Floating, motorised spa pools: Queenstown's newest tourism proposal
From reporter Debbie Jamieson:
Two men behind a plan to bring floating spa pools to Queenstown’s Lake Wakatipu are yet to sample the soak themselves.
Civil engineer Jake Allen and aero commercial manager Michael Hawley learnt about the spas from a friend in Europe and thought it was a great idea for Queenstown.
“I think it will be pretty amazing sitting in one of the most beautiful locations in the world under the Remarkables,” Allen said.
They have formed Soak Industries Ltd and applied to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for resource consent to operate five of the motorised spa pools from Frankton Marina.
The application is being vetted and Allen said they were working closely with the Queenstown Coastguard and harbour master to ensure the spas would be as safe as possible.
That might yet require passengers wearing a life jacket belt, he said.
“We’re getting more comfortable with the idea. We don’t think it will affect the experience much.”
They were intending for passengers to be allowed two standard drinks while on board, excluding the designated skipper who would be required to be sober.
They would purchase the “high spec” pools from the United States, each costing a “large portion of a house deposit”, especially once GST, duties and shipping costs were included, Allen said.
The pools were recently approved by the US Coastguard and were considered “unsinkable”, weighing about 640kg without being filled with water, he said.
About 850mm of the spa sat underwater and 300mm above the surface.
Between two and six people would be permitted in each spa at any one time for up to 90 minutes.
They were 4m long, electrically powered and could travel up to 5 knots within an area about 1.8km long and 600m wide.
They would operate between 8am and 8pm and guests would not be allowed to access the foreshore at Frankton Beach.
A safety boat would be based at the marina and be available by radio and/or phone at all times, being only minutes away.
The water would be heated by propane or wood with a built-in saltwater cleaning and UV filtration system, meaning no water would be discharged into the lake.
The application was still be vetted by the council, but the men hoped to be operating by the end of 2023, Allen said.
“It’s a bit of an adventure.”
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73.2% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16% Hmm, maybe?
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10.8% Yes!
Secure your homes over summer
Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.
Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”
Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”
If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?
(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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