00:02Steam has billowed out of this Queensland sugar mill for almost 130 years.
00:09But financial trouble is clouding its future.
00:12If the Isis mill all of a sudden wasn't there and there was only one mill left, it would be
00:18a big hole.
00:18The Wide Bay mill is at risk of closure as low sugar prices and mechanical issues have increased debt.
00:24The mill's board is close to sealing a $9 million loan from the Queensland Government.
00:30The Commonwealth is being urged to match it.
00:33The $18 million would go a long way to providing security for the mill.
00:37Again, we are still sensitive to sugar pricing and volume.
00:40Roger Bambling is one of 200 growers who supply the sugar mill.
00:44He says it's the final hope for Maryborough farmers after their mill closed in 2020.
00:50Nowhere to go. I'd say we'd be growing something different now.
00:52Just two sugar mills remain in the Wide Bay and Isis Central is Australia's only grower owned mill.
01:00It's also a major driver of the community's economy, supporting about 1,700 jobs.
01:06Sugar is this region. It built Childers. It was the first industry here.
01:12And it's the backbone of not only Childers, but of lots of other towns up and down the state.
01:17Growers are cautiously planting for future seasons, which needs to be done two years ahead.
01:24We're going to try and grow as much cane as we can on our business.
01:27And hopefully everybody else does the same and keep this mill going.
01:31The Federal Government says it's engaging with the mill's operators about financial assistance.
01:37The federal Government says it's engaging every other assets.
01:37This is the Play Power App I judge.
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