WHEN severe tropical Cyclone Larry crossed the coast near Innisfail 10 years ago tomorrow, it wreaked a path of destruction not seen in decades.
But the category four system also acted as the impetus for the region’s banana industry – which accounts for 95 per cent of Australia’s production – to diversify into new growing areas.
The region is home to 12,000 hectares of banana production which includes about 510 hectares in Lakeland and Hopevale and another 2060 hectares on the Tablelands.
Some production was underway in these areas prior to TC Larry, however, the widespread damage which wiped out 90 per cent of banana production on the coast, was a significant factor in the diversification of banana growing in the region.
About 22 per cent of north Queensland production is now in growing areas outside of the major regions centred on Tully and Innisfail.
Today, Lakeland has about five per cent of north Queensland production and the Tablelands has 14 per cent.
Steve Lizzio, the north Queensland director of the Australian Banana Growers Council, said growers learnt many lessons from TC Larry, among them the need to diversify growing regions and improve crop management in times of natural disasters.
He said diversification of the industry’s growing region had been “quite significant”.
“If the coast line was to cop another cyclone we would certainly have enough bananas to continue to supply markets around Australia,” Mr Lizzio said.
“Diversification was the key because we supply Australia’s number one fruit 52 weeks of the year and consumers get use to that.
“All of a sudden there was a real shortage of bananas, prices went through the roof and there was a consumer backlash – people didn’t realise the full impact of Larry.”
Mr Lizzio, who farms with his parents at Liverpool River Bananas, north of Silkwood, said the industry’s comeback after TC Larry – and tropical Cyclone Yasi five years later – showed how resilient farmers are.
“We are a real resilient group and are now taking on the challenges of panama disease,” Mr Lizzio said.
“Our industry is based on supply and demand. When things get tough we knuckle down and do what we have to do to be competitive.
“We love what we do and take all these things on at our own risk.”
