Early demolition work has started on the Lakehouse building. Photo/Ben Fraser
Early demolition work has started on the Lakehouse building. Photo/Ben Fraser
Early demolition work at the Lakehouse Hotel has seen the 1960s lounge bar demolished - but formal work on the landmark's redevelopment into an upmarket spa hostel won't start for another few months.
The Lakehouse Hotel, which is one of Rotorua's oldest buildings built in the 1870, is setto be transformed into the 250-bed spa hostel providing good quality hostel accommodation together with a "unique geothermal bathing experience"
Pukeroa Oruawhata Group spokesman Peter Faulkner said the early demolition work was because of issues with that particular part of the building.
He said the lounge bar, which was added to the hotel in the 1960s, was being demolished. Pukeroa Oruawhata purchased the hotel in 2007 and earlier this year announced it had signed an agreement with The Friendly Group to transform it into Greenhouse Rotorua.
Under the agreement, Pukeroa Oruawhata Group will retain ownership of the underlying land but the new Greenhouse Rotorua complex will be planned, built and run by the joint venture.
Mr Faulkner told the Rotorua Daily Post that they were looking to start work in the first quarter of 2016.
They are still going through the consultation process and need to get consents. He said ideally the spa hostel would be open for the start of the 2016/2017 tourist season, around November.
