CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2023/24
The following report covers the financial year from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 including the 2023 sugar cane season.
The 2023 sugar cane season was one of the driest seasons on record and lead to extraordinarily high CCS results, the highest average CCS since 2018, plus an early November finish with no standover and followed shortly after by rain and storms. Matched with high sugar prices it brought with it some much needed positivity for our industry.
The crop estimate for 2023 season was 1,060,000 tonnes and Millaquin Mill commenced the pre-crush of non-relative plantation cane on Monday, 29 May 2023, which saw 96,485.92 tonnes of cane processed (including organic), followed by the commencement of core season cane on Monday, 19 June 2023. Millaquin Mill crushed a total of 989,298 tonnes for an average CCS of 14.74, ceasing operations on Tuesday, 7 November 2023.
During Week 17 of the crush the No. 1 mill drive shaft roller failed and required major repairs. A decision was made to bypass No. 1 mill, relocate the NIR to No. 2 mill to provide payment analysis following calibration, and continue crushing while repairs were being undertaken.
During Week 19 of the crush No. 1 mill was reinstated, the NIR reinstalled to its former position at No. 1 mill and recalibration undertaken once again. The efforts of mill staff and our audit team are commendable and resulted in far less down-time from this incident than what may have otherwise occurred should No. 1 mill not have been bypassed. Bundaberg CANEGROWERS has a full contingent of auditors providing full audit coverage at the mill to ensure growers are receiving a fair deal.
Bundaberg Sugar was able to achieve a very credible performance by Millaquin Mill this year and our assessment was that mill availability was around ninety-four percent (94%). This put Millaquin Mill near or on top of the performance of all Queensland mills. A total of 1.2 days was lost due to wet weather.
Bundaberg Sugar was put on the market during 2023 although was taken off the market only a few months later giving growers and Bundaberg Sugar staff some positive direction for the future.
We work closely with Bundaberg Sugar management in representing growers’ needs and I would particularly like to acknowledge Guy Basile, Rob Zahn, Matthew Curtis and Michael Green for their efforts during the 2023/24 financial year. 2023/24 saw some great achievements gained for the Bundaberg sugar industry and we resourced a number of strong advocacy campaigns targeting rates, electricity pricing, reef regulations, transport, input costs and irrigation water issues.
The extreme dry and windy weather during the 2023 season saw local fire bans put in place and permission for only standing cane to be burnt during limited hours. Our advocacy ensured an understanding of the practice of burning standing cane, why it is an essential practice for our industry and ensured a fire ban exemption remained for the local sugar industry.
Reef regulation requirements were introduced to our region in 2019 and Bundaberg CANEGROWERS remain strongly opposed to regulations for the Burnett Mary catchment. It is unjustifiable to include a region outside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that can have no impact on it. However, we continue to support our growers to meet their regulation requirements including assistance with soil tests, record keeping and N & P Budgets.
Bundaberg CANEGROWERS has representation on the Coastal Burnett Groundwater Management Advisory Committee and continues to provide secretarial requirements of that organisation. Following the announcement of meter revalidation requirements we briefed MPs Deb Frecklington and Stephen Bennett on the burden of Groundwater metering validation requirements, the increased costs associated with bringing meters and associated infrastructure up to the new specifications, whilst also seeking an extension and financial support. The cost of this process far exceeds the benefit for our region.
We have direct representation on the Paradise Dam Reference Group and Sunwater, Federal and State politicians state they’re fully committed to rebuilding a new Paradise Dam wall 70m downstream of the existing wall to ensure a safe, secure water supply for the Bundaberg region. Paradise Dam pre works have begun albeit we are waiting on environmental approvals and costings before the government will give contractors the green light to commence work on the construction of the new dam, this could take a considerable amount of time and we are concerned that the urgency to build the new Paradise Dam is waning and that the building of Olympic infrastructure and Clean Energy infrastructure will be to the detriment of the timely rebuilding of Paradise Dam. In the meantime, we are appreciative that Sunwater has again committed to quarantining unsold Paradise water from the announced allocation process.
Energy is paramount to irrigated agriculture and electricity remains one of our largest input costs. Following the introduction of the solar soak tariff, Tariff 22C, our Electricity Bill Check service has ensured that growers remain on the best tariff to suit their situation and that new tariffs are promoted and understood. It is in everyone’s interest to keep input costs as low as possible.
Bundaberg CANEGROWERS is opposed to any mining activity on farmland and attended the MDL3040 Community Forum held in December and met with Minister for Resources, Hon. Scott Stewart, Member for Bundaberg, Tom Smith MP and Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett MP on the progress of Fox Resources’ Mineral Development License (MDL) 3040. We also represent irrigators and growers on the Fox Resources Regional Reference Group and remain opposed to any mining application which could jeopardise agricultural land, groundwater and the Bundaberg Irrigation Scheme. The Bundaberg Region relies heavily on agriculture for its economic strength and any threat to our irrigation supplies is not acceptable.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) became the regulator not only for issuing permits for travel, but now also has the power of enforcement. Enforcement of the covering of loads will have an impact on cane growers, harvesting contractors and mill transport operations and we have continued discussions with NHVR how best to manage this issue given the difficulty of covering haulouts, multilifts and mill bins.
Bundaberg growers gained full access to the QSL Direct Portal effective for the 2023 Season onwards. QSL held three (3) shed meetings in March to provide updates on the new payment regime from the beginning of the 2024 season and gave some insight as to what the markets might do into the future. QSL also ran a series of workshops in April for growers to learn more about the features of QSL Direct.
In conjunction with Bundaberg Sugar, we welcomed Kepnock Year 12 Chemistry students on a lab and mill tour to allow students to see first-hand how the cane analysis laboratory is run and how tests are performed, as well as take students on a mill tour to observe the process of extracting sugar from cane. Educating students on the importance of our industry as well as the careers it offers, is important for our future success.
The Local Election campaign was held in March 2024 and in conjunction with Bundaberg Ag-Food & Fibre Alliance, we led the campaign to replace former Mayor Jack Dempsey as a result of Council’s earlier rates grab of up to 235% on Category 9 ratepayers. Following our campaign, we welcomed Helen Blackburn to the role of Bundaberg Regional Council Mayor. We look forward to working with Helen and fellow Councillors over the next four (4) years. We also continue to provide support to the Bundaberg Regional Ratepayers Association which was formed to represent and support local ratepayers.
I acknowledge on behalf of Bundaberg CANEGROWERS and thank our Mayor and Councillors, and our local members of Government both State and Federal for their support in 2023/24. Their continued support to gain a better outcome for growers is much appreciated. All three (3) levels of government can have a profound impact on what we do as an organisation and on how we individually operate our farms.
I also recognise our fellow industry service providers, Bundaberg Sugar Services Limited, Bundaberg Regional Irrigators Group, QSL, STL, Sugar Research Australia and Women in Sugar for their valued services and products. We have strong mutually beneficial and professional relationships with all of our industry service providers including Bundaberg Sugar. We collaborate where we can but, when necessary, recognise that our members come first in every instance.
To those members who have lost family and loved ones in the past year, I offer the Board’s and staff’s sincere and heartfelt condolences.
We are facing challenging times, and the Board and staff of Bundaberg CANEGROWERS remain committed to providing grower biased, needs based and outcome focussed services, representation and leadership.
We have hard working and capable staff and on behalf of the Board and members, I thank them for all that they do to ensure we are represented.
Thanks also to my fellow Directors for their valued input and support over the past year and finally, thank you to you, our members.
Mark Pressler
Chairman