Sugar
The Greater Whitsunday region, in particular Mackay and Proserpine, were built on the back of the sugar cane industry.
Today, the gross value production of sugarcane is worth close to $350 million each year. Sugar accounts for over 30% of the region’s agricultural output, with 85% of produce exported, predominantly to Singapore, South Korea and New Zealand, followed by the USA and Thailand.
As one of the most recognised and innovative sugarcane growing and milling areas in Australia, the Mackay region uses cane fibre to create heat and steam in mill boilers, as well as produce renewable biomass fuel and cogenerate electricity. Wilmar’s Plane Creek Mill in Sarina makes about 60 million litres of ethanol annually while Nordzucker’s Racecourse Mill in Mackay provides sufficient electricity for 30% of Mackay’s electricity grid. New initiatives such as the QUT Biocommodities Renewable Pilot Plant in Mackay are pioneering cleaner biofuels, and green chemicals.