Minute With The Mayor - Mayor Ramon Jayo

It is good to see the harvest season getting underway; however, the process has not been entirely smooth. Ongoing showery weather continues to play havoc with paddock access for harvest machinery.

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Fortunately, the showers have been hit and miss, allowing some areas of the district to continue cutting while others have had to stand down temporarily.

Despite these challenges, the start of harvest is always an important time for our community, marking not only the beginning of crushing but also a busy and significant period across the district.

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I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our farmers, harvesting crews, and mill staff a safe and, hopefully, not overly eventful season. By working together, we can ensure the current crop is harvested as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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With international sugar prices remaining low, this season will be challenging for both growers and mills. It is therefore essential that we make the most of the crop, by putting every stick in the bin and extracting every bit of juice. Good luck to everyone.

As we move into this busy period, safety must remain a priority.

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I would like to remind everyone to stay vigilant for cane trains when travelling around the district. I also ask farmers with paddocks adjoining road and rail intersections to cut cane back from the corners wherever possible, and as early as possible in the season.

Improving visibility at and beyond these intersections will make a significant difference for all road users, including our haul out drivers. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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The start of crushing also brings with it one of our district’s most valued traditions: the annual Ingham Show, which has been part of our social fabric since 1883, now an incredible 143 years. This year, the show will be held on Thursday and Friday, with Friday being a public holiday in our district. The show committee has been working extremely hard to deliver a fantastic event for the community, so let’s show our appreciation by supporting them in force and enjoying the festivities with friends and family.

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For full details of times and events, please visit: https://inghamshow.com.au/

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Finally, I would like to draw your attention to an emerging issue that will have significant implications for our region. If possible, I encourage you to assist in petitioning the Federal Government regarding its intention to reduce Disaster Recovery funding. The reality is that the State holds primary responsibility for disaster management and passes delivery, along with a share of cost and risk, down to local government. If the State’s liability increases sharply under a 50/50 funding model, it has a strong incentive to manage this exposure by tightening eligibility, raising the bar for what qualifies, and shifting additional administrative and assurance burdens onto councils.

For a small, high-exposure council like Hinchinbrook Shire, the consequences are both severe and very real.

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Since 2018, Hinchinbrook has experienced nine declared disaster events, including four within a single twelve-month period, and is currently delivering a recovery program exceeding $50 million.

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A council of our size simply does not have the capacity to absorb costs pushed down from higher levels of government.

We cannot self-fund reconstruction, we cannot carry the working capital gap while waiting on constrained State funding, and we do not have the back-office capacity to take on additional compliance burdens without it directly impacting frontline delivery.

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Sign the petition https://listen2qld.com/disaster-funding and make your voice heard.

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