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Disaster Readiness

Disaster Readiness

Major Grants Incentives Available For Growers

Major Grants Incentives are available to support growers within the Plane and Pioneer catchments to adopt practice change that will benefit both grower farming operations and provide water quality outcomes. Access to the major grant funds is available through Reef Catchments, the delivery provider of the Major Grants Project, for growers engaged with Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program (MWWQP) delivery providers and those who are not yet engaged in the program but are Best Management Practice (BMP) accredited. Equipment commonly purchased under water quality grant schemes includes sub surface nutrient applicators, legume planters, equipment for improved placement of grub control, variable rate and boom section controllers and high rise spray rigs. Other types of equipment may still be eligible, and growers are encouraged to contact Reef Catchments to discuss their options. Applicants applying for funding are required to meet the following criteria: • The grower project must be within the

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Plane Creek and Pioneer River Catchments.

• The applicant must be an accredited BMP grower or engaged with a Delivery

Provider under the MWWQP project. • The growers project must demonstrate a water quality improvement outcome at end of catchment in Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) loads and/or pesticide risk toxicity, calculated by the delivery provider or productivity service provider. • Grant applications must include a minimum in-kind 50% cash co-contribution.

• Grower project activities must be completed within 12 months or the program completion date (whichever comes first). • Must be a legal entity with an ABN. The MWWQP is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

With two years remaining on the project, the Program is on track to achieve an enduring reduction in pesticides risk toxicity and DIN loads from the Plane and Pioneer River catchment.

To find out more, contact Reef Catchments on 4968 4200 or email grants@reefcatchments.com.

Focused on increasing your production and profitability

Independent agronomic support for all your Cane, Cropping, or Livestock needs

Wilmar Sugar Weekly production figures Plane Creek Mill Week 13, Week ending 10 September 2022

Wilmar Sugar Cane crushed This week 68,689 Season to date 628,187 Plane Creek Mill Average bin weight 3.88 3.89

Week 20, Week ending 29 October 2022 CCS 13.73 12.78 Cane crushed This week Season to date 46,520 1,026,777 Cane variety performance for region Variety % CCS Variety % CCS Q183 28.3 13.51 Q242 4.7 13.61 Q208 23.7 13.93 Q252 4.6 13.94 Average bin weight Q240 8.0 3.71 3.87 13.99 Q232 4.4 13.99 CCS Q253 7.3 13.28 13.16 13.51 Q138 4.3 13.33

Comments: Cane variety performance for region

Variety % CCS Variety % CCSSolid crushing rates saw Plane Creek Mill crush nearly 69,000 tonnes of cane for the week – the highest

Q183 32.6 13.09 Q253 5.5 13.37 weekly throughput for the season.

Q208 21.0 13.49 SP80 2.7 11.76 There was a marginal improvement in CCS of 0.07 a

Q240 19.6 13.64 KQ228 1.8 12.89 unit over the previous week, taking the season-to-date

Q138 7.0 13.11 Q238 1.6 12.95 CCS to 12.78 units. Average bin weights fell markedly from the previous week. On occasion, the low bins weight presented some challenges with feeding station throughput. The highest CCS was 16.4 units from a rake of Q208 3rd ratoon from the Dawlish productivity district. With school holidays beginning this coming Friday (16 September), parents are urged to warn their children of the dangers of playing near cane railway lines.

Plane Creek Mill passed the one million tonnes crushed milestone on Wednesday morning. Comments:A total of 46,520 tonnes of cane were crushed for the week. Storms over much of the supply district on Monday night significantly impacted cane Plane Creek Mill passed the one million tonnes supply and brought crushing operations to a halt for 19 hours on Tuesday crushed milestone on Wednesday morning. and into Wednesday. Further heavy storms on Friday afternoon resulted in a 15-hour cane supply stoppage on

Saturday. The mill resumed crushing at 12.30am Sunday. A total of 46,520 tonnes of cane were crushed for the The production team used the lengthy wet-weather stops to conduct maintenance. week. The knock-on effects from the difficult harvesting conditions included lower crush rates due to high mud loadings and lower bin weights.

Average weekly CCS was 13.28, down slightly from 13.38 the previous week. Storms over much of the supply district on Monday Jim Kirchner The highest CCS was 15.75 units from a rake of Q208 3rd ratoon from the Koumala night significantly impacted cane supply and brought crushing operations to a halt for 19 hours on Tuesday Cane Supply Manager Plane Creek Region productivity district. Jim Kirchner Cane Supply Manager and into Wednesday. Plane Creek Region Further heavy storms on Friday afternoon resulted in a 15-hour cane supply stoppage on Saturday. The mill resumed crushing at 12.30am Sunday. The production team used the lengthy wet-weather stops to conduct maintenance. The knock-on effects from the difficult harvesting conditions included lower crush rates due to high mud loadings and lower bin weights. Average weekly CCS was 13.28, down slightly from 13.38 the previous week. The highest CCS was 15.75 units from a rake of Q208 3rd ratoon from the Koumala productivity district.

Commercial and Farm clean-ups

Jim Kirchner Cane Supply Manager Plane Creek Region

CA$H for scrap metal

PROPERTY POINT

Arecent edition of the New Yorker magazine featured a clever cartoon that nicely summed up the strange world we live in, where young people know nothing about some things but have far more knowledge than adults about other things. The cartoon depicted a baby sitting in a high-chair, being spoon-fed by its father.

The caption had the father saying: “After I introduce you to solids, I’m going to need your help with some computer stuff.”

Some of us of a certain age are very familiar with having to ask our children to help with “computer stuff”. In my case, my then-11-year-old son set up our Netflix and other streaming services and is, fortunately, usually on hand to address IT issues as they emerge. In this IT age, it is the first time in the history of the planet that children can teach adults how certain things work. I’m not so rude as to say young people are one-trick ponies but their knowledge and easy facility with technology is not matched, in my experience, in other areas of life.

I was reminded of this when I was explaining to a young person I work with that the housing precinct in Glenella that runs off Davey St has streets named after Australian cricketers.

“For example, Bradman Drive is named after Don Bradman,” I told her. Her blank stare showed very clearly that my colleague did not know who Don Bradman was. She had heard of Bradman Drive but not Don Bradman.

I was initially surprised, after all I grew up in a country where everyone knew who Don Bradman was.

But when I thought about it, Bradman died about 21 years ago, around the time my colleague was born. Australia has changed. It is more multi-cultural with different complexities. Cricket is no longer the only thing you can watch on your TV (or i-pad, i-phone or laptop) during summer. Why would a 22-year-old woman know who Donald Bradman was? It’s a bit sad but not her fault.

I have a young sales associate called Skye who works as a buyers’ agent in my team but also looks after videos and social media posts to help market the properties we are selling. I got Skye on my team because I needed extra help working with buyers for my properties but I also needed someone who had the talent and knowledge to make the most of social media opportunities when we market my clients’ properties. She fits the bill perfectly. And, by the way (or as she might say, BTW), it would be pretty stupid of me to say: “Skye doesn’t even know who Donald Bradman is.”

That’s because Skye could just as easily say: “David doesn’t even know how to take a real estate video, synchronise the changing images with cool, trending music that is timed to avoid breaking copyright laws and post it on Instagram and other social media sites, have it all done professionally in a couple of hours and do it all on his i-phone. What an idiot!”

The point about having a team (I’ve also got my PA Sandy looking after admin, contracts etc) is that while one person might not have the ability or experience to do and know everything, as a team we have it covered.

Some of the other names in that Glenella precinct are: Lillee, Border, Grout, Hughes, Tallon, Lindwall and Chappell … that would have been a pretty good team as well.

But they’d still need Skye for their social media.

David Fisher

Gardian Real Estate Sales Agent 0408 672 703

David@gardian.com.au

SHAPE YOUR FUTURE A TRANSFORMATIONAL BUSINESS EVENT

ADAPT and leverage from the changing tides occurring within the workforce.

EVOLVE with the expanding universe of digital, AI and technological advancements.

GROW stronger by embracing a future of sustainability and geopolitical change. As millennials move deeper into their careers and Generation Z enters the workforce, baby boomers and Generation X are faced with the challenge of effectively communicating with younger employees. Managing a workforce that is becoming increasingly diverse in age is no small task. Use the power of the digital natives to improve your business!

With special guests Craig Reucassel and Jordana Borensztajn, and a panel of local experts, join the Chamber of Commerce on a journey to become a strong and diverse business community with a workforce ready to seize today's jobs and adapt to future opportunities. Don't miss out on this transformative Mackay Region Chamber event! Non-members are also welcome.

When: THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER from 8:30am

Where: Rydges Mackay Tickets: from $99

MACKAY REGIONAL COUNCIL SHINES AT THE 2022 MACKAY ISAAC TOURISM AWARDS

As a council, we are extremely proud of our two venues that took out three awards at this year’s tourism awards. A big shout out to Jemma Carey and her team from the MECC for winning Best Business and Event Venue. Jemma and her team provide a first-class venue for functions, events, conferences and performances. The MECC certainly rates as one of the best facilities in regional Queensland. The venue is always presented in a very professional manner and the staff pay great attention to detail to make sure your function is just perfect. The team pride themselves on delivering top quality service to all users of the venue. The Sarina Sugar Shed was our next winner, taking out the Award for Excellence in Food Tourism. tering products that are produced onsite are just mind blowing. The sauces, chutneys and jams really tantalise your taste buds. Then you move on to taste the onsite distilled range of liquors, NOIs (Nice Over Ice) and locally produced rum. No tour is complete unless you taste one of Betty’s freshly made cocktails. When you visit the Sarina Sugar Shed, you are certainly in for a great food tourism experience. Lastly, our Sarina Sugar Shed was category winner for Most Outstanding Volunteer Group. The success of the Sugar Shed would not be possible without the dedicated group of volunteers that help with the production of chutneys, sauces, jam, alcohol manufacturing and cane crushing. The passion of the Sugar Shed team really comes to life through this great group of volunteers. They certainly make things happen and the spirit of giving comes through in the many hours of volunteer time they contribute. Well done to everyone. Tourism is certainly well and truly alive at Mackay Regional Council. Great team effort to be gold winners on the night. So proud of our people!

Cr Karen May Deputy Mayor

The MECC team, (from left) Andrew Bobeldyk, Kristy Rushe, Bronwyn Trig, Telina James, Jemma Carey, Maria Xiriha, Ali Schmidtke and Sarah Porter, with the Best Business and Event Venue award Sarina Sugar Shed team members, Gillian, Sarah and Ian (pictured), have just come back from the Good Food and Wine Show in Brisbane

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