The Palaszczuk Government will assist Mackay canegrowers affected by the extraordinarily late finish to their harvest with assistance to process applications for heavy vehicle exemptions.
Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey said he has responded to cane industry calls for support, covered here by the North Queensland Register.
“We have worked very hard to strike a balance between the needs of industry and to maintain the safety of other road users during this busy, and dangerous, time on our roads,” Mr Bailey said.
“Following consultation with Canegrowers, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the Queensland Police Service, we are facilitating exemptions for individual operators who have been unable to finish their sugar cane harvest.
“I have instructed a TMR taskforce to go to Mackay on Monday to fast-track applications. They’ll be based inside the Canegrowers Association office in Mackay to help the industry operate during the Christmas Curfew between December 23 and January 2, 2017.
“TMR staff will be working closely with canegrowers in Mackay to facilitate the development of Traffic Management Plans and provide an understanding of the permit process,” Mr Bailey said.
CANEGROWERS spokesman Dan Galligan said the industry was appreciative of the government’s support in these unusual circumstances.
“In showing an understanding of our needs and working with us, the government has ensured that if we can get the required permits approved by all parties we can get our cane to mills to be crushed, Mr Galligan said.
“For many of our family farmer members this will be the difference between leaving cane in the paddock at the end of season, and not seeing an income from it, or realising its value.”
Since 1989 a Christmas Curfew on the movement of large agricultural equipment has applied to the holiday period to improve road safety.
Mr Bailey said while cane producers concerns were being met, he also wanted it to be clear decisions about individual permit applications would be based on road safety of all road users as well as for industry commercial needs.
“Everyone needs to remember that this Christmas and New Year holiday period there will be large agricultural vehicles travelling on roads around Mackay, so drivers need to be aware and take care,” he said.
