Three properties in the area have been bought by Blenheim company Greenfield, which plans to use them for large scale lamb-finishing and hay production.
Now known as Hills Creek, the property is an amalgamation of three neighbouring properties.
Dalmalley, 933ha, was bought in March 2007; Hills Creek, 927ha, was bought in June 07; and the most recent, Pennyweight, 2067ha, was purchased in March this year, making a total farm size of 3927ha.
Managing director Warren Taylor said the properties had been purchased as a long-term investment with a focus on cash-generating operations and using environmentally friendly farming techniques.
"Our aim is to efficiently maximise pasture production within our climate and land type.
"To achieve that, the properties go through a process of pasture renovation and soil fertility programmes to optimise sustainable soil health and production.
"The majority of pasture renovation is carried out by using no-tillage direct drilling, which maintains the structure of the soil and conserves soil moisture," he said.
Legumes were planted to make the most of natural nitrate fixation, and to avoid the financial and environmental cost of nitrogen based fertiliser.
Comprehensive soil analysis would be carried out by Ravensdown, and programmes implemented to maximise environmentally and economically sustainable soil fertility programmes.
Lime and phosphate were the main products used on the land to encourage earthworms and increase microbial activity.
Local fertiliser spreading companies used a GPS system to ensure the right product was applied at the correct rate to the exact site, which protected rivers and waterways.
Mr Taylor said Greenfield was a New Zealand company and preferred to use local contractors to develop the site.
The 40 kilometres of fencing was done by Samuel Fencing Ltd from Alexandra, with McLaren's Transport spreading more than 10,000 tonnes of lime, sourced from Taylors Lime at Dunback.
Major shareholding is held by ACC, Rangatira and entities related to the manager company Greenfield Agribusiness.
