Heartbreaking end to 2023 for flooded communities

With the harvest finally complete and growers, mill workers, and harvesting crews looking forward to spending some well-earned quality time with loved ones over the Christmas break, I had planned to sign off for 2023 with a message of hope and joy for readers.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, the first of this year’s cyclone season, swept through far north Queensland last week, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation in its wake.

While the storm itself wasn’t as intense as we had originally feared, the relentless torrential rain it brought caused widespread flooding from Tully to the Daintree.

As I write this, entire communities are cut off by floodwaters, left isolated without power and in some cases without clean drinking water.

Disease and dangerous debris are just some of the dangers facing inundated communities, with snakes and even crocs spotted in floodwaters.

Obviously, there is no good time to experience a natural disaster, but the scale of destruction inflicted on these communities, with Christmas just a few days away, makes it particularly heartbreaking.

The region’s sugarcane industry has been badly impacted also, although at this early stage it is impossible to put a figure on what the eventual costs might be.

Sugarcane can be a very resilient crop, once it has had some time to grow, but plant cane does not cope well with flooding and fast-moving water. Growers will have to wait until the water subsides to get an idea of the impact on next year’s crop.

CANEGROWERS has been working closely with the local, state and federal governments as recovery efforts are coordinated, and we will continue to work with government and communities in the weeks and months ahead.

The road to recovery will be long, but as Queenslanders we are adept at dealing with and overcoming the challenges that Mother Nature throws at us.

I hope flood waters recede quickly and impacted communities get some relief. Unfortunately, a merry Christmas just won’t be possible for many this year, but I do wish everyone in those communities a peaceful and safe Christmas and New Year.

New Premier

It has been a baptism of fire for our new Premier, the Hon Dr Steven Miles, who was sworn into office the day before Jasper made landfall.

I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome him to the role and wish him and his government success dealing with this natural disaster.

During his time in the ministry, whether as Environment Minister or Deputy Premier, Dr Miles has always been willing to sit down with the sugarcane industry to discuss the challenges and opportunities we face.

I hope he continues to take this positive approach as Premier and I look forward to working with him in the months ahead.