Mossman sugar mill has option to stay afloat

KATTER’S Australian Party MP Bob Katter has laid out his proposal to save, and increase viability of the Mossman Sugar Mill, currently in administration.

Mr Katter said it had been reported to him, following years of insecurity within the mill, the quality of cane being supplied to the crusher was dwindling, and additional supply to boost the viability of returns and byproducts was required.

Following a meeting with local grower and Australian Cane Farmers Association representative Jack Murday, Mr Katter pitched his long-term vision of building water infrastructure in the Mount Molly-Mount Carbine region – off the Mitchell River – to expand cane production around Maryfarms.

Mr Katter said this would include a weir, to irrigate up to 10,000ha of cane on soil described by Mr Murday as “fertile for sugar”.

Next, a $25m front-end processing mill would be built to crush the crop into juice, which would then be transported to Mossman Mill via a $23m pipeline.

Mr Katter said the expanded Maryfarms production could result in up to an additional 1 million tonnes of cane supply into Mossman, and not only boost the mill’s sugar production, but also build a case for byproducts such as ethanol and electricity – for which the State Government had previously offered funding.

Mr Katter noted that about 10,000ha of cane created about 10,000L of ethanol.

“This is fight of North Queenslanders versus Brisbane, the major parties – the ones that destroyed our farming and continue to do so,” Mr Katter said.

“If the people of North Queensland vote for the voice of North Queensland – the KAP – we’ll get the balance of power and we’ll see this weir, pipeline and frontend mill built.

“We’re the only party fighting for ethanol – so that you only have to pay $1.29 per litre like they do in Brazil, but also so our cane farmers get a little extra income.”

In the short-term, Mr Katter said he had been advised Mossman growers would be sending this year’s produce to the Mulgrave Mill at $30 per tonne to salvage some returns.

He said he was aware of the $12m transitional fund announced by the State Government, but he was hopeful of saving the mill and would be working with Mr Murday, employees and prospective investors on operational solutions.