Marking a historic and bittersweet moment, the first truckloads of this season’s Mossman sugarcane crop set off down the Captain Cook Highway to Cairns for crushing and processing earlier this month.
The transportation exercise, accepted as the only viable way forward for Mossman cane growers to see their crop harvested and crushed for the last time, comes with widespread support from across the Shire.
Tourism industry representatives, Douglas Shire Mayor, Douglas Chamber of Commerce, small business owners, and cane farmers have come together to show united support for the 2024 harvest and the mark of a new era for the Shire’s agricultural sector.
The Mossman Mill entered voluntary administration in November 2023, and liquidation in February 2024. Without a local processing facility, farmers face a future in agriculture without sugarcane at its heart, signalling the end of an industry that has spanned over 130 years.
The transportation exercise is expected to see up to five cane trucks per hour on the Captain Cook Highway, delivering approximately up to 300,000 tonnes of Mossman grown cane to the Mulgrave Mill in Cairns over the next 20 weeks.
To assist with reducing disruption to other road users during this period, a detailed traffic management plan, developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads in partnership with the transport contractor, will be in place.
The cost of transporting cane in trucks down the highway is significant with farmers contributing $3.3 million, and Queensland State Government committing $6 million of the $12.1 million assigned to the Mossman Region Transition Package to the transportation of cane and management of remaining standing crop.
“It has been a tough road to get to this point and we have stood behind our farmers every step of the way to advocate for the most successful transition possible in the wake of the Mill’s closure,” said Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon.
“We are thankful to the State Government for understanding the importance of supporting our growers through this transition. Without help for farmers, there would be no liquidity and no hope of a transition in agriculture”.
“Road safety is our highest priority, and our support is obviously contingent on the traffic management plan in place between the trucking contractor and Department of Transport and Main Roads, which will work to minimise impact and disruption for road users,” the Mayor said.
Douglas Chamber of Commerce President, Jeremy Blockey, said the closure of the Mill and loss of sugar cane production would result in a $188 million loss in total economic output and the loss of 575 local jobs.
“This is a massive loss to the Douglas Shire and will likely be felt across the local economy for many years before alternative crops and jobs are established,” Mr Blockey said.
“We need to ensure farmers are set up for the best possible success in transitioning to other agricultural activities in order for the survival of the farming industry in the region, and the Shire’s economic future,” Mr Blockey said, “and getting this year’s crop off as efficiently as possible is a vital part of that transition.”
Key local tourism operator, Jason Heffernan from Back Country Bliss says the community is rallying in support of local farmers.
“We have bonded through the recent TC Jasper disaster and understand the importance of community support in getting through tough times.
“We are obviously all about delivering an exceptional experience for visitors to the region, and travelling the coastal scenic road is a big part of that experience.
“We understand that every effort is being made to ensure the highest safety measures and minimal disruption for road users – especially given the existing traffic management in place for repairs following TC Jasper.
“We want our farmers to have every chance of success as they move on from cane, and we stand by our friends in agriculture as they work to get their crop harvested and crushed,” Mr Heffernan said.
Mossman CANEGROWER’s chairman, Matthew Watson spoke on behalf of the grower community, “We are incredibly thankful to everyone involved. It has been an uncertain and distressing time for growers, and the path ahead is not straight forward.
“We have really felt the community spirit in supporting the growers to get this crop off and transported to Cairns to be crushed.
“We’re a proactive and resilient group, and we’re working closely with the Mossman Regional Transition Program Steering Committee and Douglas Shire Council on what the future looks like beyond this harvest.
“We are so relieved to have a plan to get the majority of this crop off to give us options to explore alternative cropping,” Mr Watson said.
