“A concept design for the revival of Waiwera thermal springs, envisioned as a world-class bathing and wellness destination, has been unveiled to the local community, today ” he said of a planned community meeting for tonight.
Batagol, a director of that company and from Melbourne, said plans were for a much more tranquil environment than the previous adventure park.
A series of 28 pools is planned on a landscaped site beside saunas, reflexology areas, gardens and pavilions to create what he called a “tranquil” atmosphere.
These are to form a series of outdoor rooms, he said.
They are to range from larger social spaces to quieter, more contemplative areas.
No residential accommodation is planned.
About 77,000 native plants will be planted on the flat site beneath the hill near the coast, Batagol said.
The company is buying the site from New Zealand landowners, Urban Partners, which previously only ever leased the site where the popular pools were open until seven years ago.
“Plans for the project are led by Waiwera Thermal Springs Property LP, which has signed an agreement with Urban Partners,” Batagol said.
The company will buy the 1.6ha site, potentially opening around late 2027, depending on how consenting and construction go.
“This marks the first major step towards a long-held ambition for the unique location to return to its rightful place as a national treasure,” he said.
He indicated the new scheme would be the antithesis of the more adventurous fun park, which once attracted up to 350,000 annual visitors but shut in 2018.
“Waiwera Thermal Springs will be an inclusive experience, encouraging guests to slow down, immerse themselves in nature, and engage with the surroundings at their own pace,” he said.
“Our vision is to create a destination that reconnects people to Waiwera’s geothermal heritage, culture and lush native landscape.
“This will be a place of genuine replenishment where wellness grows from nature,” Batagol said.
“Together, with local experts and local partners, we have taken the utmost care to deliver a plan for Waiwera Thermal Springs that will bring considerable economic and social benefits to the region whilst honouring the natural environment.”
Development team
Waiwera Thermal Springs’ team is:
What’s planned
Non-notified consent for the $50m plans to be sought on Monday.
Facilities planned are:
Waiwera Thermal Springs Property LP got an independent economic impact assessment from BDO, which Batagol said showed the project would:
Developer’s experience
Batagol heads Mauria Hot Springs in the Southern Alps and up to 2023 was involved with Peninsula Hot Springs on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
That peninsula area is holiday territory for Melburnians.
The development team on Waiwera had experience in other thermal wellness destinations, he said.
Peninsula is also involved in Maruia via a joint venture.
Maruia Hot Springs has also been refurbished in the past few years.
It is halfway through the Lewis Pass, where natural thermal pools are surrounded by a southern beech forest landscape.
Saunas and open-air stone hot pools are offered and bathers soak up the forest views.
Peninsula Hot Springs is Australia’s largest natural hot springs, day spa and wellness destination, about 90 minutes south of Melbourne.
It has adult-only lodges and offers holistic wellness services.
Batagol said once finished, Waiwera Thermal Springs would be able to section areas off for those under and over 16 years if needed.
He expects up to 350 people to be there at any one time, planning hours from potentially 7am till 9pm.
Pricing is undecided.
What happened at Waiwera?
Māori used the hot springs and Batagol acknowledged Ngāti Manuhiri as mana whenua.
“Their enduring connection to the land, waters and geothermal taonga of this place anchors our shared vision and guides our decision making,” he said.
Companies associated with Russian billionaire Mikhail Khimich and America’s Leon Fingerhut of Las Vegas were the latest to lease the property.
But leasehold payments fell due and companies were liquidated.
The old Waiwera park closed in 2018.
In 2022, the Staples family’s Urban Partners contracted Colliers to sell the property.
Yet it had languished unsold till now.
In 2023, demolition was undertaken, although statues of twin elephants and a seal were to be kept.
The park fell into disrepair after a stalled refurbishment and liquidation in 2019.
Batagol said Studio Pacific Architecture designed plans.
Visualisation business One to One Hundred produced renders of how the new development could look.
Company planning scheme
Companies Office records show Waiwera Thermal Springs Property GP was only incorporated in February.
Directors are Melbourne’s Brandon Armon Batagol and Craig Andrew Mitchell, as well as Grey Lynn’s David Matthew Deacon Wickham (known as Matt) who is the development director of Waiwera and of Resero Property.
Batagol owns 45.5% of the shares, WRE Investments of 1 Albert St in Auckland has 32% and Randello Mitchell Investments of Melbourne owns 22.5%.
Other New Zealand-registered companies that Batagol is a director of are:
Batagol is the executive chairman of Maruia Hot Springs.
Mayor Wayne Brown said the development had his “full backing. This is something unique to few places; natural springs are a treasure and should be treated as such. I believe this development honours that.”
Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.