Lees agree to sell Snow Farm

Cardrona skifield entrepreneurs Mary and John Lee have signed an agreement to sell the Snow Farm land and Nordic skiing business to the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust for an undisclosed sum.

The deal has been supported by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, which in August last year set aside $210,000 from its Wanaka rural reserve land account to help the trust's bid to secure the Snow Farm as a publicly owned reserve in perpetuity.

"The negotiations have been lengthy, but very amicable, and the trust is most appreciative of all the help the Lees have extended to them," trustee John Burridge, of Taupo, said yesterday.

The trust has now launched a campaign to raise funds to settle the deal after the winter ski season.

"Significant time" had been given to secure funding and public subscription was not thought necessary, Mr Burridge said.

The trust will pass on the title to the council as a recreational reserve and retain and operate the business for itself.

Trust chairman Tom Pryde and the Lees declined to reveal the terms of the agreement.

"We are thrilled ... It is a wonderful thing for the district. We are here for a short period of time and we wanted it to remain," Mr Lee (74) said last night.

Mrs Lee has run the Snow Farm's cross-country skiing business since 1990 and will continue to operate it this winter.

She looks forward to handing over to the trust and will continue her involvement with the sport.

"The trust is really dedicated and committed to promoting the sports into the future," Mrs Lee said.

Winter Games NZ chairman Sir Eion Edgar, of Queenstown, was yesterday delighted an agreement had been reached and promised support from the Games board during the trust's fundraising push.

Wanaka Community Board chairman and district councillor Lyal Cocks said the deal was "excellent news" and a good outcome for the wider district.

"Initially, it won't be a big money-earner, but we don't set our reserves up as that. It adds another opportunity to do what we want to do, which is establish Wanaka as more than just tourism and farming," Cr Cocks said.

The trust and 13 other submitters last year urged the district council to buy the ski trails to protect New Zealand's only cross-country ski facility.

The $2.035 million valuation agreed at that time was beyond the trust's capabilities but the trust nevertheless decided to push ahead.

The Lees own the 2698ha Waiorau Station in the Cardrona Valley, which supports two family-owned businesses at the Snow Farm and the Snow Park.