Chinese dairy farm owner says he is not looking to sell up Woolnorth property

Van Dairy’s owner says his business and Tasmanian home is not for sale in its entirety. However two more of its dairy farms are on the market in the state’s north. DETAILS >>

• China to offload remainder of controversial Tassie dairy farm
• Calls to put famous dairy in Aussie hands

WOOLNORTH owner Van Dairy says it is not looking at selling off the entire farm despite industry speculation that it wanted out.

Van Dairy’s Xianfeng Lu said he had never considered selling all the dairy farms on the Woolnorth property in Tasmania’s North West where he lives.

Mr Lu said he had even turned down offers to buy the entire estate.

But two more farms at Woolnorth are on the market, he said due to “operational requirements.”

Van Dairy recently sold a dozen of its farms, with 5000 cows over 2200ha, to Melbourne asset manager Prime Value for $62.5m.

However, the Chinese enterprise still holds 5000ha, including its main Woolnorth property.

The property has been the source of animal welfare, workplace and environmental complaints.

The TDIA audited Van Dairy earlier this year, prior to its change of ownership.

The authority reportedly found 80 per cent of its farms failed to comply with the effluent management code.

Mr Lu is an Australian Permanent Resident and lives at the farm in Tasmania’s far northwest.

He said Van Dairy remained committed to creating a world-leading, environmental best-practice and vertically integrated dairy operation which blends seamlessly with the Tasmanian brand.

“I will not sell the entire VDL farms,” Mr Lu said.

“We want to make VDL a well-known international brand in the Tasmanian organic dairy industry.”

Van Dairy has earmarked two farms for sale, including the 900-hectare Harcus Dairy, due to operational requirements.

“Even after any sales, Van Dairy would continue to own around 16,000 hectares of the Woolnorth property,” the company said.

Mr Lu said any sales funds would be reinvested into the broader property.

“My goal is to build an international high quality dairy company and I remain committed to this outcome,” Mr Lu said.

The farm currently employs around 140 local workers making it one of the largest employers on the Coast, and a major contributor to Circular Head’s economy.

Mr Lu said he was 100 per cent committed to building a strong future for himself, his family and the company in Tasmania and would continue to work closely with all interested stakeholders and parties to deliver upon his vision.