qsl grower elections vote now! · pdf file11-08-2017 · be alerted via a...
TRANSCRIPT
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CANEGROWERS Burdekin Ltd Newsletter Edition 2017/10 Distributed: Friday 11 August 2017
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QSL Grower elections — Vote Now! The Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) election of grower representative members is now underway with 9
nominations received for the Burdekin region.
To be eligible and to participate in the voting process attached, you must be a sugar cane grower who supplies
sugar cane under contract to a mill in the Burdekin milling districts.
Voting papers are available on the QSL website (click here), or from QSL offices, your local collective and mill.
Signed voting papers must be lodged with QSL by no later than 5pm QLD time on Friday 18 August 2017.
The candidates are listed below with those that are CANEGOWERS Burdekin members highlighted. CBL
recommends that you choose four of these candidates to represent you to QSL.
As QSL need to receive the voting papers by 5pm
Friday 18 August 2017, you are encouraged to
return the form as soon as possible to the
CANEGROWERS Office and we will scan and
email your form to QSL.
Alternatively, you can scan and email the form
yourself to [email protected], fax to (07) 3004
4499 or post to GPO Box 891, BRISBANE QLD
4001.
For more information about the voting process, please click here.
Burdekin River Bridge 60th anniversary competition The Department of Transport and Main Roads is running a competition whereby a
member of the public and one friend has the chance to take a tour of the Burdekin
River Bridge, Home Hill as part of the bridge’s sixtieth birthday.
The tour will also include a
view from the top of the
bridge!
To enter the competition,
just post your best picture/
photo of this beautiful
bridge on your Facebook
page with the hashtag
#BRB60years.
For more information, click
here.
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Crushing Stats
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NEWS RELEASE
WILMAR REPORTS 2Q2017 NET EARNINGS OF US$60
MILLION; CORE NET EARNINGS OF US$37 MILLION - • Net profit recovered significantly from loss in 2Q2016
• Higher crush volume and positive margins for Oilseeds & Grains
• Healthy volume growth in Consumer Products
• Weaker performance in Tropical Oils and Sugar
• 1H2017 EBITDA up 66% to US$998.7 million
• Proposed interim tax exempt dividend of S$0.03 per share, 20% increase from 1H2016 dividend
Highlights
Wilmar International Limited (“Wilmar” or “the Group”), Asia’s leading agribusiness group, reported core net profit of US$37.3
million for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (“2Q2017”) (2Q2016: US$220.3 million loss). The improvement was driven by
recovery in Oilseeds & Grains from the one-off losses in 2Q2016, but was partially offset by weaker performances in Tropical Oils
and Sugar. Higher non-operating gains, arising from the Group’s investment securities, resulted in a net profit of US$60.2 million
for the quarter (2Q2016: US$220.1 million loss).
Revenue for the quarter increased by 13% to US$10.60 billion (2Q2016: US$9.37 billion), due to higher sales volume from the
Oilseeds & Grains and Sugar businesses, as well as stronger commodity prices.
Boosted by the strong performance in the first quarter of 2017, the Group reported core net profit for the half year ended June 30,
2017 (“1H2017”) of US$349.9 million (1H2016: US$2.2 million) and net profit of US$421.8 million (1H2016: US$19.3 million).
Correspondingly, EBITDA improved 66% to US$998.7 million (1H2016: US$600.1 million). Revenue increased 15% to US$21.17
billion (1H2016: US$18.37 billion).
Sugar (Milling, Merchandising, Refining & Consumer Products) reported a pretax loss of US$106.8 million (2Q2016: US$78.7
million loss) due to seasonal losses from plant
maintenance activities by the Milling business in the
first half of the year and weaker performance in the
merchandising and refining business.
Prospects
Mr. Kuok Khoon Hong, Chairman and CEO, said, “We
expect Tropical Oils to perform better in 2H2017 on
the back of improvements in production yields and
better margins from downstream operations. Oilseeds
crush margins are expected to remain positive for the
rest of the year and Consumer Products will improve
as it enters its seasonal peak period. However, Sugar
will continue to be affected by the volatility in sugar
prices.
“While the Group may face short term challenges, we
remain very optimistic about the tremendous growth
prospects of our various businesses and will continue
with our expansion plans, especially in China, India
and Indonesia.”
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CANEGROWERS Members can access a second (electronic
only) copy of the Australian
Canegrower magazine for free by
emailing
Wilmar increases investment in Shree Renuka Sugars Press reports last month have said that Wilmar has invested a
further $120 million into Shree Renuka Sugars of India.
Wimar will become the biggest shareholder with a 38 per cent
stake in Shree Renuka once the deal is completed.
Shree Renuka is one of the largest sugar producers in the
world operating eleven integrated sugar mills globally (four in
Brazil and seven in India) and two port based refineries in
India.
Our friendly Bupa consultants are visiting you in the Burdekin
very soon to offer advice and find a healthcare plan to help suit
your needs.
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How to Save on Irrigation Water & Electricity Costs Could a notification to your smart phone save you thousands of dollars in
electricity, water and labour costs? Burdekin growers will soon have access
to a low cost, easy to use, end of row sensor that communicates directly to
your phone.
Farmacist has set up a base station network around the Burdekin using Taggle; an Australian-based
low-power network provider. The sensor [pictured] is placed in the tail drain or furrow and activates when
the water makes contact. This will indicate that your irrigation set has reached the end of the row. You will
be alerted via a notification from the Farmacist App which will be available for download through iPhone
and Android – allowing you to change sets or turn the pump off in a more timely manner.
This will lead to significant savings in water and electricity costs across your farm, reduce the labour
required to constantly check sets, and avoid excessive runoff thereby keeping inputs on farm improving
productivity and profitability.
These sensors are available for free to 100 growers through a collaboration
between Farmacist and SugarFix as part of the Australian Government
funded Reef Alliance Program (RAP) of which CANEGROWERS is a part of.
The sensors and network involved in this project will be maintained and
serviced by local specialists. This project has been arranged through the NQ
Dry Tropics Sustainable Agriculture Program.
A series of shed meetings demonstrating this technology will be rolled out
soon, starting in the Clare region, so keep an eye on the Farmacist Burdekin
Facebook page for shed locations, times and updates.
If you would like to be involved in trialling this exciting new technology, please
contact one of the Farmacist agronomists for more information (Office Ph: 07 4782 2300).
Applications Open for Sugarcane
Reef Water Quality Grants
Applications are now open for Reef Water Quality Grants as part of the Reef Trust: Reef Alliance Program - Growing a Great
Barrier Reef. NQ Dry Tropics Sustainable Agriculture project officer Jana Hazelman said the new project was continuing to
support sugar cane growers through the provision of extension and Reef Water Quality grants, designed to facilitate adoption of
practices that improve water quality outcomes.
“We’re working alongside our Burdekin based extension delivery partners Farmacist, Burdekin Productivity Services, Sugarfix,
BBIFMAC and Burdekin cane farmers to build on their efficiencies and achievements in this new phase,” Ms Hazelman said.
The $450,000 available for this grant round will again focus on irrigation efficiency and continue the work achieved through the
previous Reef programs to reduce the impacts of agriculture and improve water quality in the Great Barrier Reef.
“The extension delivery partners will work with cane growers to identify potential on-farm improvements and help growers
improve their knowledge and understanding of the benefits of adopting best management practices ,” Ms Hazelman said.
“Only growers who have or are willing to sign up to the Reef Alliance Program with NQ Dry Tropics’ extension delivery partners,
and have an extension plan in place, will be eligible to apply for funding.
“This round of funding will close at the beginning of October and will be assessed on a competitive basis by an independent
Irrigation Technical Advisory panel,” Ms Hazelman said.
The Reef Alliance Program - Growing a Great Barrier Reef is a partnership between industry, regional NRM bodies, and the
Queensland Farmers’ Federation and funded by the Australian Government and delivered through the Reef Trust.
Applications close on 6 October, 2017.
For further information or to apply please contact Julie Kennif at BBIFMAC on (07) 4783 4344 or Jana Hazelman at NQ Dry
Tropics on (07) 4799 3524 or email [email protected].
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CANEGROWERS Queensland … taking up the fight on all issues affecting cane farmers
EXECUTIVE COMMENT
✓ Meeting a team of proponents looking at developing a future biomass energy industry with cane trash briquettes.
✓ Internal industry meeting to discuss funding needs for Red Witch Weed eradication program.
✓ AustSafe Insurance Management & Claims Committee meeting.
✓ Meeting with colleagues from Enerfo Intl. a sugar trading house based out of London but traveling throughout the industry last
week.
✓ ASA meeting with Australian Cane Farmers Association (ACFA) leadership to discuss future engagement with ACFA.
✓ Teleconference with sugar supply chain participants from growers to food manufacturers to discuss sugar and nutrition
issues.
✓ Further planning with consultants to advance the project plan for the next phase of the industry social licence to operate
strategy.
✓ Work continues to build the next phase of our social license to operate project proposals for consideration of the Sugar
Alliance Board.
✓ Recruitment for regional positions and staff management was a focus of the week
✓ Attended the QLD Government Carbon Farming Industry Summit. The summit looked to bringing together market players in
carbon trading, NGOs, policy makers and industry to discuss progress with carbon farming programs and investments at the
State, National and International levels.
✓ Regular catch up with SRA CEO to discuss priorities and engagement issues.
✓ Development of leadership and capabilities initiatives.
LEGAL
✓ Reviewing SRA subcontracting arrangements for the EEF60 project.
✓ Advising Innisfail and Cairns districts regarding transfer of cane issues and establishment of joint committee.
✓ Advising district regarding land tax exemption application and proposed contractual arrangements for telecommunications
installations on roof of CANEGROWERS building.
✓ Assisting Herbert River resolve satisfactorily a cartage allowance payment dispute with Wilmar.
✓ Providing districts with governance and Sugar Code materials following on from managers meeting.
✓ Ongoing native title issues including reviewing proposed court timetable for consent determination of certain claims.
✓ Ongoing discussions with QSL and Mackay CANEGROWERS regarding OSA/RSSA issues and reviewing proposed models
for grower choice.
✓ Reviewing government funding agreement for Burdekin project.
✓ Advising district regrading membership fee recovery issues.
✓ Ongoing discussions with Cairns CANEGROWERS Regarding Board and CSA issues.
POLICY
Smartcane BMP
✓ Meeting with EHP staff regarding our proposal for the next phase of program delivery – very positive feedback, and an
updated proposal will be submitted in mid-August.
✓ Briefed staff from WWF on the objectives, design and delivery of the BMP program; most discussion was on the nutrient
management standards.
✓ Continued discussion with DAF and others regarding how we best capture the agronomic and economic benefits of the
standards for each practice in the core modules, both as an information resource on the BMP web site and as a resource for
advisors.
Canegrowers attended the NHVR agricultural industry oversight group meeting. The main topics were:
✓ The progress of the portal for permit application. Agricultural permits can be applied for through this system now but the
application will still go to TMR for processing until early next year.
✓ The progress in the harmonisation of agricultural regulation was presented. There are some potentially serious concerns
about the mapping and zoning of the Queensland coastal area which is not consistent with the NSW coastal zoning. This was
raised as a big issue for CANEGROWERS.
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CANEGROWERS Queensland … taking up the fight on all issues affecting cane farmers
BIOSECURITY
✓ CANEGROWERS chaired the Sugarcane Industry Biosecurity Committee workshop on Fiji Leaf Gall. The meeting was to
determine if Fiji Leaf Gall, a disease affecting some cane varieties in the central region, southern region, Rocky Point and
NSW, could be eradicated.
✓ The committee agreed on the scope and objectives for actions to declare area freedom from Fiji Leaf Gall in cane growing
regions of Queensland and New South Wales, which can lead to declaration of eradication of the disease.
✓ The committee also supported a request from the Central Regional Variety Committee seeking endorsement for the removal
of the Fiji Leaf Gall disease threshold in the central region. Previously the threshold was 7 and the proposal would see the
threshold removed and the release of Q253A in 2017. Extensive surveillance and sentinel data was presented which
supported the decision.
CANE CHANGER
✓ CANEGROWERS met with Behaviour Innovation to discuss the communication / baseline for the project.
✓ CANEGROWERS and Behaviour Innovation held a milestone meeting with DEHP. The project is on track and has good
engagement in Innisfail, Tully and Cairns.
TRANSPORT
✓ The Operations Industry Sub Committee workshop for Queensland Freight Action Plan was attended. The opportunity was
taken to again highlight the need for reasonable access to all roads for over dimensional agricultural vehicles and that the
permitting system was not working.
✓ CANEGROWERS had a phone hook-up with National Farmers Federation and various other state organisations to discuss
the harmonisation of agriculture vehicle regulations ahead of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Agricultural
Industry Operators Group meeting next week. The draft proposals have not been circulated to agricultural bodies yet but is on
the agenda.
MEETING WITH PROPOSED BIOENERGY PROCESSORS
✓ CANEGROWERS met with representatives from Millennium Bioenergy, a Brazilian based organisation, which has developed
a plan for a Full Flex Plant with combined/adjoining sugar cane and corn processing facility which produces up to 10 products
based on 700,000 tonnes cane and 310,000 tonnes corn. On the surface the concept makes sense and their feasibility looks
good on paper, however the detailed assumptions were not explored. They have a trip organised to talk to a number of
industry players.
✓ CANEGROWERS also met with representatives from Australian Future Energy who were exploring the use of cane trash for
processing into compressed briquettes for fuel. This is not a new concept and they are initially looking for 100,000 tonnes.
COMMUNICATIONS
✓ The renovated CANEGROWERS website has been launched and went progressively live over Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thank you to all of the staff and members who have provided feedback and suggestions. The site will continue to evolve as
material is updated and added.
✓ CANEGROWERS issued a media release and supported via social media an Invasive Species Council call for a ten-year
national program to eradicate fire ants. The media release is here http://www.canegrowers.com.au/page/media/media-
releases/2017/call-for-urgent-funds-to-tackle-fire-ant-threat Agriculture ministers agreed to a $411 million campaign.
✓ Work has continued on a new CANEGROWERS Membership brochure.
✓ Cane billets are being provided to the RNA for an Ekka children’s activity on food produced in Queensland.
✓ Magazine production – hot topics lately have included nematodes (and how to help natural predators combat them), farm
succession planning and BMP accreditations.
✓ CANEGROWERS was mentioned in 32 sugar industry news items over the past week, which was 50% of coverage.
✓ Submissions from advertising and marketing companies looking to work with the Smartcane BMP program have been
reviewed.
✓ Annual staff appraisals have been completed and targets/projects for the next year identified.
✓ Fine tuning of content for the renovated CANEGROWERS website continues.
✓ CANEGROWERS publications regarding cane firing, WH&S and vegetation management are being updated, reviewed and
created.
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CANEGROWERS Directors have an intimate knowledge of local and regional needs.
CANEGROWERS Directors are growers, just like you, doing demanding work for little monetary
return.
They understand your needs.
SRA DATA MANAGEMENT PROJECT
The consultative committee of an SRA project to standardise mill productivity data was attended. One of the issues is access to
the data due to legal issues. It was expected that Tully and Bundaberg would be the only mills not to participate.
EEF60 PROJECT UPDATE
✓ Contracts for extension have been sent out to the relevant organisations.
✓ QCGO held a EEF60 Project Management meeting on 3 July 2017 with SRA, Australian Government, Queensland
Government, Cane Productivity Service representatives and QFF.
o Technical Steering Group - the Technical Steering Group held a meeting earlier in July and had good discussion
regarding trial design and site selection.
o Regional Working Groups - regional working groups and extension in each region is being determined by each region and
is on track.
o Site selection/grower agreement - overview of the sites in each region is progressing well.
o Trial design - general overview of trial design delivered by SRA.
o SRA staffing - water quality monitoring equipment contracted to BBIFMAC.
o On site work - some sites have recently been harvested and soil sampling/analysis has commenced.
WYOMING AGRIBUSINESS STUDY TOUR
✓ QCGO hosted agribusiness students from Wyoming to discuss sugarcane, farming practices, sustainability challenges and
the broader sugar value chain.
✓ The students, aged 19-21, were mainly off corn and grazing properties in the US and were on a study tour in Australia to
learn about agricultural business and farming.
✓ CANEGROWERS Rocky Point supported an inform visit. Shaun Fischer hosted the group and showed the students the
various stages of cane, farming practices and equipment used. From all reports it was very well received and Shaun did an
excellent job.
LEVY REFORM PROCESS
✓ The Australian Government is reviewing the levy system for agriculture which includes R&D, biosecurity and marketing to
make it more effective and responsive.
✓ QCGO attended a meeting with ASMC and ACFA to hear from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources about
the government process and to seek feedback from the cane industry.
✓ The process is expected to take 18 months and further consultation will occur.
CANEGROWERS Queensland … taking up the fight on all issues affecting cane farmers
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1. The Queensland Government has released a bulk water
strategy to improve existing infrastructure and new water
projects. QFF is consulting its members and the irrigation
sector for their feedback. QFF column HERE. Bulk water
statement HERE.
2. Queensland State Office of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade is holding a free seminar and
networking event for businesses titled ‘Australia's
International Agricultural Aid’. Register HERE.
3. Telstra has released a White Paper into ‘Regional
Australia’s Technology Future’ highlighting what the future
holds for rural communities over the next 20 years.
Telstra's White Paper HERE.
4. Australian Women in Agriculture’s (AWIA) national
conference is coming to Brisbane 22-24 September with
its theme 'Securing Australian Agriculture'. Details
HERE. Registrations now open HERE.
5. Australia has had its warmest July on record, according to
the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). Report HERE. ABC
article HERE.
6. Agricultural Ministers have committed to a ten-year plan to
eradicate Fire Ants in Southeast Queensland. QFF has
welcomed the combined commitment to biosecurity.
Barnaby Joyce's statement HERE. QFF statement HERE.
7. The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has expressed
concerns with Labor's plans to reform trust taxation policy,
claiming farmers were not consulted. NFF statement &
Labor's response HERE.
8. QFF is calling for the Queensland Government to address
the problem of on-farm waste and recycling for farmers.
See the full version of the QCL column HERE.
9. The latest edition of the Reef Alliance’s ‘Reliable 5’ is out
now! View HERE. Sign up for Reef Alliance
updates HERE (form at the bottom of page).
10. QFF industry member Growcom is hosting FREE
workshops in Bowen, Mareeba, Gayndah, Bundaberg,
Gatton and Stanthorpe to help growers learn their rights
and obligations under the new Hort Code. Details HERE.
11. QFF industry member The Queensland Chicken Growers
Association (QCGA) recently hosted a QFF Energy
Savers Energy Forum on energy efficiency and renewable
energy. See a full list of workshop highlights HERE.
6% Discount Exclusive offer to
members of
CANEGROWERS
Burdekin
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Pricing information
Growers can monitor QSL pool performance via the Price Pool Matrices
published on the QSL website (www.qsl.com.au). This information is updated
regularly and provides a sense of how the QSL-managed pools are performing
over the current season.
Crop Year Indicative Price Movement
2017 Season $381 -10.00
2018 Season $429 -3.62
2019 Season $445 0.37
Calculation using ICE Closing Prices or equivalent Bank Swap Rates and
prevailing AUD/USD exchange rates
Refer to https://www.wilmarsugarmills.com.au for additional Pricing
Information and trends
$/Tonne IPS
GROSS 2017
QSL Harvest Pool $427
QSL Actively Managed Pool* $402
QSL Guaranteed Floor Pool* $371
QSL US Quota Pool $696
QSL 2-season Forward Pool $481
Advance Rates are based on a grower's individual estimated final sugar price.
For more information growers can access Wimar's monthly Pool Reports,
Allocation Account Amount Reports, their applicable Advance Finance Charge
via the reporting page of the Pricing and Payments
section of the GrowerWeb. The cashflow forecast tool is also available in the
Pricing & Payments section.
Default Advances Status
Jun -17 65% Confirmed
Jul -17 65% Confirmed
Aug -17 65% Confirmed
Sep - 17 65% Scheduled
Oct -17 70% Scheduled
Nov - 17 70% Scheduled
Dec -17 75% Scheduled
Jan - 18 80% Scheduled
Feb - 18 85% Scheduled
Mar - 18 90% Scheduled
Apr -18 92.50% Scheduled
May -18 95% Scheduled
Jun -18 97.5% Scheduled
Jul -18 100% Scheduled
Wilmar Indicative Future Sugar Prices
as at 11 Aug 2017
Estimated QSL Pool Prices
As at 28 July 2017
QSL Indicative ICE 11 prices
as at 11 August 2017
SEASON AUD/MT CHANGE SINCE
PREVIOUS CLOSE
2017 - OCT17 367.87 2.80%
2017 - MAR18 393.51 2.41%
2017 - MAY18 403.90 1.67%
2018 428.36 0.73%
2019 444.21 0.14%
2020 441.95 0.18%
The figures quoted above are indicative of available ICE 11 prices as at the
current date and reflect the weighted average AUD/mt price. The prices have
been adjusted to include Over-the-Counter (OTC) margin fees charged by
banking institutions and, therefore, may differ from daily prices quoted by the
ICE #11 Exchange and/or other Marketers of Growers’ Economic Interest in
Sugar (GEI Sugar). Values also do not account for any adjustments resulting
from local grower-miller pricing arrangements.
For more information, view the latest QSL Market Snapshot here.
2017 Season Advances
Schedule
As at 31July 2017
BMP Self-Assessment Workshop BPS office Monday the 14th of August.
Workshop will start at 9.00am and finish around 11.00 / 11.30 am
Contact Terry Granshaw -
Email: [email protected] Ph: 07 4783 1101 Mobile: 0437 553 149
Contact Us
HEAD OFFICE
141 Young Street, Ayr
Office Hours Mon - Thurs: 9am - 5pm
Fri: 9am - 3pm
4790 3600
CANEGROWERS Hall
68 Tenth Street, Home Hill
Wayne Smith Manager: Member Services 0428 834 802
4790 3604
Michelle Andrews JP (Qual)
Manager: Finance & Admin 4790 3602
Tiffany Giardina Payroll & Administration 4790 3601
Racheal Olsen Solaris Insurance Brokers
Manager [email protected]
4790 3606
0408 638 518
Email address: [email protected]
DIRECTORS
Phil Marano
Chair
[email protected] 0404 004 371
Owen Menkens
Deputy Chair
[email protected] 0409 480 179
Steven Pilla [email protected] 0417 071 861
Roger Piva [email protected] 0429 483 815
Sib Torrisi [email protected] 0429 827 196
Greg Rossato [email protected] 0418 713 563
canenews is read by the majority of Burdekin cane
farmers and their families in the Burdekin. Copies
are also circulated to all CANEGROWERS Offices,
businesses, industry, politicians, Government
Agencies and members of the community.
Published Weekly by:
CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited
ABN: 43 114 632 325
Postal Address: PO Box 933, AYR QLD 4807
Telephone: (07) 4790 3600
Facsimile: (07) 4783 4914
Email: [email protected]
Please direct all advertising enquiries and materials
to the above.
Disclaimer
In this disclaimer a reference to “CBL ”, “we”, “us” or “our”
means CANEGROWERS Burdekin Limited and our
directors, officers, agents and employees. This newsletter
has been compiled in good faith by CBL . Although we do
our very best to present information that is correct and
accurate, we make no warranties, guarantees or
representations about the suitability, reliability, currency or
accuracy of the information we present in this newsletter,
for any purposes.
Subject to any terms implied by law and which cannot be
excluded, we accept no responsibility for any loss,
damage, cost or expense incurred by you as a result of
the use of, or reliance on, any materials and information
appearing in this newsletter. You, the user, accept sole
responsibility and risk associated with the use and results
of the information appearing in this newsletter, and you
agree that we will not be liable for any loss or damage
whatsoever (including through negligence) arising out of,
or in connection with the use of this newsletter. We
recommend that you contact CBL before acting on any
information provided in this newsletter.
Burdekin Cane Auditors—Workplace Coordinators
Site Name Email Phone
Invicta Ray Collinson [email protected] 4782 9153
Kalamia Vicki Lewis [email protected] 4783 0319
Pioneer Geraldine Cantarella [email protected] 4782 5346
Inkerman Mark Saunders [email protected] 4782 1020
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