Billabong – Expressions of Interest (EOI) closing 23.4.24  

NOTE: Billabong adjoins Keshvale. These adjoining properties can be purchased individually or as an aggregate.

Based on its present low-key land use, Billabong has considerable production upside possibilities.

Location:
Situated along Dingo Park Road and approx 13km to the intersection with the Flinders Highway, Calcium Service Station and transport to both the west and north. Townsville is a further 50km north from the intersection.

Area & Title:
Freehold   830.84ha (2052.2acres)

Property overview:
A mix of black soils and alluvial creek frontage soils, well drained farming land with major irrigation water supplies. Previously part of the property (270acres) was irrigated for Rhodes grass and Leucaena grazing, and the balance grazed.

The property is bisected east-west by the Majors Ck anabranch and Bullock Creek, with Majors creek itself running along the northern boundary. The land is flat and fertile. A feature of the property is the numerous seasonal billabongs (waterholes) adjacent and between the creek systems. These provide livestock watering points and add to the aesthetics of the property.

Rainfall:  BOM records – Majors Ck – 1183.9mm. Lansdown CSIRO – 903.6mm

Property specs:
The majority of the property is black soil and grows a substantial body of high-quality pasture.

• 600 Meg irrigation license.
• Approx 110 ha (270acres) of flood irrigated, laser levelled bays.
• Aside from the creek frontage areas there is significant potential to dryland farm much of the non-irrigated acreage.
• PMAV over Billabong covering all existing and potential farming acreage.

Country:
The property has previously been cleared of its native vegetation. The property generally comprises coastal forest country which has now been largely cleared of its native vegetation and developed to improved pasture.

Broadly speaking the native vegetation types common for the area include Box, Ironbark, Bloodwood, Poplar Gum and along the creeks Moreton Bay, Blue Gum, Leichhardt, Paperbark, Cocky Apple, Teatree and various shrubs in the understory. The perennial natives like Black Spear, and Blue grasses have largely been replaced with a regime of introduced species including Rhodes grass, Urochloa, Seca & Verano Stylos, Progardes Desmanthus. These new pasture species have transformed the carrying capacity and animal performance to that of reliable grower or steer fattening capability.

Most of the property is arable farming soil types so, that which is not irrigated could be ploughed and planted to dryland cropping, or further improved pasture regimes.

There is a substantial presence of Chinee Apple.

Water:
No irrigation water charges apply for water extracted from Majors Creek. Additionally, this is an unregulated bore field area.

• Billabong has a 600meg water license.
• The irrigation water supply comes from the 400meg dam (20ha) which is supplied from the pump station located on Majors Creek.
• Majors Creek rises in the high rainfall Mt Elliot National Park thus underpinning a suitable creek flow for water extraction.
• The pump is a 300mmm centrifugal powered by 4-cylinder F4L2011 Deutz diesel engine.
• Irrigation water supplied from the dam, or Recycle Pit 1, is all delivered through the 300mm mains pipe network via a 150mm (6-inch) electric 10KW irrigation pump to the bays as required.
• This same pump can also deliver water to the homestead.
• Two ‘recycle’ pits at Billabong collect irrigation runoff and also overland flow water. These ‘recycle’ pits help to mitigate against reef run off as all unused tail water is caught and reused. This efficient reuse process extends the farms irrigation capacity, particularly with mid-season rainfall events.
• Recycle Pit 1 (adjacent the dam) electric pumps apply water back to the irrigation bays or returned into the irrigation dam.
• Recycle Pit 2 has pipeline connected but is presently unequipped. This system returns water back into the main line to be applied to bays or dam as required.
• Deliberately the owners use the same brand of pumps at all stations on Billabong & Keshvale. This ensures spare parts are interchangeable and available at short notice.
• The irrigation area is serviced by 300mm underground poly pipe.
• The irrigation is divided into 35 bays all serviced by 300mm irrigation outlets with taps and lay flat fluming. This simple system ensures low-pressure, low-cost flood irrigation.
• A mains powered bore is located near the homestead and is used in the garden and house as required. Additional homestead supply – mains power, floating submersible located in the dam has 50mm poly line to house garden. Designed for pressure sprinklers and stock water supply to cattle yards.

Bores:

The area is an unregulated aquifer so bores can be used for irrigation purposes without licence. There are three (3) bores on the property… all mains powered and equipped.

Crop production:

Previously farmed …

• 110ha planted …
• Rhodes grass – 9 bays
• Leucaena – 12 bays
• Older native grasses – 14 bays
• Rhodes grass established but not currently operated for hay production. Most recently farmed in 2023, this could be brought back into production quickly.
• Rhodes grass – average of 5 cuts per year
• Leucaena based grazing pasture. Very successful when rotationally grazed.

 Infrastructure:
There is Ergon power supply to the property.

The homestead is a large highset, 6-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with large front the rear veranda’s. Upstairs and downstairs are self-contained with kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms … all is airconditioned. Mains and Solar power.

Homestead Quarters – donga with 4 ensuited bedrooms, shaded front veranda, located within the homestead garden area.

The 2^nd house & Quarters – located on Dingo Park Road is a 3-bedroom home with large rear deck. Currently used for worker accommodation the building requires renovation. Quarters attached – donga with 4 ensuited bedrooms.

Shed:
A large 24m x 9m colourbond, with 1 bay cemented floor, used for workshop and vehicle storage; Ergon power; Solar panels on roof connected to house.

Cattle Yards:
An outstanding asset … costing about $250,000 a set of Clipex galvanised steel cattle yards was constructed in 2022. Equipped with a sophisticated pneumatically operated drafting system, the yards are capable of automatically drafting cattle (according to NLIS tags numbers) based on sex, weight or other chosen criteria.

The roofing materials sufficient to cover the working areas are on site and included in the sale … the roof construction may be completed prior to the transaction settlement.

Plant & Equipment: A basic plant and machinery list is included in the sale.

Cattle:
Cattle will be included in sale as follows…

• Breeders – 265 mixed Brahman cross and Droughtmaster cows and breeding age heifers. All joined to Droughtmaster bulls.
• Progeny – all included (125hd counted)
• Bulls – 7 good quality Droughtmaster sires.
• An unders/overs clause applies in the sale contract.

Lifestyle:
The Billabong location with its close proximity to Townsville has everything at your fingertips … beaches & islands, fishing and boating, business diversity, education opportunity, Airport and comprehensive health services to name a few! With Majors Creek rising in the nearby, high rainfall Mt Elliot National Park there are numerous wonderful swimming, camping and picnic destinations on the property to share with family and friends.

Body Corporate and Reconfiguration of lot:

Billabong forms part of the Dingo Park body corporate. There is a proposed Reconfiguration of Lot to address current uses on the ground. Further details are available in the Draft Contract of Sale available from the Agent.

Disclaimer: The above report on Billabong 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.© Slaney & Co