Cane farmers face rates rise
Posted
Mackay cane farmers have been hit with a 24 per cent rates increase after the release yesterday of the Mackay Regional Council budget.
Sarina growers have also been slugged with a 12 per cent rise, well above the region's residential average of 7.9 per cent.
However, Mirani cane farmers will see a 15 per cent decrease in their rates.
Finance portfolio councillor Darryl Camilleri says Mirani had been paying more than Mackay and Sarina farmers in the past and now the new council is trying to restore balance.
"We thought that with Mirani paying basically double what the Mackay rates were we should be sympathetic to try and make sure that Mirani growers continued to be viable," he said.
"Obviously it is a fair burden on them over time, so we've actually decided to decrease their rates by $0.55 cents."
Canegrowers Mackay chairman Paul Schembri says the rate rise means some growers will be an extra $1,200 out of pocket.
He says growers were not consulted about the increase and it could not have come at a worse time.
"They've been whacked between the eyes with increases in fuel, whacked with the increases in fertiliser," he said.
"Australian dollar returns decreasing to the industry, inclement weather, the closure of the sugar mill, production in decline and just when you thought nothing else could happen to you, you cop a 24.2 percent increase in rates."
