Our Company – Bundaberg Sugar

Who is Bundaberg Sugar?

Cane Farming

Bundaberg Sugar is one of the largest cane growers in Australia and owns more than 9,000 hectares of cane farms, which produce nearly 550,000 tonnes of cane per year.

In the Bundaberg area where rainfall is variable, extensive irrigation systems are utilised.

Each season, which typically runs from June through to December, Bundaberg Sugar’s mill crushes approximately 1.1 million tonnes of cane which is harvested from 20,000 hectares.

Since 2020, Bundaberg Sugar and its shareholders have committed to dedicating part of their farming enterprise to Organic sugar cane production. This allows us to supply Australian made Organic Raw, whilst also developing and marketing Organic White products.

Millaquin Mill

Sugar milling has advanced greatly since the late 1880’s when small juice mills crushed 80 tonnes of cane per hour. Now Bundaberg Sugar’s technically advanced sugar mill has the capacity to crush at up to five times that rate and convert the cane juice to raw sugar crystals.

Millaquin Mill is located at its original 1881 site on the bank of the Burnett River in Bundaberg. The name “Millaquin” is an aboriginal word meaning “spear in the eye”. Legend has it that an aboriginal was killed with a spear in the eye on the river bank. This is an integrated site at which cane is crushed, raw and refined sugar is produced. Nearby, alcohol is distilled and rum is bottled.

Millaquin Mill has an annual crushing capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of cane and produces more than 175,000 tonnes of raw sugar per crushing season.

Refinery

Originally known as the Yengarie Refinery, production commenced in 1882 with an original construction cost of some £160,000. The original output of the Refinery was approximately 300 tonnes per week. Over the many decades of improvements and upgrades, our current production is now up to approximately 160,000 tonnes per annum. Production throughput is adjusted as required based on both domestic and export sales contracts. The Bundaberg Sugar Refinery is located at the historic Millaquin site in the heart of Bundaberg, Queensland. The Refinery has been designed to process quality, raw sugar feed stock made right here in the long established raw sugar industry. This allows us to supply our refined product customers with quality products that are 100% natural whilst being sourced locally and are proudly Australian made. The Refinery is a full ranging sugar refinery and is able to deliver not only white refined sugar products, but also various specialty products with unique flavour profiles to suit customer requirements.

Packaging

The natural, tasty and sweet products coming produced by the Refinery are packaged into the many format sizes to suit customer requirements. These sizes range from single serve sachets for use in cafés, retail packets sold in grocery stores, 15 or 25kg sacks and 1.25 tonne bags for larger customers. Bulk tanker B-double sized deliveries are arranged for our very large ingredient customers.

Our dedicated packaging team package all of these formats and sizes that then find their way to the industrial, retail and food service sectors.

As a Sugar refinery, we aim to be responsive to our customer’s needs with quality, natural sweeteners direct to you from the Bundaberg district where the sugar cane is grown, harvested, milled and processed locally.

Timeline


2021	Millaquin Mill crushes approximately 937,000 tonnes in its initial year of one mill operations, with the falling film evaporator relocated from Bingera and installed prior to the season.
2020	Bingera Mill closes after 135 years of crushing, as the company consolidates crushing operations.
2019	Finasucre purchases over 1000 hectares of Macadamia Farms in the Bundaberg region.
2018	The Icing Plant is completed on the Millaquin site with the capacity to produce 12, 000 tonnes per year.
2017	$27 million dollar investment in company mills, includes the installation of Australia’s first falling film evaporator at Bingera Mill.
2013	The Refinery, as well as both Bingera and Millaquin Mills are affected by floods caused by ex-cyclone Oswald. Bundaberg Walker's was the worst effected with flood levels peaking at 9.53 meters. Capital investment made in 2014 has mitigated future flood risks.
2009 - 2012	$40 million investment to upgrade Millaquin Mill resulting in increased reliability, efficiency and reduced energy use.
2011	South Johnstone, Tableland and Babinda Mills sold.
2010	Joint Venture established with Maryborough Sugar to run the South Johnstone, Tableland and Babinda Sugar mills.
2008	Bundaberg Foundry changed its name to Bundaberg Walkers.
2006	Mourilyan mill closed on 22/08/06.
2005	Fairymead mill closed.
2003	Bundaberg Foundry acquired Walker's sugar business Moreton mill closed.
2002	Announcement of the closure of Moreton Sugar industry Bundaberg Regional Milling Project underway for 2002 crushing season Prolix Agency Network is expanded into Central NSW First BHEM's exported to Mauritius and Pacific region.
2001	Bundaberg Sugar purchases South Johnstone Mill assets Company's eight Mills crush a record cane crop of 6.12 million tonnes First commercial sale of BHEM to a Queensland mill A new bulk supplement, Pasture Plus, is released and aimed at the larger scale cattlemen wanting a ready mixed molasses supplement.
2000	Bundaberg Sugar acquired by Finasucre Bundaberg Rum sold Prolix Agency Network is expanded in tonnage to double of the initial business. Coverage is now northern NSW, through SE, West & Central Qld.
1998	New Tableland Mill commenced operation incorporating BHEM's (Bundaberg High Extraction Mill) Bundaberg Rum launched Bundaberg Premium Launch of pasture supplement, Prolix, a fully serviced program incorporating product delivery by Agents covering SE Qld & northern NSW.
1997	Company's six mills crush a record 5.97 million tonnes of cane.
1996	New safety seal introduced for Bundaberg 2kg White Sugar packets Bundaberg Sugar to be refined in Saudi Arabia.
1995	A cane crop of 5.57 million tonnes is crushed at company mills Bundaberg Foundry again exports the world's largest mills Bundaberg Rum launches the 10 year old premium product of Bundaberg Black.
1994	A Bundaberg Molasses plant producing liquid feed for animals is established at Oakey.
1993	Bundaberg Sugar's mills crushed a record total 5.33 million tonnes of cane Company cane farms in Babinda and lnnisfail areas expanded Purchase offer documents mailed to Shareholders of South Johnstone & Tully Mills Dark & Stormy rum and brewed ginger beer drink launched.
1992	Bundaberg Foundry was awarded major contracts to supply sugar milling equipment in south east Asia Bundaberg Refinery capacity expanded New Bundaberg brand sugar products launched.
1991	Bundaberg Sugar was acquired by Tate & Lyle PLC.
1989	Babinda mill was purchased Bundaberg Foundry was purchased Bundaberg Sugar's share in Blair Athol Coal was sold completing the disposal of the company's coal mining interests.
1988	Mourilyan mill at Innisfail and Moreton mill in Nambour were purchased, increasing the company's milling capacity by 50 percent Bundaberg Sugar's major commercial beef cattle interests were sold Bundaberg Sugar donated historical Fairymead House to the city of Bundaberg.
1987	A food packaging and wholesaling company was purchased and became Bundaberg Sugar Pty Ltd Mourilyan and Babinda mills became the first Queensland mills to commence continuous crushing.
1986	Fifty percent of Bundaberg Distilling Company Pty Limited was sold to Carlton & United Breweries Limited.
1981	Bundaberg Sugar invested in the Blair Athol Coal joint venture, adding to its West Moreton mining interests.
1975	Millaquin Sugar Company Pty Limited (including the Bundaberg Distillery) joined Bundaberg Sugar.
1972	Fairymead changed its name to Bundaberg Sugar Company Limited and merged with Gibson & Howes Pty Limited.
1965	Fairymead installed Queensland's first diffuser.
1938	Fairymead developed mechanical cane harvesters.
1932	Prolonged drought led to first cane irrigation experiments.
1912	Fairymead floated to become a public company.
1888	Bundaberg Foundry Engineers Ltd established at Bundaberg in Queensland.
1885	Bingera mill opened.
1882	Millaquin mill operating and refinery established, Fairymead's first cane crop harvested, yielding 500 tons of cane for 100,000 gallons of juice.
1880	Fairymead established.

Bundaberg Sugar Community Support

Bundaberg Sugar continues to be part of the fabric forming the Bundaberg region, operating its business for more than 140 years and employing generations of Bundaberg families.

As a major contributor to this region we support the local community through financial or in-kind sponsorship of various events that will benefit as well as enhance the wellbeing and lifestyle of local residents.

Each request for sponsorship is considered on how it will benefit the wider community either through charitable or community events, school or sporting groups. However due to the number of requests received annually, it is not always possible to support every application. An application form is available for completion and return at least two (2) months prior to an event to:

Community Sponsorship Support
Bundaberg Sugar Ltd
PO Box 500
Bundaberg Qld 4670
Or email: applications@bundysugar.com.au

Quality & Food Safety

Our reputation for producing quality products dates back to the late 1800’s when we first commenced refining sugar. As the refining process is essentially a continuous one, there are no distinct batches as such. In producing the required type of sugar there are a number of checks that occur during the refining operation to ensure that the correct specification for the sugar type is achieved at the end of the process.

At Bundaberg Sugar we understand that quality extends not only to meet the specification of the sugar itself but also to delivering the right quantity of product and supplying it when our customers need it. To enable this, we rely on a set of documented procedures and checks which allows us to meet our customer’s requirements.

Bundaberg Sugar’s commitment to quality, food safety, innovation and customer service saw us become the first Australian sugar refiner to receive certification of International Quality standards. With food safety being of paramount importance, our procedures incorporate HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) checks.

Our refined sugar production site has achieved certification to the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety and HACCP Codex covering all aspects of operation including production, packaging, distribution and staff training.

Once released in the market, we keep track of the products by referring to batch numbers on the packages. Our quality and food safety system includes a product recall procedure which references these batch codes in the extremely unlikely event that we need to recall our products from the market.

Our Bundaberg site has achieved Organic certification from farming of Organic sugarcane to production of a range of Australian Organic Sugar products.

Natural sweetness local grown and refined made available for you.

Bundaberg Sugar is proud to be a major employer in the Bundaberg region for over 140 years. Many rewarding careers have started as a result of our continued investment in people. The idyllic lifestyle in Bundaberg lends itself towards a favourable work/life balance.

The below table indicates the type of roles undertaken at various Bundaberg Sugar locations.

The Sweetest of Careers

Our Facebook page also showcases the career opportunities we offer.

Roles	Bundaberg	Oakey	Brisbane
Accounting
Administrative
Agronomists
Cane Railways (Navvies)
Engineering, Chemical and Mechanical
Farm Hands
Information Technology
Laboratory Analysts
Locomotive Drivers
Payroll and Human Resources
Process Employees (Packaging Operations)
Sales & Marketing
Technical Operators Mill and Refinery
Trades; Fitter and Turners, Electricians, Boilermakers

Current Vacancies

Please like and follow our Facebook page for current vacancies and how to apply for roles.

Cane Train Safety

Bundaberg Sugar has an extensive cane railway network comprising approximately 330 kilometres of track. Around 15 cane trains operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week during the crushing season which usually extends from May through to December each year.

We place a great deal of importance on the safety of our employees and also the local communities in which we operate.

Public safety is important to us and our cane railway safety awareness campaign involves advertising in television, radio and print media. A “Kids Off Trains” program has also been adopted.

Some helpful hints are offered to protect you and your family:

Be aware during the cane crushing season – usually May through to December each year
Look out for flashing lights positioned at level crossings on major roads
Become familiar with cane train crossings in your area, recognize the signs and be aware of crossings on less major roads that do not have flashing lights
Don’t race a cane train
Educate your children to stay away from cane rail tracks and cane trains

BE ALERT – STAY SAFE

Contractor Induction

At Bundaberg Sugar we are committed to ensuring the safety of all our site attendees including; employees, contractors, visitors, suppliers and demonstrators.

In accordance with our Workplace Health and Safety Policy, all personnel undertaking physical work on Bundaberg Sugar Ltd sites are required to complete our Regional Safety Induction, prior to commencing work. Bundaberg Sugar Ltd has an online induction system which allows persons to complete the first part of the induction remotely via the internet.

Web browser requirements:

Internet Explorer – Version 11 or later
Google Chrome – Version 69 or later
Firefox – Version 62 or later
Safari – Version 12 or later

Please contact Bundaberg Sugar Ltd on 07 4150 8987 or applications@bundysugar.com.au for your induction to be set up. The following information will be required to set up your induction;
- Email address
- Mobile phone number
- Employer (Name of Business/Contractor)
- Area which you will be working in (Millaquin, Refinery, Farms, Cane Railways etc.)
- Advise us if you are a holder of an electrical licence and will be performing electrical work
You will be emailed a login, password and link to our induction system
Successfully complete the induction
Prior to commencing work, complete the site specific induction with your Bundaberg Sugar Ltd representative who has been coordinating the work you will be performing. The site specific induction can be completed immediately before work has commenced.
Completed inductions are usually valid for a period of two (2) years. Induction cards are no longer issued, to check the validity of your induction please contact us on 4150 8987.

Sustainability

Bundaberg Sugar is committed to sustainable production practices. Please see our Bonsucro and Australian Packaging Covenant page for further information on our current programs.

Australian Packaging Covenant (APC)

Since 2001 Bundaberg Sugar has developed action plans and annual reports for the National Packaging Covenant (NPC). The NPC is a government initiative formed to establish a framework based on the principle of shared responsibility for the effective lifecycle management of packaging materials including their recovery and recycling.

The purpose of the NPC was to ensure it produces sustainable environmental benefits in a cost effective manner without compromising quality and safety of the product. We developed a five-year Action Plan based on product stewardship covering design, production, distribution, disposal, research, market development, education, labelling and manufacturing and retailing. Our achievements were reported in the annual reports submitted to the Covenant Council.

The NPC set measurable objectives built on earlier strategies and signatories had to report on specific KPIs based on the Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging covering source reduction, potential for packaging reuse, recovery and recycling, ability to incorporate recycled content, minimising impacts of packaging, propensity to become litter and consumer information.

The NPC was replaced by the Australian Packaging Covenant. The new Covenant focuses on consumer packaging with the following three goals:

Packaging Design

to optimise packaging to use resources efficiently and reduce environmental impact without compromising product quality and safety. Implement design and procurement processes consistent with the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines.

Recycling

the efficient collection and recycling of packaging.

Product Stewardship

reduction in packaging items within the litter stream.

In 2011 Bundaberg Sugar developed a 5-year action plan in accordance with the three goals set out by the Australian Packaging Covenant.

In 2022 a new Action Plan and Annual Report was developed to address the APCO requirements on Governance and Strategy, Design and Procurement, Recycled Content, Recoverability, Disposal Labelling, On Site Waste and Problematic Materials. Click here to access the report.

For further information on the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, please see their website; https://apco.org.au/

Sustainability: Bonsucro

Bonsucro is the leading global sustainability platform and standard for sugarcane. Bonsucro is a global force with the purpose of collectively accelerating the sustainable production and uses of sugarcane, focusing on climate action, human rights and value in the supply chain. Source: Bonsucro