Maryborough Sugar Mill site’s role in Isis production shift

MSF Sugar reveals immediate plans for facility, and looks ahead to the future.

Maryborough’s former sugar mill building has remained vacant since sugar production relocated to Childers.

The future of the site of the Maryborough Sugar Mill, which processed the region’s sugar cane for 126 years, remains unclear one year on from its closure.

But for the next two cane crushing seasons at least, part of the grounds will be leased to the Isis Central Sugar Mill for cane trailer maintenance.

The lease is part of an agreement MSF Sugar made with the Isis Central Sugar Mill for cane sourced from the Maryborough and Sunshine Coast regions to be crushed at the Isis mill this year and in 2022.

MSF Sugar secretary Brad Egerton confirmed the Isis Central Sugar Mill’s use of the Maryborough site.

“This will ensure that this important aspect of the logistical operation of transporting cane from the Maryborough region to the Isis Mill is efficient and it will facilitate a smooth transition,” Mr Egerton said.

MSF Sugar is “investigating development opportunities” for the property.

He said the company was yet to determine the building’s redevelopment options, however, was “investigating development opportunities”.

“(MSF Sugar) also remains open to inquiries or offers for the sale or future development of the site,” Mr Egerton said.

The mill has not been bought from MSF Sugar as of yet.

There has already been interest in the mill but it’s yet to be sold.

“The mill site is well positioned in an existing industrial area, close to Maryborough township and enjoys absolute riverfront positioning, so there has been some interest from potential purchasers,” Mr Egerton said.