INTERNATIONAL interest is expected in one of Australia's largest agricultural land and water portfolios - the Eastern Australia Agriculture portfolio which consists of the Kia Ora and Clyde properties in southern Queensland.
The portfolio totals 37,584 hectares and has 66,994 megalitres of water entitlements. The portfolio's farms have 273,145ML of on-farm storage.
The agribusiness's ability to grow both food and fibre on a significant scale in winter or summer crop rotations is expected to hold particular appeal with international investors.
The properties have 12,792ha of irrigation land with additional areas of potential development.
The Kia Ora and Clyde properties have the potential to produce more than 150,000 bales of cotton a year.
There is 7864ha of wheat currently planted with potential for other grain crops like barley, chickpeas and sorghum.
The properties also offer further diversity running beef cattle.
Kia Ora is described as a large scale, irrigated and dryland farming operation with additional grazing land located 5km from St George. The property totals 18,841ha and has 36,705ML of water licenses.
Clyde is a large scale irrigated and dryland farming operation, with additional grazing land located 20km south of Dirranbandi.
The property covers 18,743ha with 30,289ML in water licenses. It is located adjacent to the Cubbie Station cotton gin.
Cushman & Wakefield and Colliers International have been jointly appointed to market the portfolio. Expressions of interest are anticipated to close towards the end of October.
Cushman and Wakefield managing director Glen Wright said the market was seeing renewed investor interest on the back of the new free trade agreements.
"These have raised the international profile of high quality Australian agricultural properties," he said.
Colliers International rural and agribusiness director Rawdon Briggs said the assets offered a turnkey agribusiness featuring a good management team, significant water and soil options, access to a mature water trading market within Australia, and the flexibility to produce numerous soft commodities.