The Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust has negotiated an agreement with the Lee family to purchase the Snow Farm land and business subject to raising funds to cover the agreed price. There will be no change to the current ownership or business management during the current season.
"The terms of the agreement are confidential but allow significant time for the Trust to raise the funds needed," said trustee John Burrige
'The negotiations have been lengthy but very amicable and the Trust is most appreciative of all the help John and Mary Lee have extended to them."
The agreement is to be presented to the Queenstown Lakes District Council who have offered some assistance with the purchase price although a wider range of financial assistance will be needed. At this stage no public subscription is thought to be necessary
Once the funds are obtained the Trust intends that ownership will be vested in the Council as a recreation reserve so that it is available as a Community resource in perpetuity. The Snow Farm business will then be owned and run by the Trust.
The Trust shares the Lee's ambitions for the development of all the sports that use the Snow Farm facilities and will be working with both local and National groups to achieve that. The Trust will also look to work with the Community to develop summer activity and sports that are compatible with the area.
The purchase will potentially offer the opportunity to bring security to the 100% Pure New Zealand Winter Games for not just X-Country skiing but also the newer sports to New Zealand such as Biathlon and Winter Triathlon. Security for those activities is a longstanding objective for the Trust.
"It is a privilege for the Trust to be able to build on the unique International facility that the Lees have developed and the Trust intends to ensure that legacy continues," said Burridge.
MEDIA CONTACT:
John Burridge
Trustee Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust
E-mail: jmburridge@xtra.co.nz
Phone: 64 7 377 0179
Address: 34 Kurupae Road TAUPO 3330 New Zealand |
