General News
28 October, 2025
Mossman harvest to be last
THE current cane crushing season for Mossman growers will be the last.
After the town’s mill closed in 2024, the Queensland Government backed growers with millions of dollars to transport their cane from Mossman to the Mulgrave mill.
Now growers and processors have been unable to reach a commercial agreement beyond 2025.
In 2024 the government promised more than $12 million to assist the region transition to an alternative after Mossman’s cane processing mill was no longer viable, with $6m to transport the 2025 crop to Gordonvale and a further $6m to be invested in the regional industry.
Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the government’s “commitment to support the Mossman canegrowers remains steadfast and unchanged with a further $6m remaining on the table for a longer-term solution, to be worked out with the growers, local government and the Mossman community”.
He said the government was listening to the community for ways to assist with targeted transitional support, as well as working on alternative crop trials and agronomy studies.
Member for Cook David Kempton said the government would “continue to work with growers, the community, local government and the industry to find a solution to matters raised”.
MSF Sugar’s head of cane supply Mark Magnanini thanked the government for enabling $34m worth of Mossman region cane to be processed in the two years since the mill closed.
“The state government’s support for the growers stranded by Mossman Mill’s closure has been outstanding, we gratefully acknowledge the efforts of the government, Mossman growers, Bray’s Transport and the grower organisations have made to sustain the sugar industry in Mossman since the mill closure,” he said.
Mossman Canegrowers chairman Matt Watson said it was disappointing a commercial solution couldn’t be reached, but would work with the government, the council and others to find a way forward for growers.
“We managed to get a couple of years grace, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said many local farmers had already begun considering a shift away from cane.
