Hope for sugar crush restart

Milling company Sucrogen says it is hopeful of restarting crushing at the Plane Creek Mill later today.

Spokesman John Pratt says rain at the end of last week and over the weekend has restricted harvesting in the Sarina area, with the mill stopping operations on Sunday.

He says the weather impacts have not been as bad for the Proserpine milling district.

"Proserpine's fared somewhat better," he said.

"It experienced a stoppage on Saturday but to this point they've still been able to continue harvesting and have been able to be able to continue to supply the mill with sufficient cane to keep it crushing."

Meanwhile, Sucrogen says there has already been two serious incidents involving cane trains in north Queensland so far this harvesting season.

Mr Pratt says people need to take more care around rail lines and locos and not try and outrun them at level crossings.

He says two recent incidents could have had dire consequences.

"We've had an incident of children placing scrap steel hidden under cane trash on the track up at Proserpine," he said.

"We've been able to deal with that one and we're thankful for the assistance of police in that regard.

"Then we've had another incident in the Herbert where we had someone fishing off a cane railway bridge and had to jump into the river to try and avoid an oncoming train."

Source: ABC News, 26 June 2012