Queensland's Isis Central Sugar Mill is seeking financial assistance as the regional sugar operation faces financial pressure during the 2026 crushing season.

The mill, located near Childers and serving growers across the North Burnett and Fraser Coast regions, is Australia's last remaining grower-owned sugar mill. It has been operating for about 129 years and plays an important role in the local agricultural economy.

The mill is seeking a loan of up to $9 million from the Queensland Government. Discussions about the proposed assistance are underway, while the mill's management is also seeking federal government support that could potentially bring the total funding package to $18 million.

The financial pressure has been linked to several factors, including mechanical problems during the current crushing season and lower global sugar prices. One of the mill's two boilers was offline for five weeks, reducing its crushing capacity and contributing to delays.

The mill had planned to crush just under 1.2 million tonnes of sugar cane during the 2026 season. However, it was reported to be about 51,000 tonnes behind schedule with roughly two months remaining before the expected end of the crushing season.

The operation employs around 250 people during the crushing season and supports more than 1,500 jobs across its wider supply chain. About 200 sugar cane growers supply cane to the mill, making its future an important issue for farming communities throughout the region.

Farmers supplying the mill need certainty because sugar cane is planted well ahead of harvest. Growers have expressed concern that uncertainty about the mill's future could make long-term planning more difficult.

The situation is particularly important for farmers around Maryborough because the closure of the city's sugar mill in 2020 resulted in growers in that area sending cane to Isis Central. Around 100 truck trips are required each day to move cane from the Maryborough district to rail transfer points serving the mill.

The proposed Queensland Government loan is expected to help cover operating expenses through to September 2027. Details of the arrangement are still being finalised, and a possible grower-paid levy has been discussed as part of the conditions.

The mill's management is also looking at ways to diversify its operations. Plans involving bioenergy and other uses of existing mill infrastructure are being considered as possible ways to reduce dependence on sugar production alone.

The challenges facing Isis Central are part of wider pressures across Queensland's sugar industry. Other regional mills have also faced financial difficulties in recent years, while growers have dealt with changing market conditions and rising production and transport costs.

For the communities around Childers, Maryborough and the North Burnett, the mill is more than a processing facility. It provides employment, supports transport businesses and provides an essential market for locally grown sugar cane.

The immediate focus is on securing financial support and completing the 2026 crushing season. The proposed funding arrangements and the mill's plans for diversification will help determine how the long-established operation manages its current financial pressures and prepares for future seasons.