MEDIA RELEASE

16 December 2011: CANEGROWERS welcomes plan to develop agriculture in north QLD

Peak group CANEGROWERS has welcomed the announcement by the federal and Queensland Governments that $10 million will be invested in establishing new irrigation industries in northern Queensland.
The peak group says it will take great interest in the results of an assessment into new irrigated agriculture technologies, and the potential for new irrigated agricultural schemes in the Flinders and Gilbert catchments.
“Sugarcane is Queensland’s second largest agricultural export crop and would be ideally suited to the proposed new areas, were suitable water and infrastructure available,” says CANEGROWERS CEO, Steve Greenwood.
“There have been many attempts over the years to expand sugar production into this area. The sugarcane industry has had a ‘Northern Dream’ for decades.
“Around 80% of Australia’s sugar is exported and with current sugar prices indicating that the world is looking for more sugar, the Australian industry is looking for opportunities for expansion to play a role in resourcing that demand.”

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