Hopes for Granville’s $600 million Mary Harbour Project have been revived, with MSF Sugar chief executive officer Mike Barry revealing the development proposal was still being considered by the Fraser Coast Regional Council.

The housing and lifestyle project looked to be dead in the water in December after the Sugar Industry (Real Choice in Marketing) Amendment Act, introduced by Katter’s Australia Party and supported by independent member Billy Gordon and the LNP, was passed in the Queensland Parliament.

At the time MSF Sugar, which is owned by Thai company Mitr Phol, looked set to put the project on ice, with Barry saying the bill had created “uncertainty and discomfort” for the company.

However Mr Barry said that it would not cost Mitr Phol any additional money to let the council consider whether the project would get approval, a decision which was due to be handed down in April.

He said there was still time for changes to be made regarding the Sugar Industry Amendment Act.

“We think commonsense will prevail,” he said.

The bill was referred to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission by the Labor Government in the days after it was passed.

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said he remained in constant contact with Mr Barry.

A letter had been sent from the Queensland Government to the Federal Government about the issue and Mr Saunders said they were willing to take it all the way to the High Court if necessary.

Attempts were made to contact member for Hervey Bay Ted Sorensen, but no response had been received at the time of going to print.

Head of economics for the Queensland Canegrowers Association Warren Sales said the bill was not controversial as far as growers were concerned.

He said the bill simply offered growers greater choice when it came to the marketing of their product and most were happy with their existing arrangements.

“It’s business as usual.”

Source – Fraser Coast Chronicle