Cane truck plan not going ahead, mill owner says
Mossman farming
The owner of Mulgrave Mill says a plan to haul cane from Mossman on trucks will not proceed beyond this season.
Mill owners MSF Sugar made the announcement in a statement released today.
“Regarding future options for Mossman cane growers, MSF Sugar, along with the State Government, has worked hard to develop a project that would have enabled those growers to continue in cane, including construction of specialised cane transport and receival equipment,” the statement reads.
“However it is now clear that the majority of Mossman growers are reluctant to commit to produce sufficient cane volume for a sustainable long-distance cane haulage project”.
The State Government recently pledged about $6m to buy new trailers to help haul Mossman-region cane to Mulgrave Mill for the next about five years.
But Mossman CANEGROWERS chairman Matt Watson said farmers were keenly awaiting the release of the results of a Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR) trial in July to test how bigger B-double trucks can handle the Captain Cook Highway.
The trials were crucial in deciding whether it would be economically viable for cane to be trucked to Gordonvale across the next about five years, Mr Watson said at the time.
Following the closure of Mossman Sugar Mill in December 2023, about 200,000 tonnes per year of cane have been trucked to Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale with support from the State Government.
“It has allowed some $34m worth of cane to be processed at a sugarmill located well beyond that cane’s usual economic haulage distance,” MSF Sugar stated.
“Although the project will not proceed, MSF Sugar gratefully acknowledges the efforts the Queensland Government, Mossman growers, Bray’s Transport and the grower organisations have made to sustain the sugar industry in Mossman since the mill closure”.
State Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the Government would continue to support the farmers.
“Our commitment to support the Mossman canegrowers remains steadfast and unchanged with a further $6 million remaining on the table for a longer-term solution, to be worked out with the growers, local government and the Mossman community,” Minister Perrett said.
“The Government has been working on alternative crop trials and agronomy studies, and this will continue.”
Mr Watson said Mossman CANEGROWERS was disappointed it could not reach a commercial solution that was of benefit for all parties, but remained determined to work with the Government, Douglas Shire Council, and others to find a way forward for growers and the agricultural industry in the Shire.
“We managed to get a couple of years grace, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us,” Mr Watson said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said many farmers had already begun considering a shift away from cane.
“This latest decision marks a significant turning point for our agricultural community,” Cr Scomazzon said.
"Douglas Shire has a proud agricultural heritage and we remain committed to supporting farmers in continuing that tradition”.
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