Cairns Sugarcane Industry Faces Viability Crisis as Urban Sprawl Threatens Agricultural Land
Sugarcane growers near Cairns are forming a planning committee to address concerns that urban expansion is threatening the region's farming future, following the 2024 closure of Mossman Mill. The industry has experienced decades of decline, with multiple mills shutting down since the 1980s as land was repurposed for development, and the remaining Mulgrave Mill is operating below the 1 million tonne threshold needed for profitability. The sector contributes approximately $50-55 million to the local Cairns economy and employs around 600 people, but stakeholders warn that without land protection and diversification into alternative sugarcane products, the industry risks reaching a critical tipping point.
Sugarcane growers in the Cairns region are mobilizing to protect their industry from urban sprawl, with advocacy group Canegrowers and other stakeholders establishing a committee to safeguard the sector's future. The region has experienced significant decline over four decades, with multiple mills closing since the 1980s as agricultural land was purchased and converted to other uses; the most recent casualty was Mossman Mill, which entered liquidation in 2024. The Mulgrave Mill, which will process 900,000-950,000 tonnes of cane this season, is operating dangerously close to the 1 million tonne threshold required for profitability, according to Canegrowers Cairns director Paul Gregory. While economist Pete Faulkner estimates the sector directly contributes $50-55 million to the local economy and employs about 600 people, he notes the industry's cultural and environmental management roles are difficult to quantify but significant. Industry leaders are advocating for Cairns Regional Council to embed agricultural land retention in its revised planning scheme and for investment in alternative sugarcane-based products—such as fertiliser, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics—to secure long-term viability, though such transitions require certainty around land availability.
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- ABC AustraliaCenter
Sugarcane industry to plan for future as worries about urban sprawl grow
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