General News
5 July, 2026
Moller slams sugar snub
A NEW economic development strategy has outlined the key industries expected to drive Cairns’ economic growth over the period to 2030 but failed to mention agriculture or the sugar cane industry in its “priority precincts”.
Debating the merits of the new 2026-2030 strategy, approved by the council at its ordinary meeting on 24 June, Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1) said the failure to mention the sugar cane industry and to relegate agriculture to a regional status was a “critical misstep”.
“I do note the hard work that has gone into (this report), and the data that’s there and the strategy, but this is the second strategy that’s come to us in the last six months … where we have engaged a consultant,” he said.
Cr Moller said the engagement with residents and stakeholders was reduced to a short, emailed survey, that did not reach the sugar industry and agriculture representatives.
“We should be tasking ourselves to consult through engagement with the residents and stakeholders in this matter,” he said.
“I did call the sugar industry… all of them expected or were hoping through consultation they, as stakeholders, would be contacted by phone call, that someone from council could have reached out.”
The report outlined a strategy which would build the Cairns economy by $1.5 billion and support the creation of 10,000 new jobs by 2030.
It would achieve this by creating priority industries across aviation, construction, education and training, healthcare and social assistance, marine and defence and tourism.
Agriculture and mining were highlighted as having regional significance and wider flow on economic benefits.
The report also created large-scale strategic economic precincts in distinct locations: Cairns aviation precinct, Cairns health and innovation precinct, Cairns major events precinct, Cairns marine and defence precinct and the Cairns South development precinct.
Cr Brett Moller said the “focus on the metrics” had removed sugar and agriculture as a priority industry sectors.
“Sugar to the Cairns LGA and Babinda and Gordonvale is much bigger than the metrics of a priority precinct,” Cr Moller said.
“It has been the backbone of the area for 130 years.”
The industry had attracted $10 million in private investment for major infrastructure last year, such as replacing the loco bridge across the Barron River, Cr Moller said.
Investment of $700 million over the past six years had been distributed across the LGA.
The industry was at a “precipice” and needed council support to ensure the region did not go the way of Mossman and the Douglas Shire cane farming.
Cr Moller said the sugar industry created micro economies within the big picture and the aesthetics of cane fields in the Far North was a tourism benefit and a cultural and historical drawcard.
He voted against the report, which was approved by the other nine councillors.
