CANEGROWERS Mackay Moves Forward With New Leadership

By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

With the culmination of triennial elections this month, I have been given the honour to serve growers as Chairman of CANEGROWERS Mackay. It is a privilege to lead such an iconic organisation, that has been integral to the development of the modern sugar industry in this region since its inauguration 99 years ago.

It is also exciting to take up this leadership role at a time when the sugarcane industry will become even more important to the regional economy, with emerging opportunities across renewable energy and biocommodities that use sugarcane as a feedstock. I look forward to the challenges which may lay ahead.

While I am stepping up from the CANEGROWERS Mackay Deputy Chairmanship, the incoming Deputy Chair is Dumbleton grower Brett Leach.

I also wish to pay tribute to the departing Chairman of 12 years, Kevin Borg, whose commitment, work ethic and outright passion for growers concerns and for our industry cannot be understated.

As a leader in the Mackay-Plane Creek district, and within the State organisation, he has been instrumental in some major wins for growers, including the federal legislation for grower choice in marketing alongside the implementation of the Sugar Industry Code of Conduct. Locally, he has been a strong voice for growers with all levels of government, and particularly on the issue of Mackay Region’s peri-urban ratepayers in the canefarming category. Always forward-looking for new opportunities for sugarcane as a commodity, he has been a strong proponent for the Greater Whitsunday region’s emerging biocommodities industry opportunities.

He has had a long and successful term as Chairman, and I look forward to offering growers the continuity of that deep dedication to growers’ issues, and to capturing emerging markets for our product, but seen through fresh eyes. Change is good for an organisation, and can bring fresh ideas and new energy. Our organisation is in a good position to move forward and we will continue to work together with a focus on the common good of growers.

I intend to work closely with all parties interested in the sugarcane industry, to build on our relationships with all connected organisations.

I will represent our members with absolute tenacity across the industry and with all levels of government, maintaining our strong voice as an organisation. That is my commitment to our members.

The change in leadership comes as we stand on the cusp of another crush.

Plane Creek is scheduled to put first cane through the rollers on June 3, with an early crop estimate of 1.6Mt. Mackay Sugar will follow running a staggered start over a week, with Farleigh Factory leading out on 10 June, followed by Racecourse on the 12th, and Marian on the 17th. These start dates are, of course, dependent on successful steam trials and good weather. The initial crop estimate for Mackay Sugar is 5.15Mt, and CANEGROWERS members will have a starting CCS of 13, given Mackay Area Committee’s success in arbitration in 2024 on starting CCS.

Crush start means a need for vigilance in the community, not just around cane rail, but around farms as heavy machinery starts to move about.

We are calling on all families in cane areas to remind children that farms are workplaces, so rattling around cane headlands on motorbikes and bicycles, playing on farmland can be highly dangerous, especially during the harvest.

We ask those working in the industry across the supply chain to likewise take care, to be mindful of hazards.
We extend to all involved in the industry our hopes for a safe and successful harvest for all.

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