AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL PROJECT
Property Description: The property comprises a large rural holding, now extensively developed with around 100,000 producing olive trees for table and oil use, a vineyard, plantings of fig, pomegranate and pine nut trees, an area prepared for planting almonds and considerable additional land which could be planted to a variety of crops. There is an extensive working and residential compound at the front of the property and the remainder of the land comprises a mix of arable and non-arable land and the heritage scrub
Land Area: According to the title information, the land area is 2,726 ha. The property boundaries have been identified and appear to correspond with the title boundaries.
Water: The property has a water allocation of a total of 6,237 ML. Based on a total of around 1,180 ha which covers existing olive and vineyard plantings, the serviced irrigated area currently not planted and further arable and irrigable land this is an allocation of over 5 ML per ha which is considered more than adequate for horticultural purposes. Based on likely water use for existing plantings and allowing a contingency allocation for further land which could be planted it is estimated that there is currently surplus water of around 1,500 ML. The actual surplus based on current usage of less than 1,000 ML per annum is in excess of this, and have allowed 4,000 ML. There are presently 10 bores on the property according to the owner of which 5 are equipped and operating. The remainder are all deep drilled and cased and we are informed that they give access to the lower aquifer which lies under the region
Topography: Full soil tests have been done across the property and they reveal generally sandy loams, loams and clays with some sub-soil limestone, suitable for horticulture with appropriate treatment where required.
Property Details: Approximately 112,000 olive trees are presently in production or capable of producing out of a total of up to 120,000 trees which have been planted. In some cases higher density is being achieved by inter-planting along the existing tree rows and together with younger trees replacing non-productive trees the average producing number will generally be in the order of 112,000. The approximate planted land area is around 385 ha
Planting Details: Planting details are as follows:
VARIETY
AREA (ha)
TREES
AGE
Olives Stage I
70.74
20,600
1998/99
Olives Stage II
205.95
60,000
1999/00
Olives Stage III
107.96
31,400
2001/02
TOTAL
384.65
112,000
The planting grid is generally 7m x 5m, but a small area has been planted at 8m x 5m and in some cases additional plantings are being undertaken along the tree rows to increase density. Most trees are now generally growing well although there is still some variability in maturity across various blocks due to a range of factors including weaker soil patches and different irrigation needs. Across the whole of the plantings there is more evenness apparent than at our last inspection in 2006.
There is also a vineyard comprising as follows:
VARIETY
AREA (ha)
AGE
Chardonnay
10.10
2001
Shiraz
31.47
2001
Cabernet sauvignon
19.37
2001
TOTAL
60.94
Irrigation is by way of a fully automated system operating from five diesel equipped bores and incorporating under-tree sprinklers with supplementary drip lines on some of the blocks and drip irrigation through the vineyard.
A full soil moisture monitoring system has now been installed to assist with property watering on the variable soils and this is starting to have a positive effect on growth patterns on both the olives and the vineyard.
An inter-row sward is maintained to assist in holding the lighter sandy topsoils and to provide mulch, and the tree line is kept weed free.
6 frost fans have now been installed in various areas, to assist with frost dispersal in parts of the vineyard and olive plantings.
Various other plantings have been undertaken. Approximately 2 ha is devoted to figs in the main comprising approximately 800 trees, as well as a small block of pomegranates. A further 5 ha has been prepared for increasing the pomegranate area. Approximately 32 ha has been planted to pine trees for the production of pine nuts and an area of approximately 61 ha has been prepared for planting of almonds. At this stage there are no plans to proceed with planting almonds but the area is nevertheless available for future plantings of any additional trees or crops.
Extensive nursery improvements were established to supply material for the subject plantings and also for commercial sale. Nursery activities have now been suspended in the absence of any planned future plantings and apart from a large covered area used for equipment storage the nursery improvements now add little value and have been treated accordingly.
ITwo large green Colorbond implement sheds with gable roof and concrete floor.
A large green Colorbond enclosed building with concrete floor used for packing table olives. Inside is a large cool room where the olives are stored prior to packing. Two bays of the packing shed are open and used for equipment storage.
There is an extensive tank storage system for bore water, rainwater and treated water from a reverse osmosis plant. Tanks are either demountable steel frame with liners or plastic/fibreglass, and comprise 2 x 90,000 litres, 2 x 135,000 litres, 1 x 225,000 litres and 1 x 45,000 litres.
The reverse osmosis plant is housed in a small shed and provides sufficient water for general use and the nursery.
In the compound are gravel paved access and parking areas, and the entrance driveway is compacted gravel.
There is extensive fencing around the perimeter of the property to enclose the present and proposed planting area, and the heritage scrub.
The remainder of the property comprises the large area of heritage scrub, future plantable areas prepared to varying degrees with irrigation and stakes, and arable areas not yet developed.
An extensive inventory of plant and equipment for the vineyard and olive grove is included covering general and specialised farm machinery and ancillaries.
The processing capability covers all aspects of oil and table olives from receival, oil extraction and storage, olive pickling, sorting and grading of table olives, bottling and packaging of oil and olive products together with storage facilities, export, retail outlet incorporating a café and kitchen with all necessary ancillaries.
Total building area is in excess of 4,600 sq.m and the whole property has been developed to a very high standard with high quality buildings, concrete and bitumen paving, landscaping and fencing.
The facility buildings and plant are as follows:
Office and Sales: Located at the front of the processing buildings comprising an insulated panel structure with tiled concrete floor, concealed decking roof, fully lined and fitted with showroom, commercial kitchen, amenities, office area, wine display room and small laboratory.
There are viewing windows at the rear of the retail area allowing customers to see the bottling and packaging operations.
Factory and Warehouse: This comprises essentially 4 adjoining buildings.
The olive receival and grading area is a Colorbond on steel frame building with single pitch roof, drained concrete floor, concrete receival pit, clear roof panels, 3 roller doors with canopy above with all ancillary services
The receival part of the olive processing machinery is here with receival pits and conveyor, receival bin with load cells, washing facilities and conveyor feed to the oil extraction plant.
There is also a small stainless steel hopper and elevator for delivery of table olives for the grading, sorting and pickling processes in the adjoining building.
The building is unlined and as with all areas throughout the factory is fully serviced by fire sprinklers, high bay lighting, electrical reticulation and other services
This area has been designed for the addition of further receival pits and plant as required
The olive processing building is a large gable roof building with external steel frame, insulated panel walls, insulated panel suspended ceiling and drained concrete floor. In one corner is a demountable coldroom, boiler room, lunchroom and amenities
The building contains the Rapinelli twin processing line, which utilises the Sinolea double extraction method, and all of the stainless steel oil storage tanks of various sizes with associated catwalks, stainless steel lines, pumps and filters.
At the rear of this building is the solid and liquid by-products handling plant together with other minor plant required in the treatment process.
The table olive building has insulated panel walls and ceiling on an internal steel frame, single pitch roof and drained concrete floor, together with all usual services. The roof is single pitch.
Processing plant includes an olive grading and sorting line, pickling tanks, pitting and slicing machines, packaging equipment and ancillaries
The final building is the packaging and storage warehouse which is a high clearance gable roof insulated panel building on steel frame with drained concrete floor, raised platforms for future tank installation, and all usual services.
Apart from storage shelving, the building contains various bottling and packaging lines for various formats including large and small bottles, casks, bulk and tins
We are advised that the processing facility has accreditation and certification for HACCP, halal and kosher production. The facility has ample room for further expansion and the current facility is now fully utilised.
Overall, the facility can be described as state of the art with top quality buildings, services, and plant and equipment.
Apart from storage shelving, the building contains various bottling and packaging lines for various formats
Including large and small bottles, casks, bulk and tins
We are advised that the processing facility has accreditation and certification for HACCP, halal and kosher
Production. The facility has ample room for further expansion and the current facility is now fully utilised.
Overall, the facility can be described as state of the art with top quality buildings, services, and plant and
equipment.
Contact
Robbie@royalcityre.com +61 478135258