Social Network Is Industry Lifeblood

By Joseph Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

In the heart of Australia’s sugar-growing region, Mackay, “The Sugar City”, there exists sugarcane transport networks of the region’s two milling companies -the German- and Grower-owned   joint venture Mackay Sugar, and Singaporean-owned Wilmar Plane Creek.

These transport networks play a pivotal role in the production process, moving millions of tonnes of sugarcane each crushing season, from farms’ point of delivery cane rail sidings to the factories. This intricate network of railways, roadways, and logistical innovations is not only a testament to regional engineering but is also the foundation of the modern sugar industry which has been around for 100 years supporting thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars of revenue each year for the Queensland economy.

Unique among Australian agricultural operations, for the majority of cane transport is a socialistic system, whereby if your point of delivery siding is 3 km from a mill or 70km from the mill, the grower has equal benefit.  Mackay Sugar and Plane Creek mills rely heavily on diesel locomotives to haul bins laden with freshly harvested cane on narrow-gauge cane railways. Spanning almost 1000km kilometres of track throughout the Mackay region, these rail lines form a sprawling web that connects cane fields with the processing mills at Farleigh, Marian, Racecourse, and Plane Creek in Sarina.

During the crushing season, which in the current times, runs from June into late December, trains can be seen crisscrossing the region day and night. Their movement aims to deliver the harvested cane to the mills as soon as possible after harvest as this is a critical factor in preserving sucrose content and maximising sugar yield.

While rail dominates, road transport also forms a relatively small but vital part of the logistics network. Road links ensure every grower, regardless of location, can participate in the supply chain. These trucks are often seen lined up at delivery points, loading and unloading their sugarcane payloads.

Both Mackay Sugar and Plane Creek mills are investing in technology to attempt to rectify shortfalls in logistical operations and improve efficiency. GPS tracking and automated scheduling systems allow mill operators to better keep a handle on their rolling stock in an attempt to quickly improve the lower level we have experienced in the last season or so. This rectification will help reduce down-time, optimises crushing operations, and ensures that the mills and the harvesting sector run at a higher capacity going forward.

The transport network’s efficiency directly impacts the livelihoods of the harvesting sector as well as local cane growers. Timely collection and delivery of bins is critical to enable growers to efficiently harvest without excessive waiting times at peak ripeness, maximising returns for both growers and millers.

With global sugar demand rising, along with new markets for sugarcane-based biocommodities, it is imperative that Mackay Sugar and Plane Creek mills continue to upgrade their transport infrastructure. Investment in new Diesel over Electric powered locomotives, track improvements, and potentially improving logistics platforms are needed to future-proof the network.

At the same time, community engagement remains a priority, with the industry working closely with growers, local authorities and the wider community to minimise disruptions and enhance safety, in sidings, along the network, and at rail crossings.

From steel rails winding through the cane fields, the transport network of Mackay Sugar and Plane Creek mills remains a vital artery in Queensland’s sugar industry—delivering not just cane, but prosperity, to the region.

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