Fed: Canegrowers says workers needed in Larry recovery

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2006
Fed: Canegrowers says workers needed in Larry recovery

BRISBANE, April 5 AAP - A peak sugarcane group says moves to ensure workers stay in
cyclone-ravaged north Queensland remain a priority if the industry is to recover.

An initial assessment of Cyclone Larry's impact puts estimates of crop losses at greater
than 40 per cent in the Innisfail and Babinda areas, which were the hardest hit by the
March 20 cyclone.

Some growers are expected to lose more than 80 per cent of their crop, while damage
in the Gordonvale and Tully areas is expected to be up to 20 per cent, and the Tableland
up to 15 per cent.

Canegrowers general manager Ian Ballantyne said while priority issues affecting "life
and limb" are being addressed, relief efforts now need to focus on building a strong core
of workers to assist in the clean-up.

"The report calls for a labour force to help stem the long-term impacts of this catastrophic
event," he said today.

"We need to look at identification and retention of labour as a matter of priority
- there is no surplus labour on farms to assist in the recovery efforts."

Initial estimates from the insurance sector indicate that 70 per cent of farms suffered
structural damage to either residences or farm buildings in the Innisfail and Babinda
areas.

Damage to farm infrastructure in other areas was less, but still significant.

The report found that flattened and broken sugarcane will continue to grow, but harvesting
will be difficult, slower and more costly.

"While we can go some way towards estimating loss down the track, the real impact will
be brought home when harvesters get out in the paddock mid-year, and discover the amount
of debris in the field," Mr Ballantyne said.

The report praised the response and timeliness of the state and federal government's
response, describing it as "first-class".

It also praised the government's latest announcement of a jobs and training package,
which includes wage subsidies and tax-free grants.

"On top of the on-ground support, we are right behind the additional flexibility built
into the recovery loans announced by government yesterday," Mr Ballantyne said.

"It is this kind of foresight which will really help speed cyclone victims towards recovery."

AAP ch/sc/jas/nf

KEYWORD: LARRY SUGAR

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.