Reef Compliance Officers Checking local farms

Bundaberg CANEGROWERS has become aware that there are Reef Regulation Compliance Officers visiting Bundaberg to audit the grower on last year’s record keeping, N & P Budget and other required documents. Impacted growers have received a letter saying that their farm has been selected for an audit, though it is Bundaberg CANEGROWERS’ understanding that dates are yet to be set.

To get ready for an audit growers will require the following

• Primary documents such as soil test results, fertiliser invoices
• N & P Budget including farm and soil maps
• Records of applied fertiliser and mill mud, date applied, N & P analysis, rate applied
• Property and person details which includes names of the growers, name and address of the farming business, lot on plan details, who makes the records

For the full list of what is required growers can look at the Department of Science and Innovation website https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/238638/reef-prot-regs-gbr-regions-compliance-records-checklist.pdf or contact the office for a copy.

Quad Bike Helmet Rules Change

Members are advised, that on the 22nd of March 2024. A Work Place Health and Safety (Quad Bikes) Amendment Regulation was authorized by the Queensland Parliamentary Council and Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon. Grace.

The regulation amendment now requires helmets to be worn while operating quad bikes at a workplace.

The latest changes are to quad bikes at places of work only, and do not affect recreational use.

Bundaberg CANEGROWERS encourages safe use of quad bikes, supporting licensing and training which is consistently linked to improved safety outcomes in both workplace and recreational settings.

While there may be operational implications and other safety concerns that come from wearing helmets, such as heat stress, lack of peripheral vision and restrictive hearing; it is recommended that growers follow the new regulations.

The biggest concern is the blurring of what is a workplace and a recreational place on a farm where the same piece of machinery can be used for multiple operations.

A reminder that children under the age of 16 are not permitted to ride an adult sized quad bike due to the risk of injury.

Fertiliser Bag Disposal

There is once again a way of disposing of the 1T bulk fertiliser bags. There is a scheme called the Big Bag Recovery program where only approved brands of bags can be  dumped for free while the other brands have a $5 per  bag disposal fee. Currently the only place where both types of fertiliser   bags will be accepted is at the Qunaba Waste Disposal Site   on Potters Road. Bags delivered at  other sites are deemed general waste  and a higher fee is charged.

The approved fertiliser bags include those from Incitec Pivot Limited, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Impact fertilisers, Tarra, GrowForce and Summit Fertilisers. The full list of approved  bags can be found at www.bigbagrecovery.com.au/#brands.

Non approved brands such as Koch will incur the $5 per bag disposal fee.

To prepare for disposal the online disposal booking form needs to be completed with a date and time, preferably with 24 hours notice, the bags need to be stacked and folded   with the fertiliser brand facing out,  stack the bags onto the vehicle separating the approved and non approved bags.  Once at the disposal  site a declaration  form  needs to be completed with up to 300 bags accepted at one time.

If growers have more than 300  approved scheme bags they are able to organise for an on-farm collection by Gary Gillis of Beneficial Recycling who can be contacted by email  gary.gillis@beneficialrecycling.com.au or phone on 0403 431 705.

Further information can be found on the Bundaberg Regional Council website www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/waste-recycling/waste-recycling-programs/8. 

Bundaberg CANEGROWERS Ltd

Our Mission is to provide representation, leadership and services and promote unity in the interest of growers.

Our Goals are to provide an effective and efficient service through a focus on growers' key concerns within a changing environment. To maximise grower and industry proceeds by marketing current and future sugar production through a structure that is transparent and accountable to the industry. To ensure that industry growth is managed and market driven within a sustainable sugar industry. To ensure environmentally and financially sustainable production through managing and coordinating inputs and resources.

Our Vision is to ensure a secure and profitable future for Bundaberg cane growers.