2:39p.m. 7th August 2007

Sunshine Coast Canelands Action Group chairman Jay Chandler. Photo: Michaela O'Neil

Vast tracts of Sunshine Coast cane fields could be turned into a degraded wasteland, attracting not tourists, but weeds, pests and vermin, not to mention posing a serious fire risk.

That was the scenario painted by Sunshine Coast Canelands Action Group (SCCAG) chairman Jay Chandler last week, warning the scenic amenity of the region was under threat from a “do nothing mentality”.

Mr Chandler said it was important for the public to understand there had been no truly viable alternative use found for the major part of the Coast’s former canelands since the closure of the Moreton Sugar Mill at Nambour four years ago.

“We’re at crisis point. For many landowners, it’s been four years with no income from their land, and no prospects going forward,” he said.

“If we do nothing we’ll up in an economic and environmental hole ... which is what’s happening now.”

Mr Chandler acknowledged Biocane’s “Cow Candy” stockfeed project could offer part of the solution when it is up and running, but said the CSIRO’s Future Use of the Sunshine Coast Canelands report released last year revealed 70% of caneland was not suitable for growing any other crops, and much of it was even marginal for sugar cane.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel, however.

SCCAG, which was formed last December and has 30 members owning about 5000ha of caneland between them, has just received a $100,000 grant from the federal government to fund a detailed study into possible future uses of the caneland.

Mr Chandler said the group was also hopeful of receiving in-kind support worth as much as $175,000 from a number of organisations including the CSIRO.

The funding was part of an $11 million package being made available by the government to assist sugar communities across Queensland and New South Wales to develop sustainable futures.

The CSIRO will conduct the study, research scientist Anthea Coggan saying it “will help improve understanding of the land management options for Sunshine Coast landholders, and provide input into the development of innovative planning for the former canelands”.

The project is expected to be finished early next year. Mr Chandler said he did not want to pre-empt the findings, but did say any alternative options needed to deliver economic, social and environmentally-acceptable outcomes.