with the help of investors and a state government grant.

But can Mossman, its canegrowers, businesses, local government representatives realistically depend on the Mill to be around for the longer term?

Discussions about what else the area might seriously look into to sustain its local economy have recently surfaced, after the ‘knife-edge’ situation where a cyclone damaged Mill was staring down the barrel of being wound up by creditors and the administrator.

“How can you keep something 'alive', (supposedly a big part of this Shire) but not have it insured?” a social media user asked. “Especially when it was on its last legs about to go through a cyclonic season.” 

She went further, to suggest even using the existing cane rail infrastructure for a daring new purpose.

“We live in a beautiful spot and if you like it or not, tourism, is the way to go. Run the trains as tourist routes, stopping at the chocolate farm, Winery, the Gorge, running through Newell Beach. Stopping along the way to the beaches and coffee shops. Blimey, you could run it from Port to Mossman for the locals instead of a bus!”

Agriculture, including cane, must stay

But Douglas Chamber of Commerce president, Jeremy Blockey, has told Newsport that any future of Mossman must continue to include agriculture and farming – and most likely sugar cane – for a long time to come.

“You could do all sorts of things with the infrastructure or whatever’s left of it but the reality is, that does nothing for the agricultural land, that’s a massive part of the equation.” Mr Blockey told Newsport.

“We’ve got to be careful we don’t put all our eggs in the tourism basket,” he continued, “and not deal with the underlying problem of an industry that’s a very significant part of our region and production, productive activity.”

Tourism just part of the equation

Mr Blockey, who’s currently running as a candidate for councillor in the upcoming Douglas Shire elections, said he’s certainly not against the idea of expanding tourism in Mossman.

“I’m not saying ‘no’ to the concept of some sort of tourist attraction, but it’s not a saviour; it’s simply much, much bigger than that.

“If the Mill does eventually die, then we need to make sure that the focus is on the agricultural land – because that’s what’s going to be more productive.”

He said what’s been made very clear during recent months in the lead-up to the Mill facing winding up, is the fact that sugar cane is still the most suitable crop for the climate and land in Douglas. 

“We’ve got to try and work with the strength – and the strength is growing a plant like sugar. 

“Whilst I’m a farmer, I grow tropical fruits, I’m very limited in my knowledge of broad-acre crops. I’m not about to tell farmers what they should or shouldn’t be growing.

“But I hear what they’re saying, that sugar is a great crop for that land. Let’s try and work with that as a start point, and then figure out what diversity we can get out of that product, whether it’s producing bio-diesel or whatever else.”

Should existing cane infrastructure be used to revive tourism-focused train services? Picture: File

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