The Bundaberg District Canegrower Volume 15, Issue 6 The Bundaberg District Canegrower Volume 15, Issue 6 June 2019 Chairman’s Comment he weather still hasn't been kind morning and ceasing at 12 midnight Federal Election T with little or no rain recorded. Just each Saturday night, which is 140 hours Congratulations to both Keith Pitt and 10 to 20mm fell last weekend, I suppose and a target of 44,000 tonnes/week . Ken O'Dowd on their re-election for it all helps but will do little for this another term in the federal election. We year’s crop and certainly won't fill dams Bingera in five (5) day mode look forward to working closely with or recharge the underground. In most commencing at 8am each Monday you both for the benefit of our members. cases allocations will be down on last morning and ceasing at 8am each Commiserations to all other candidates. year in the underground and the surface Saturday morning, which is 120 hours scheme is yet to be determined. and a target of 35,000 tonnes/week. There is still a lot happening on the political front in both state and federal 2019 Season Therefore we should finish in late arenas, with the environment and energy In just three (3) weeks time the 2019 October if all goes to plan. Weekend dominating. Water is also not far season will begin, weather permitting. In overtime allowance will be paid on all behind. what I would describe as a growing cane crushed on weekends at $1.49/ season that we would rather forget, we tonne. The haulage allowance has Further Regulation of have an estimate of around 1.2 million increased by CPI and is illustrated in the Sugarcane Growers in the tonnes. A disappointing total to say the table below. There is no continuous crushing allowance this season. Burnett Mary Catchments is least from what promised to be an unjustifiable improvement on the 2018 season. We CPI adjustment Start 1.30% I am advised that it is unfortunately have no control on the Variation unlikely that Environmental weather (I believe it was the driest Distance (metres) $/tonne $/tonne to last Protection (Great Barrier summer for 60 years) and with out-of- From - To 2018 2019 season Reef Protection Measures) control irrigation costs we have this and Other Legislation result. Next year will surely be better. 0 1,000 0.00 0.00 0.00 Amendment Bill will be 1,000 2,000 0.55 0.56 0.01 considered by the Both mills will start on 1 July with 2,000 3,000 0.83 0.84 0.01 Queensland Parliament Millaquin crushing in six (6) day mode 3,000 4,000 1.10 1.11 0.01 before August. On page commencing at 4am each Monday 4,000 5,000 1.38 1.40 0.02 4 we have copied an email 5,000 6,000 1.65 1.67 0.02 that was sent to the Premier and the Qld Legislative 6,000 7,000 1.93 1.96 0.03 Assembly. 7,000 8,000 2.20 2.23 0.03 8,000 9,000 2.48 2.51 0.03 In terms of gross value added, employment and 9,000 10,000 2.75 2.79 0.04 Action List business numbers, the 10,000 Plus 3.03 3.07 0.04 Bundaberg region has a much One-eye sett orders - if you are greater reliance on intending to purchase/try The opportunity to change harvest Agriculture (13%) than Queensland as a whole (approx 3.4%). This reliance on these please return order form grouping for 2019 closed about two (2) months ago. I know you will all have agribusiness means that any negative ASAP. them in order. Ample communication impact on our farmers’ ability to was made to everyone earlier so no one generate the crops and products that Spring 2019 whole-stalk order would be disappointed. they produce has a much greater impact forms will be posted soon. on our community than in other areas. (Continued on page 2) Page 1 Bundaberg CANEGROWERS Ltd Newsletter Phone (07) 4151 2555 Fax: (07) 4153 1986 Email: [email protected] The Bundaberg District Canegrower Volume 15, Issue 6 Chairman’s Comment continued (Continued from page 1) If you would like to access these Cane Firing Notice There is absolutely no environmental arrangements please call Dale so that he Growers may have already seen justification to further regulate the area, can put you in touch with the relevant information about the new Cane Firing and given the downside economic officer. Notice. There is an article on page 3 consequences to an area that relies so summarising the Notice as well as the heavily on agriculture for jobs, it is SunWater Carryover by 26 June insert in this newsletter. The conditions inconceivable that the Government A reminder to all SunWater customers listed in the Notice only refer to the appears to be pressing on with the to submit their carryover requests by 26 notice and as such if you are unable to introduction of these regulations June. We have some forms at the comply with the Notice growers are still regardless of the impact. counter or you can download one from able to get a permit from the local fire here: https://www.sunwater.com.au/wp- warden to burn cane, trash and tops. We are engaging with politicians on content/uploads/2018/12/ both sides of the fence. Interestingly we Carryover_Form_-_Bundaberg.pdf Trash have had approaches from within the Oreco are keen to commence baling Palaszczuk government suggesting that Chain of Responsibility 2019 Season trash as soon as the they are supportive of our request to Growers are reminded that under the crushing commences. Arrangements for delay implementation of this legislation Chain of Responsibility Laws for Heavy baling will remain unchanged from the in the Burnett and Southern Catchments Vehicles, that any person who has 2018 Season which ran relatively until a thorough independent audit of the influence along the supply chain may be smoothly. Payment for last season’s science has been conducted. Hopefully responsible for any laws that are trash has been received in monthly they will have some influence on their breached. The best way to discharge or instalments as planned, with just one colleagues lower the level of responsibility is for outstanding instalment which is due for easy to understand contracts to be in settlement in June. We have requested a QCA Final report place which states who is responsible CPI price increase for 2019 and are The QCA has handed down its final for what roles in the operation. These waiting for Oreco’s response. report with recommendations for lower include but are not limited to fatigue electricity tariffs, including for tariff 11 management, overloading and vehicle 2019 Soys to fall by 4.4 per cent, and small dimension. Copies are available upon Soybean and Peanut crops are almost businesses on tariff 20 to fall by 5.8 per request at reception. finished being harvested this season. cent. Tariff 33 is recommended to fall Good prices for both have been 8.4%. QCA have recommended that Increase in dump fees due to reported. Soybean in the high $800's and T62, T65 and T66 be left at the same New Waste Levy Peanuts are in the low $1000's. Both rate. The new State Government Waste Levy crops have also been affected by the begins on 1 July and there will be new weather conditions. Quality and yield The QCA has also recommended to charges on any waste products that go to are in some cases down but they are close T62, T65 and T66 (transitional landfill at the local transfer or waste providing a much needed positive cash and obsolete) tariffs to new customers stations. The levy does not apply to flow. from 1 July 2019. recyclable materials or solid household waste and so there is an opportunity to Insurance It is up to the Qld Government to accept reduce the charges by separating the The end of financial year is fast or reject these recommendations. various waste into waste and recycling approaching and it may be timely to products. Growers are urged to use the review your insurance requirements. If you need help in reviewing your facilities to reduce the level of waste on Please contact the office to arrange for tariffs please contact Courtney at the their farms before the new charges come our Insurance Regional Manager Ray office on 4151 2555. into effect. Goodwin to carry out a professional SunWater Hardship Policy review of your current insurance cover. We have spoken to SunWater on behalf Allan Dingle of some individual growers and they are Chairman willing to look at deferred payments and payment plans. Page 2 The Bundaberg District Canegrower Volume 15, Issue 6 Update to Cane Fire Notice for burning tops and trash Changes The weather conditions and smoke CANEGROWERS. There have been some recent changes to hazard signs do go together as no the Notice for Burning Sugar Cane in burning is to be conducted if the smoke To access a permit or find out about consultation with the sugar industry. The is to become a hazard on local and main the type of road that neighbours a Cane Burning Notification enables roads as well as highways. A smoke property growers to burn cane and or tops without hazard sign is to be erected if the area to The best way to find the correct fire requiring a permit provided certain be burnt adjoins or is within 100m of a warden for a grower’s farm is to access conditions are met.