Cr Column Councillor Michael Detenon

If there is one sound that defines winter in the Burdekin, it’s the whistle of a cane train echoing across the district.

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With the crushing season now in full swing, our region is operating at full steam. Our local growers, harvesting crews, mill workers, and transport teams are putting in massive hours to drive the economy that keeps our towns thriving. It’s a huge effort, and it’s something our entire community takes great pride in.

But with millions of tonnes of cane moving across our district, it also means our local roads and rail networks are busier than ever.

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As locals, we drive past these tracks every single day. It’s easy to get comfortable or impatient when we're running late for school drop off or headed home after a long day at work. But a locomotive pulling loaded bin sets can weigh hundreds of tonnes and it can’t stop on a dime.

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Whether you're driving, riding a bike, or walking the dog, take that extra second to look, listen, and wait. Talk to your kids about staying away from parked cane bins and tracks, and remember to give our heavy haulage and farm machinery plenty of room on the roads.

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Let's look out for one another so everyone makes it home safe at the end of the day.

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