Tenant sought for Christchurch trust's property

The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust's 80ha property is for lease in Harewood, Christchurch.

In Christchurch, the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust is seeking a tenant for an 80ha dairying operation in McLeans Island Rd, Harewood - directly opposite Harewood golf course.

"The dairy operation forms part of the revenue-generating activities of the trust, which administers an expansive 1100-hectare flora and fauna sanctuary adjacent to Christchurch International Airport," says Ben Turner, rural sales specialist with Bayleys Canterbury, who is conducting a leasing campaign closing on Wednesday, December 14.

Turner says the trust is a renowned not-for-profit wildlife organisation and is currently the only facility in the world breeding orange-fronted parakeets in captivity, and the only facility outside of the Department of Conservation to breed the rare black stilt and New Zealand shore plover bird species. It runs one of New Zealand's most expert incubation and hatchery for rare breed chicks.

In addition to funding the wildlife breeding programme, planting of native flora and conservation of early Canterbury architecture, The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust also financially supports educational and research recipients - funding post-graduate scholarships for students at Lincoln and Canterbury universities.

The property operates a 30-aside herringbone shed, with cows grazing on 32 paddocks serviced by a central lane.

The property operates a 30-aside herringbone shed to milk between 250 to 300 cows.

Farm infrastructure includes a three-bay barn, calf-rearing sheds, a hay/implement shed with a lockup workshop and grain and meal silos. Included in the lease is a three-bedroom homestead, with the option to lease an additional two-bedroom farm worker's residence.

Turner said the lease was being offered for a five-year term beginning in June next year, with one further five-year right of renewal.

"Lease payments to the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust are based on a percentage of the milk solid payout and production levels achieved on a month-to-month basis," Turner says.

"The rationale for this is to reflect any volatility in milk pay-out levels which the lessee could experience over the length of the tenancy, rather than at a set per hectare rental figure which could become financially burdensome when times get tough.

"The current lessee is milking between 250 to 300 cows on 90ha, producing approximately 110,000 kilograms of milk solids per year including about 4500 kg milk solids from winter milking 60 to 70 cows. Also, around 120 bales of hay are made annually.

"There is a minimum production level required under the terms of the lease of 80,000 kilograms of milk solids per year, on a reduced farm size."

Turner says the flat-contoured farm had Selwyn District Council consent to draw irrigation water from the Waimakariri River, with additional water drawn from a gallery on the property with a separate well at the cow shed providing stock water, as well as for the shed and house. A 300 cubic metre capacity effluent pond enabled processing of waste product.