Stuff Digital Edition

Brand-new visitor complex in Dargaville’s kumara country

Michelle Vollemaere

A sports academy, children’s camp, tourism base or rehabilitation centre are among possibilities mooted for a purpose-built Northland education and visitor facility which has been put up for sale.

Located eight kilometres south of Dargaville, the brand-new complex sits at the gateway to Northland’s world class visitor attractions including Baylys Beach, Waipoua Kauri Forest, Kaipara Harbour and Kai Iwi Lakes. The area also yields 75 per cent of New Zealand’s kumara harvest, and the site for sale includes fertile kumara fields and pastureland.

The freehold land and buildings at 39 Maxwell Road, Dargaville, are being marketed for sale by tender closing on Thursday 21 October (unless sold prior), through

Bayleys Dargaville.

Salesperson Catherine Stewart said the complex consisted of several modern buildings in a U-shaped configuration around a central tennis court, along with a two-bedroom cottage, on some 3.75 hectares of flat, rural-zoned land.

The complex includes:

• A 240-sqm high-stud auditorium

• A full commercial kitchen equipped with stainless steel appliances

• A 35-sqm ablution block with four toilets and four showers plus two combined toilet/shower rooms with wheelchair access.

• Twin dormitory rooms – each capable of sleeping up to 37 people.

• A small stand-alone administrative office and adjoining sick bay.

• A flood-lit tennis court

• A 55-sqm two-bedroom cottage The site includes councilapproved parking capacity for up to 15 cars, along with two parks for buses.

Stewart said the Maxwell Road site is equipped to cater for large groups, with all major services fully connected, and offers unique possibilities for a buyer.

“Originally constructed in 2017 as a top-quality education centre and tourism hub, this complex has never been used as the owners’ plans have changed,” said Stewart.

“It really is a blank canvas, ready for a new owner to come in and enact their vision. Possibilities could range from a commercial accommodation venture or function venue to a community hub, or a site for corporate or religious retreats.

“The idea of a sporting academy has also been floated, with the option to convert land into playing fields.”

The land beyond the complex benefits from fertile alluvial Kaipara Flats soil. For the past 20 years it has produced good crops of kumara over the spring/summer season and fattening lambs throughout the winter.

“Located around 60 kilometres southwest of Whangarei and some two and a half hours north of Auckland, Dargaville’s local economy is underpinned by dairy, sheep and beef farming and the area is the country’s biggest producer of kumara,” Ms Stewart said.

“With its twin dorms, this property could also have potential as a camp accommodating seasonal workers who come into the area each year to support local horticulture or forestry planting.”

Commercial Property

en-nz

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282419877400151

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