Methven's $7.5 million hot pools design plans a poolside bar service for adults

Friday, 4 December 2015

Concept plans for the new Methven hot pools mean visitors can enjoy mountain views while soaking indoors during cooler weather. 

Developers of new $7.5 million Methven hot pools have released concept designs of the complex which aims to attract up to 100,000 visitors a year.

The Warren and Mahoneydesign has changing rooms, a cafe and three pool areas - a family fun area, private pools, and an exclusive adults-only area.

Dave Dynes, a director of Methven Hot Pools, said the company hoped to obtain a liquor licence so those in the adults-only area could order drinks poolside. 

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The design featured a glass wall dividing inside and outside areas of the pools so people could enter the water from inside the building, or from an outside landscaped area.

Dynessaid the company had taken advice from developers of other upmarket hot pools in Franz Joseph and the Lost Springs resort in Whitianga.

'We need to make sure it is commercially viable. We don't want something that is going to go under in 12 months.'

He said that to date there had been a lot of support for the project because of the positive impact it could have on Methven and the wider mid-Canterbury area which was traditionally  heavily reliant on ski season custom.

'Our whole rationale is to provide year-round tourism to make Methven a destination. We're thrilled to get to this stage after much hard work and we've been blown away with the support from the Methven community.'

Mt Hutt Ski Area manager James McKenzie is an enthusiastic supporter.

'The hot pools will be an awesome asset for Methven and provide a complimentary activity to the Mt Hutt Ski field.'

Methven Hot Pools was keen to get public feedback on the design before applying for resource consent early next year, Dynes said.

'We want to make sure everybody is happy with it. If we haven't got the town on board it won't work.

'We don't know what it will cost to get resource consent, but we have some locals offering to help fund that. Everybody in the town realises it has to go ahead.'

Dynes said once resource consent was obtained, KPMG would be engaged to help raise investor capital for the project.

All going well construction could start in mid to late 2016 which would see the complex opening in mid 2017.