A proposal to operate a floating sauna on Te Anau’s picturesque Lake Henry in Ivon Wilson Park, off the main lake, has some locals upset and feeling blindsided while others are concerned about “scaremongering” and “misinformation".

Currently open to public submissions, the experience is the brainchild of established Australian floating sauna operator and Te Anau commercial property owner Nigel Reeves.

The concept would see an approximately 80m2 floating platform with two small boatshed-like structures, anchored in two points at the northern end of the small lake.

Nigel Reeves is proposing a floating sauna venture on Te Anau's Lake Henry. Photo: Supplied

It is envisaged up to 12 people at a time could use the sauna, jumping in the lake’s cold spring waters to cool down, for hour-long sessions.

Reeves says the planning and approval process had taken three years so far, since the idea was first presented to the town's community board and a site visit held to “work out the best site”.

“We’re now in the process of getting a licence to occupy a small part of Ivon Wilson Reserve which has a management plan for commercial activities, as long as they promote recreational use."

"A floating sauna and cold plunge in the lake support that so it’s entirely in line with the requirements to operate a commercial business like this in that lake reserve.”

He says he built his first floating sauna just after Covid times and ever since the wellness tourism industry has been growing in popularity among visitors and tourists.

“An economic study on my Tasmanian operation showed that every $AUS1 spent generates $AUS3.75 for the local town.”

It will be a viable winter off-season activity in a town like Te Anau, he says.

Reeves’ said with their family now getting older, he and his wife Debra were keen to spend more time back in Te Anau with her family.

"When people say this is being proposed by “an Australian corporation’, well, it’s just me,” he said.

An artist's map of the proposed floating sauna on Lake Henry. Graphic: SDC/Supplied

Unchartered territory for our town

Fiordland Community Board chairperson Diane Holmes said people have the right to object and air their concerns on social media but there appears to be a lot of “fearmongering” going on when people don’t have the full facts, including the fact that the decision to approve or decline this proposal doesn’t lie with the Community Board.

She says Reeves first presented his plans for a boatshed-like structure on a floating pontoon anchored in the lake, to the board several years ago.

“As I understand it, Reeves has followed a huge consent process with the various entities in that time, including DOC, Environment Southland and the Southland District Council, and spent many thousands of dollars to get to this stage.”

The decision went to an independent commissioner who approved the proposal and the district council is now calling for submissions before granting a permit for a licence to occupy the site, she says.

Holmes says it’s not like a building.

“If there are issues or breaches of the lease conditions, or it doesn't work out for any reason, then there is the potential for it to be removed,” she says.

“There’s been a lot of fear among the community as this is a commercial operation in a public reserve which is unchartered territory for our town.

People are concerned that it may set a precedent, but anyone else wanting to operate in the park would have to go through “the same huge resource management process” again and anything proposed must be in keeping with recreational requirements set down in the management plan for the park.

“My understanding is that the reserve management plan allows this type of activity as it’s in keeping with acceptable use for the park, being swimming and recreation,” Holmes says.

“I’ve seen people saying things online like, ‘What next? A convenience store and a pub?’, but those activities are highly unlikely to ever meet the requirements so that’s just fearmongering.”

Public submissions are currently being called for on a proposal to locate a floating sauna at the northern end of Lake Henry. Graphic: SDC/Supplied

Holmes says she has no personal bias either way, but it’s important to “iron out some of the misinformation that’s been online”.

She understands Reeves will be attempting to do this himself.

Reeves already operates two successful floating sauna operations in parks in Australia – Tasmania and Canberra.

“You can see the impact this type of activity has there,” she says.

The lease money will help offset the maintenance of the park and offset rates with Reeves contributing to upgrade the existing toilets and their regular cleaning costs.

“It should be low impact,” she says.

Job opportunities exist for locals as staff will also be employed, to administrate and ensure the safety of users.

Holmes says she has observed DOC being widely criticised in the past for not allowing new commercial ventures on the adjacent main lake in Te Anau and it’s interesting to see some people are now criticising the council for saying, ‘yes’, to considering allowing it on Lake Henry.

Holmes say it's important to have community debate, and changing the usage of a public reserve must be considered carefully from every angle.

However, the debate needs to be informed and so far the communication from the council has “not provided a clear picture of the background and pathway that has led to this proposal”, she says.

Lake Henry, at Ivon Wilson Park, is a popular venue for photos and fishing. Photo: Southland App

Giving away a community facility

Some local residents and Ivon Wilson Park recreational regulars are up in arms about the sauna project, saying they were unaware until the district council called for submissions on the permit, with the previous consent process being non-notified.

Te Anau pharmacist George Batchelor says he’s concerned the authorities are “giving away a community facility and privilege that’s enjoyed for its beauty and recreational values for just $2400 a year”.

“If you want to run a commercial business then purchase land or pay commercial rates if the community agrees,” Batchelor says.

He says he’d have liked the Community Board to make people more aware of the proposal.

Batchelor has made two submissions.

“If there’s sufficient community backlash then the Community Board should look at it.”

He’s suggested alternative sites like the Bird Park where there’s a natural spring and a plunge pool could be built.

He believes the sauna operation would devalue the reserve for “those who use it and pay for it for years”.

“I’m not a nimby but I don’t think we should be paying their rent for them which is essentially what’s happening.”

He concedes the park is underutilised at present but believes this use in incompatible with that location.

“It will drive existing users out,” Batchelor, who’s urging others to submit, says.

Neighbouring holiday park owner Clint Tauri says he’s ‘on the fence’ but suggests that the facility may be better located at the southern end of Lake Henry, more hidden away from the three wharves and higher use.

“I’d probably rather see it at the old frog pond with a pipe pumping fresh water from the main lake.”

He recalls his father, Colin, who managed what was then the adjacent Automobile Association’s motor camp, helping Ivon Wilson and a group called ‘Men of the Trees’ with planting there in the early 1960s.

Wilson, a Southland dentist, began developing the 32-acre park around 1958.

He personally collected many of the 5000-plus trees planted there often driving long distances to source different species.

A photo of the Aurora Australis over Lake Henry. Photo: Chris Watson/ProFocus Photography

Stunning spot for photos

Retired kindergarten teacher John Carter says he’s not for or against but he’s a bit concerned that there could be discharge and run off into the fresh spring water during cleaning.

“Many locals love this spot for stunning photos of the aurora too, so I don’t want to see lights there,” he says.

“People didn’t realise you could do this there. It’s our little treasured haven and people are shocked,” he says.

He says other saunas in town are popular, with a mobile one by the lake often in demand.

Lake Henry was always a precious spot to take the kindy children too and they’d enjoy throwing sticks into the water off that wharf area. It is also a popular location for weddings.

“There is a concern that the wharf decking could be closed off to others and people love to sit there and have fish and chips,” Carter says.

“I’d love some sort of sauna facility that would offer another tourist attraction and somewhere warm for those foggy days” he says.

“But I’ve been asking a few questions.”

Submissions

A Southland District Council spokesperson said there had been a lot of interest in the process with a lot of people asking questions and almost 50 submissions received so far.

Reeves said he was not that surprised at the reaction.

“Te Anau is very protective of its environment and has a vibrant social media community, but there’s a process to follow and this is a lawful activity. I’m confident I’ve met all the requirements.”

If approved Reeves hopes to have the operation open this spring.

CLICK HERE for more information and to make a submission.

Submissions close on 26 March