Bmhcjs: Created page with "== Broadwater Mill == The Broadwater Mill is a sugar cane crushing mill located on the banks of the Richmond River in Broadwater, New South Wales. It is situated approximately 20 kilometres south of Ballina. Established in 1881, it is one of the three operating sugar mills in New South Wales and serves the cane growing districts of the Richmond Valley.Sunshine Sugar. (2023). ''Our Story: Mills & Refinery''. Retrieved from https://www.sunshinesugar.com.au/our-story/..."

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Created page with "== Broadwater Mill == The Broadwater Mill is a sugar cane crushing mill located on the banks of the Richmond River in Broadwater, New South Wales. It is situated approximately 20 kilometres south of Ballina. Established in 1881, it is one of the three operating sugar mills in New South Wales and serves the cane growing districts of the Richmond Valley.<ref>Sunshine Sugar. (2023). ''Our Story: Mills & Refinery''. Retrieved from https://www.sunshinesugar.com.au/our-story/..."

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== Broadwater Mill ==

The Broadwater Mill is a sugar cane crushing mill located on the banks of the Richmond River in Broadwater, New South Wales. It is situated approximately 20 kilometres south of Ballina. Established in 1881, it is one of the three operating sugar mills in New South Wales and serves the cane growing districts of the Richmond Valley.<ref>Sunshine Sugar. (2023). ''Our Story: Mills & Refinery''. Retrieved from https://www.sunshinesugar.com.au/our-story/</ref>

The mill is owned by Manildra Harwood Sugars, a joint venture between the Manildra Group and the grower-owned NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative, trading under the brand Sunshine Sugar. Unlike the majority of Queensland mills which historically relied on extensive tramway networks, Broadwater Mill is distinct for its historical reliance on river transport.

=== History ===
The Broadwater Mill was established by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company (CSR) in 1881. It was the largest of the CSR mills established in the Northern Rivers region during the late 19th century. The site was selected for its access to the Richmond River, which was essential for transporting cane from the low lying Tuckean Swamp and riverbank farms.<ref>Richmond River Historical Society. (n.d.). ''Broadwater - European history of the Richmond River''. Retrieved from https://richmondriver.com.au/broadwater/</ref>

In 1978, the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative was formed by local growers to purchase the mill from CSR. In 1989, the Co-operative formed a partnership with the Manildra Group. The mill processes cane from approximately 15,000 hectares of land and operates continuously (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) during the crushing season, which typically runs from June to December.<ref>Sunshine Sugar. (2025). ''Australian Sugar: From Cane to Kitchen''. Retrieved from https://www.sunshinesugar.com.au/australian-sugar-from-cane-to-kitchen/</ref>

=== Transport ===
Broadwater Mill currently utilises road transport for 100 percent of its cane supply. However, its transport history is defined by a massive river based logistics operation that functioned for nearly a century.

==== River Transport ====
From its inception in 1881 until the mid 1970s, the Richmond River was the primary transport artery for the mill. Cane was harvested by hand and loaded into punts (barges) at farm wharves along the river. These punts were then towed to the mill by a fleet of steam and diesel tugs.

At the mill, a large wharf facility allowed for the unloading of cane directly from the river. This system was necessary because the swampy terrain of the Richmond delta made road and rail construction prohibitively expensive and difficult during the early years of the industry. The river transport system was phased out in favour of road transport as drainage improved and high capacity trucks became available.<ref>Light Railway Research Society of Australia. (2000). ''Sugar cane transport''. Light Railways, No. 151, February 2000.</ref>

==== Tramway Proposals ====
Unlike the nearby Harwood Mill (which had a 19 inch gauge network) or Condong Mill (which had a limited 2 ft gauge line), Broadwater Mill did not operate a cane tramway network.

Historical records indicate that a locomotive was ordered for a proposed tramway down the range to Wyrallah in the late 19th century, intended to give the mill an outlet to markets. However, the order was cancelled when the route was deemed too difficult. The locomotive was subsequently delivered to Bingera Mill near Bundaberg.<ref>Kevin Hogan MP. (2016). ''Sugar Mills and Tram Lines''. Richmond River Historical Society. Retrieved from https://www.kevinhogan.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Read-more-about-the-sugar-mills-and-tram-lines.pdf</ref>

=== Infrastructure ===
The mill processes approximately 800,000 to 1 million tonnes of cane per season, producing raw sugar and molasses.

==== Co-generation Plant ====
In 2008, a 30 megawatt (MW) biomass co-generation plant was commissioned at the Broadwater site. Originally a joint venture between the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative and Delta Electricity, it is now owned and operated by Cape Byron Power.

The plant burns bagasse (sugar cane fibre) and waste timber to generate electricity. It provides steam and power to the mill during the crushing season and exports renewable electricity to the national grid year round. The facility includes a high pressure boiler and steam turbine generator.<ref>Cape Byron Power. (n.d.). ''Cape Byron Power Cogeneration (NSW)''. Retrieved from https://www.relyonaustralia.com/cape-byron-power-cogeneration-nsw</ref>

== References ==
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Broadwater Mill - Revision history