THE 2025 crush has officially begun for Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Burdekin, Herbert and Sarina mills but, so far, not for Proserpine.
Wilmar had originally forecast that the Proserpine Mill would start up on Tuesday, June 17.
However, Proserpine’s 2025 sugar production season is not expected to get under way until later this week, following overnight rain on Monday.
“The region received falls of 10mm to 15mm on Monday night, with more rain forecast today (Tuesday),” Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Proserpine Cane Supply Manager Peter Luke said on Tuesday.
“Our logistics officers have been talking with harvesting operators about when they might be able to start supplying cane.
“Based on those discussions, there won’t be any harvesting tomorrow (Wednesday), and we’ll continue to assess the situation on a day-by-day basis.
“We hope to see harvesting and crushing operations kick off later this week.”
Meanwhile, General Manager Operations James Wallace said all four of the company’s Burdekin factories had started production by lunchtime, on June 3.
Invicta Mill at Giru was first off the mark at about 8am.
Inkerman Mill started crushing about 9.30am, Pioneer Mill about 10.45am and Kalamia Mill about 12.45pm.
Mr Wallace said it was great to see all of the Burdekin factories start up on June 3, as planned.
“It’s a true team effort to get to this point in the year and have the factories and cane rail assets ready to go.
“We had a compressed maintenance season, which was made even more challenging by the big weather event, in February.
“I want to give a shout-out to our maintenance and operations teams, and the support functions across our business, who have got us through a testing maintenance season and put us in a position to start the crush on time.
Mr Wallace said Wilmar’s Plane Creek Mill, at Sarina, started production on Saturday, June 7 – a few days later than planned due to rain.
In the Herbert region, Wilmar’s Macknade Mill started the season on Tuesday, June 10, and Victoria Mill started on Monday, June 16.
With the crush now under way, residents and visitors are reminded to switch on their ‘train brains’.
“Please stay alert around our cane rail network, obey all signs and signals and always give way to cane trains.”
ends
