MEDIA RELEASE

26 October 2011: CANEGROWERS seeks delay in rolling out regulation audits

CANEGROWERS has today sought a delay in the roll out of regulation audits by the state government. According to peak group, growers are still battling to get on top of farm maintenance following the damage caused by the worst season on record last year, followed by floods, cyclones and more floods, and just don’t need the additional layer of pressure of regulation audits right now.

The Queensland Government last week announced plans to kick start a hefty schedule of reviews of cane properties this month, but according to CANEGROWERS, growers have their hands full dealing with the fall-out from two of the worst seasons on record, and four months breathing space would make all the difference.

“We understand that the Queensland Government has the obligation to ensure regulations are enforced. However, we have asked the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) to show the same consideration on timing it gave to reporting for ERMP’s and delay these activities until early 2012,” says CANEGROWERS CEO, Steve Greenwood, today.

“We have been through a horrendous two years and this year’s harvest is not yet complete. The last thing cane growers need is DERM officers applying unneeded pressure as they try to salvage 2011 and prepare for 2012.

“In the last two weeks many growers in far north Queensland have been hit by heavy rain and the signs are indicating that we are in for another usually long and wet, wet season. Now is not the time to be loading up growers.

“A decision to delay the audit process by the government would be a clear signal to cane growers that government understands the massive impact of the weather on our industry, and that they are prepared to take that into account during these toughest seasons on record,” says Greenwood.


Media comment: Steve Greenwood | CANEGROWERS CEO | 0488 721 156
More information: Suzi Moore | CANEGROWERS Communications | 0427 641 239 or 07 3864 6444