Expertise
Cane Supply
Safely and efficiently from
Farm to Factory
The thread that connects Mackay Sugar to our growers and our local community is our cane supply operations. These dedicated teams are responsible for transporting sugar cane from all corners of our cane rail network to one of our three factories for processing during the annual Crushing season.
Sugar cane locos and cane bins are an iconic part of life in Mackay, and no matter where you are in our region it’s likely you will cross paths with a Mackay Sugar loco or drive over a level crossing. This extensive network of rail infrastructure, and the rollingstock that uses it, is a critical part of our business alongside our traffic, communication, field and productivity teams who liaise directly with local sugar cane growers and harvesters all year round.
Cane Supply
Cane Rail
Mackay Sugar operates an extensive and highly specialised cane rail network, spanning 832 km across the Mackay region - from Wagoora in the north to Munbura in the south and west through the Pioneer Valley to Finch Hatton.
Our rail infrastructure includes 150 bridges across some of the region's most picturesque waterways, 96 active level crossings and countless occupational crossings.
With such a far reaching and extensive network, rail safety is a priority for us. Our rail infrastructure team work tirelessly all year to ensure our rail, bridges and navigation equipment is well maintained for each Crushing season, minimising risks to our community and employees.
Find Out More:
Download the ‘Queensland’s Cane Railways - Raw Sugar On the Move’ fact sheet (by ASMC)
Cane Supply
Cane Transport
Transporting cane from across our region to Mackay Sugar’s mills requires highly specialised planning and equipment. With a fleet of 34 cane rail locomotives (locos) and approximately 6,600 cane bins, Mackay Sugar collects and transports an average of six million tonnes of sugar cane every year from around 280 cane rail sidings located across our region.
During the Crushing season (typically June to December) our Cane Transport team is the largest in our business, employing as many as 230 people - the majority of whom are returning seasonal workers. This team covers critical cane transport roles, namely Loco Drivers and Drivers Assistants, who receive comprehensive training to ensure safe and efficient operations as they work around the clock to transport cane to our mills.
Our Traffic Office and Comms Centre also operate 24/7 during Crushing season, fielding calls from growers and harvester groups on cane cutting volumes and schedules, and applying our complex monitoring and management systems to ensure the seamless coordination of locos and cane bins across the region.
To heighten awareness of the hazards linked with cane transport during the Crush, Mackay Sugar produces an annual Cane Train Awareness campaign, extensively broadcast across mainstream and social media platforms throughout the season.
During the 2023 Crush, we launched our latest campaign titled "We Share the Same Backyard," aimed at highlighting the distinctive qualities - and risks - shared by all residents and workers within THE Sugar City. Click here to read more and watch the videos.
Cane Supply
Field Office
Our dedicated Field Office team is the critical conduit between Mackay Sugar and our local growers and harvesters. During the crushing season, the team provides important information and support to stakeholders, which includes the careful planning and adjustment of harvesting schedules to ensure all Mackay Sugar growers receive a level of equity when it comes to supplying their cane to our factories.
During the non-crush season, the Field Office team plays a critical role in business planning by liaising with local growers to map farms and yields, which is then used to develop the annual crop estimates that inform business decisions and resource allocations - for both Mackay Sugar and our stakeholders.
The Field Office is also focused on maintaining the volume of land under sugar cane across the region, and assists with farm transfers, acquisitions and leasing arrangements, all year round.
Cane Productivity
The Mackay Sugar grower network comprises more than 1,200 sugar cane farms that range in size from 5ha to 900+ha and cultivate an average of over five million tonnes of sugar cane every year.
Together with our industry partners MAPS (Mackay Area Productivity Services) and SRA (Sugar Research Australia), we work to promote sustainable and productive growers in the Mackay Sugar milling region.
Our Productivity Team liaises directly with growers on farming trends, innovation and technology that help increase yield. This includes the development and management of incentive schemes, focused on improving productivity and maintaining the volume of land under cane in our region.
