Castle Hill Reserve

Photo Gallery »

Land for Sale - 163 hectares

Castle Hill Reserve, 4260 Deddington Road, Blessington

Offers around $250,000

Summary

The Castle Reserve comprises 163 ha of forest and pasture in the valley of the North Esk River at Blessington. The property offers spectacular views of Ben Lomond, Mount Barrow and other mountains in the north-east highlands. It is 40 kms south east of Launceston via the Ben Lomond Road and Blessington Road.

The main feature of the reserve is Castle Hill, a 700 m tall sandstone ridge with caves and other formations. From the lower slopes where the potential house sites are located, there are outstanding views across the landscape to the mountain ranges.

The forest (140 ha) will be protected by a conservation covenant, the cleared land (23 ha) is available to the purchaser for a variety of uses and a residence could be constructed subject to council approval.

Conservation Values

A conservation covenant will be written for the reserve and registered on the title, providing permanent protection for the conservation values. The covenant will restrict any activities that may degrade those values but allow the land to be used in ways that are sympathetic to them. Two tracks through the reserve will remain open for vehicular use for management purposes.

Covenant Conditions

A draft Conservation Covenant is being prepared for the reserve and will be registered on the title of the land, providing permanent protection for the conservation values. The covenant restricts any activities that may degrade the conservation values, but allows for construction of boundary fences, maintenance of existing fences and vehicular tracks, and the establishment of walking tracks. A management plan will be developed with the new owners, ensuring that they are able to manage the threats to conservation values into the future. The Tasmanian Land Conservancy is also able to offer ongoing advice and assistance to the new owners in managing the conservation values of the land.

Infrastructure and future use of the property

• The covenanted lands will be available for passive recreation including ecotourism. All natural features in the reserve are accessible on foot and there are excellent views across the North Esk Valley to Ben Lomond and other mountain ranges in the north-east highlands.
• Access to the front gate is via sealed road.
• Power and telephone are available in the vicinity.
• The cleared land will not be included in the covenant and will remain available for a variety of purposes, subject to council approval, including a residence, hobby farm or enterprise. A dam provides a permanent source of water.
• The historic village of Evandale and Tasmania's main ski-field in Ben Lomond National Park are both nearby.
• Launceston airport is approximately 30 kms away.
• There are 2 4WD tracks through the covenanted area which are available for management purposes.

Background

The property was purchased by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy through a Revolving Fund, which is used to buy land with significant conservation values to protect forever through the use of a conservation covenant. Funding for the purchase of this land was provided by the Australian Government through the Forest Conservation Fund Program. Money raised from the sale of Revolving Fund properties is directed into the purchase of other Revolving Fund properties in Tasmania, extending the value from every dollar within the Fund.