SUGAR cane growers have hit back after allegations were made to the Prince of Wales during his regional Queensland tour that banned chemicals were being used on farms and polluting the Great Barrier Reef.
An unnamed source told Prince Charles that cane growers were continuing to use chemicals banned ‘decades’ ago during a forum after he visited Lady Elliot Island off Bundaberg on Friday.
But sugarcane growers industry group Canegrowers yesterday said they were surprised and disappointed that such allegations had been made against an industry working hard to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Canegrowers chairman Paul Schembri said the body had no knowledge of any continuing use of banned chemicals and those making allegations should refer them to the appropriate authorities.
“The sale and use of herbicides and pesticides on cane farms in the Reef catchment is highly regulated,” Mr Schembri said.
“Canegrowers has no knowledge of any continuing use of banned chemicals and if allegations have been voiced to a Royal visitor to that effect, they should also be raised with the appropriate authorities.
“The Reef is in our backyard – cane growers work, live and play beside it and in it and have no desire to do it harm.
“Almost three quarters of the cane farming area of Queensland has been voluntarily enrolled in our industry best management practices program, Smartcane BMP, by growers who are committed to farming for sustainability as well as productivity and profitability.
“Our members are also actively engaged with local Natural Resource Management and other catchment organisations and government-led Reef programs.”
Mr Schembri said he would welcome the opportunity to show Prince Charles around a modern Australian sugarcane farm.
“As an industry we are committed to playing our part to secure the future of the Reef,” he said.
“This commitment has led us on a decades-long journey of innovation and technological and farming practice change and I would be very happy to show Prince Charles around my farm and explain it to him first hand.”
Prince Charles has been a well know environmental warrior, who last year launched the Prince of Wales Environmental Leadership-Reef Sustainability Award on behalf of the Prince’s Trust Australia.
The award, which recognises an individual or group’s exemplary efforts to raise awareness, foster knowledge-sharing, and engage local communities in sustainable natural resource management to protect and preserve the Reef, was won by Innisfail banana growers Frank and Dianne Sciacca.
Mackay cane grower Tony Bugeja was named runner-up.
