More govt cash used for haulage of cane between Mossman and Gordonvale
Six million in taxpayer cash will fund the hauling of Mossman cane to Gordonvale, potentially for the next five years under a long-term plan to save the embattled Far North sugar town following the collapse of a historic mill in 2023.
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Taxpayer cash will fund the hauling of Mossman cane to Gordonvale, potentially for the next five years, under a long-term plan to save the embattled Far North sugar town following the collapse of a historic mill in 2023.
Despite being provided $48m in government funding since 2019 when the factory was taken over by grower-owned cooperative, Far Northern Milling Pty Ltd, the mill entered voluntary administration and crushed cane for the final time two years ago.
At a meeting of Mossman cane growers on Saturday, Premier David Crisafulli delivered a passionate speech centred around a solution to save the town of Mossman.
“I want you to plant, I want you to fertilise,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“That money’s on the table. I do not care what it’s used for, provided it saves this little town.
“(But) we can’t long term keep subsidising the transport of cane into the long term, we just can’t, right?”
Following the shutdown of the mill, growers have continued to plant and harvest cane which has been loaded into trucks for the one hour, 40 minute trip to the Mulgrave Central Mill.
It can now be revealed the state government has stumped up “an additional $6m” to finance the hauling of cane to Gordonvale.
Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the government was working with growers, MSF and Canegrowers “to adjust” to the closure of the Mossman Mill.
“An additional $6m has been made available to assist with a safe long-term transport solution to get Mossman cane to Mulgrave Mill at Gordonvale beyond 2025,” he said.
The extra cane crushed at the MSF mill is also considered a lifeline for the Mulgrave factory in the face of dwindling throughput due to the loss of agricultural land to housing.
Mulgrave Canegrowers director Paul Gregory said for the Mulgrave Mill to be viable at least 1m tonnes had to be crushed every year, which was only just achieved during the 2024 crush.
“We know once the mill gets below 1m tonnes its existence is thrown into question and the Mossman cane will make sure that 1m tonnes is maintained,” he said.
“We understand its drain on the taxpayer purse for the transport to the Mulgrave Mill and we are trying to find a way for that investment to be returned in a longer term solution.
“The more Mossman cane, the more breathing space we have.”
Mr Gregory said Canegrowers had been in talks with the government, MSF and Cairns Regional Council in regard to a Far North Queensland Cane Expansion Plan worth $500,000.
At Mossman, a plan is also in the works for a grower-controlled entity to acquire new B-double trailers capable of hauling 42 tonnes in one load in a doubling of the current capacity which will dovetail with an MSF Sugar proposal for Mossman growers to supply the Mulgrave Mill for five years beginning in 2026.
Mossman Canegrowers manager Evelyn Matthews said the $6m earmarked for cane transport was part of the $12.1m Mossman Region Transition Program announced by then premier Steven Miles in March 2024 which became $12.5m under the incoming LNP government in September 2024.
She said owning haulage equipment would reduce costs and MSF would help with transport costs similar to the current support given to local growers supplying the mill.
“With that money the transport becomes more affordable so it can be sustained for that time,” she said.
“Growers have to be happy with the cane supply agreement, TMR has to be happy with trucks on the road and MSF has to be happy with it.
“The logistics have to be worked through and obviously the transport is very expensive and the government can’t keep doing that.”
On Thursday July 24 the Department of Transport and Main Roads will operate transport trials using a 19m prime mover and semi-trailer accompanied by TMR vehicles between Mossman and Cairns.
“We ask road users to remain patient during this process and urge drivers not to overtake the trial vehicles to ensure safety,” TMR stated.
Though cane haulage was not mentioned by TMR in alerts advising of the trial, a 23 metre B-double similar to the rig being looked at by Mossman growers will drive the route on July 31 accompanied by pilot vehicles.
“The trial results will be vital in shaping TMR’s forward planning for projects and assist us in reviewing future traffic control measures and management of heavy vehicle movements,” TMR stated.
In terms of the future of the Mossman Mill site, a deal with a potential buyer interested in creating feedstock using sorghum and bana grass has fallen through due to insufficient support from growers needed to meet the company’s targets.
A company called SuperChar is in talks with some growers about the planting of bana grass used in the production of charcoal suitable for burning in everything from power stations to backyard barbecues, however, this operation won’t require use of the Mossman factory.
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Originally published as More govt cash used for haulage of cane between Mossman and Gordonvale
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