Wet season operations: maintenance work, contractors, and returning to stable work patterns

January in sugar is typically about wet-season planning, maintenance execution and preparing the workforce to transition back to peak operational demand. IR risk in this period usually comes from disconnects between maintenance scheduling expectations and workforce capacity, particularly where contractors are prominent or where fatigue controls are not practical.

The higher-risk IR moments in January are often:

• last-minute schedule changes without consultation,

• disputes about overtime allocation and higher duties,

• contractor use that is not clearly justified or managed, and

• unclear expectations about leave and availability.

Practical focus this month

• Align maintenance planning with realistic workforce capacity and fatigue controls.

• Reconfirm contractor governance arrangements (site control, supervision, competency and permit systems).

• Plan the “return to normal” early: who transitions back to what hours, and when.

• Capture lessons from the previous crush and incorporate them into consultation forums now.

Data snapshot (selected)

• Queensland sugarcane production sold (2023–24): 28.646 million tonnes; value of production $2,072.7m; area harvested 341,000 hectares; 3,140 businesses.

• Production sold by state (2023–24, million tonnes): Queensland 28.646; NSW 0.811; WA 0.445.