The sale of Mossman Central Mill to Mackay Sugar this week has been lauded by Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch.

Mackay Sugar will pay $25.3 million for the mill and its related assets, and will aim to boost cane supply by 25 per cent in the first four years.

Mr Entsch said the sale was a win?win situation for Mackay Sugar, growers in the Mossman?Daintree region and the employees of the Mossman Central Mill.

“It’s fantastic news,” he said. “While I will always support the concept of a local, co?operative mill owned by the growers, I appreciate the need to consolidate.

“Mackay Sugar, as a 100 per cent Australian?owned company, is by far the best option and I’m very pleased that they will retain control of this asset, especially in the light of recent mill sales to foreign interests.

“With Mackay Sugar’s four mills and $400 million business they will now have the opportunity to be part of a much bigger group with more career pathways.”

Under the agreement, a director from Mossman will sit on the Mackay Sugar board and Queensland Sugar Ltd (QSL) will be retained as the marketing body, giving growers the ability to forward price.

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