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Ord Valley cane growers have received a two-week reprieve in their efforts to keep sugar viable in the valley.
They have until June 15 to cobble together a package that might win the approval of sugar mill owners the Korean company CJ Ord Sugar.
Ord River Cane Growers Association secretary Paul Mock said the reprieve offered growers a slim glimmer of hope.
CJ Ord Sugar is planning an option to move key components of the mill to Indonesia to help supply power for a MSG producing plant the company operates there.
Growers are trying to put together a package with Queensland group Maryborough Sugar to buy and operate the mill.
Reaching a supply agreement will be a key issue as to whether there is a future for the mill.
Paul said both parties had to do the figures to see whether to go by old prices or set a new contract price.
Maryborough Sugar wants it to be a cooperative agreement with growers, not a supplier versus mill owner situation.
Presently the mill is gearing up as if it was going to have a crushing season and this would normally start in a week.
The current situation puts this date back one week in the best case scenario.
"It's still going to be hard to make it work," Paul said on Tuesday afternoon.
"We're going to need some assistance from the State Government.
"CJ is definitely serious about the possibility of sending the mill to Indonesia and their decision will depend on our bid.
"If growers can't make the joint venture with Maryborough Sugar work, CJ sees the only alternative is for it to relocate the mill to Indonesia.
"That would leave us with a huge environmental issue of what to do with the cane.
"There would be a huge runoff problem if we dumped it in the paddock," Paul said.
If the mill closes, there is a strong possibility that at least some of the 10 or so remaining growers will go to the wall.
It would also mean the loss of about 80 jobs for mill staff and harvesting and transport operators.
The future promised by Green Swamp development and Ord Stage II could well be defining arguments as to whether the joint venture proposal is viable or not.
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