Basalt Riverview Road Breddan QLD 4820

A one-off, strategically located, Upper Burdekin farm with many farming and grazing options.

Location:

Basalt farm is located approximately 25km from Charters Towers (20km along the Lynd Hwy then 5km bitumen/gravel on Riverview Rd).

 Business or pleasure …the property location will suit a range of buyers including farmers, cattlemen, professionals & businessmen, retired cattlemen and lifestyle retirees.

 lose to town … the property accesses all the services of a regional town (population approx 9000 people). Schooling, both primary and secondary, are a feature of the Charters Towers community with the town boasting three Private Schools, the State High School and three State Primary Schools. Charters Towers is an historic city established in the gold rush of the 1880’s and still services the large Gold Mining and Grazing Industries.

For cattlemen, the weekly liveweight selling centre in Charters Towers, Live Export ex Townsville and Townsville meatworks are all major attractions for this location. For the farmer the climate, water and transport access underpin strong production and diverse market options. Townsville,150km NE, is a vibrant coastal city of approx 200,000 with diverse industry and opportunity for employment, business and higher education.

 Area & Title:

Title: Rolling Term Lease             

 Area: 566.10ha (approx 1398.3acres)

 Rainfall: Average annual 650.90mm 

Property overview:

A mix of black and red basalt soils and alluvial Burdekin River frontage soils, well drained farming land with major irrigation water supplies. Though currently farming Rhodes Grass hay, the land and water supply could be repurposed to include Leucaena pastures, Grain, Forage, Pulse, Horticulture cropping or Share-farming.

Currently the predominant use is irrigated farming, but further irrigation could be established in the developed, but currently unused, farming land. Quality grazing pastures occupy the balance of the property.

The basalt soils are timbered by Ironbark, Bloodwood, Box and various eucalypts, while pastures include, Buffel, Spear and Indian Couch and various Stylos. The river frontage has strong fertile soils and supports large Moreton Bay gums, Paperbark, Burdekin Plum, Buffel and Green Panic pastures. As with much of the Burdekin River frontage, and the district in general, there is the presence of Chinee Apple, Castor Oil, Belly Ache, Rubbervine, Parkinsonia and assorted other weeds… all of which are controllable.

The short gravel road access leads to the bitumen Lynd Highway thus providing efficient, all-weather, connection to markets north, south, east or west. 

Property specs:

Approx 1003 acres of grazing land which grows a variety of pastures including Buffel, Verano, Seca, Urochloa, Green Panic, Indian Couch and native grasses.
Approx 225 acres under Centre-Pivot irrigation. One Pivot is watering a crop of Rhodes Grass, one Pivot has no crop planted.
Approx 170 acres of potential irrigation land adjoins current irrigation and has been previously cropped by the owner and Sharefarmers from time to time.
There is a PMAV over part of Basalt farm covering existing and potential farming acreage.
PMAV - Category X … 278.4ha (Ref No. 2015/001004)

Water & Irrigation:  

Basalt farm has immediate Burdekin River frontage for approx 5.0km. The riparian and irrigation water supply is from the river. The proposed “Big Rocks Weir” is upstream and so this farm, if the weir construction proceeds, will be a beneficiary of the additional, reliable water supply.  At present there is no fee for water use.   

  Title: Title reference 46019907

Allocation no. 873 on Crown Plan AP14988

Volumetric limit up to 2400 megalitres/year

Tradeable Water – within the Upper Burdekin Water Management Area. 

The property is serviced by 1 or 2 pumps (depending on need), 2 pumping sites, located on the banks of the Burdekin River.
3-phase power
Pump site No.1 – not equipped.
Pump site No.2 – equipped with Southern Cross (Starline - Close Coupled, ISO 2858), 150mm x 125mm x 400, centrifugal pump powered by 55KW electric motor delivers up to 250lt/sec.
With both pumps in use this enables simultaneous use of the 2 Pivots.
Pivot No. 1 – 40ha (100ac)
Pivot No. 2 – 50ha (125ac)
Additional irrigation area (with mains) 68ha (approx 170ac)
The irrigation area is serviced by 200mm underground PVC mains pipe. The mains are interconnected thus enabling either/or both irrigation of separate blocks.

Crop production history: 

Rhodes
Lucerne
Sorghum – grain & forage
Corn (Corn chip contract)
Watermelons, Rockmelons, Pumpkins
Navy Beans
Dolichos Lablab
Leucaena 

Infrastructure:

There is no homestead on the property.

Cottage – a 2-bedroom, airconditioned home in sound condition is located nearby the machinery and hay sheds. The cottage has been used by Caretakers and various employees.

A re-located weatherboard house was shifted to the property in about 1999 with the idea being for future use by employees, however it was never renovated or occupied. The roofing is in good condition and its timber structure remains sound. Underground power cables have been laid to the house and septic infrastructure commenced.

Sheds:

Machinery shed & workshop - 40m x 25m, cement floor throughout, open all sides, mezzanine floor for extra storage.
Hay shed – 27m x 35m, 4 bay, 1½ bays cemented floor, open all sides.

Cattle yards:

A set of permanent steel cattle yards equipped with branding facilities, crush and weighing scales are located adjacent the shed/cottage complex. 

Plant & Equipment:

All Irrigation Pivots and pumps are included.

An assortment of older plant and equipment is included in the sale. In addition, there will be and assortment of steel, fittings, pipes, furniture and general chattels …

Cattle:

The property runs a good quality line Brahman and Charbray breeders with turnoff being heavy weaners and slaughter cattle. The Vendor estimates a carrying capacity of 100 mixed cattle.

Included in the transaction -40 Mixed sex weaners, approx 200-300kg

 Pipeline Agreement (3rd Party):

There exists a pipeline agreement for the water pipeline, commencing May 2023 for 20 years, until 2043.

The pipeline extends from the neighbouring Annavale (Peter & Sue Hammer) through Basalt to the Burdekin River and is inclusive of unlimited access and all water infrastructure, pumps, water metres, electricity metres etc. belonging to Peter & Sue Hammer.

Agent Comment:

The Upper Burdekin / Charters Towers area has few irrigation farms of commercial scale … Basalt farm is one of these. Consequently, this acquisition opportunity is extremely rare. 

Disclaimer: The above report has been prepared by Slaney & Co based on information supplied by the property owner and other credible sources. Every endeavour has been made to verify its accuracy. Whilst we trust the information to be correct, we make no warranties or guarantees, and prospective purchasers must rely on their own enquiries & research. © Copyright Slaney & Co