AusLeisure

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa has lodged a resource consent application for its new 850-metre-long zip line descending from the town’s Conical Hill.

Funded by a $2.2 million New Zealand Government grant from the Provincial Growth Fund, it is hoped that the new attraction will be operational by the end of the year.

Using technology developed by Christchurch-based Holmes Solutions, Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa General Manager, Graeme Abbot said the new attraction has the potential to become a must-do for both regular and new visitors to the village.

Abbot told the Otago Daily Times "it's the first ride of its type in New Zealand and only the second in the world. We're delighted this old dream of ours is a step closer to reality with the lodging of resource consent.

"If we get the go-ahead, we'll create 25 new jobs with the ride expected to inject $4 million into the local economy in its first five years."

The downhill course will enable riders to ‘fly’ above and through the canopy and treeline on Conical Hill - it will finish on the southern side of the hill.

Riders will be harnessed on a suspended seat that's attached to a trolley up to 5-metres above ground, with the trolley able to be set to different speeds.

Designed in harmony with the natural environment, Abbot added “the stations we'll build will use natural colours and timber, the stations will be solar-powered with the ride's braking system using eddy-current technology.

"Overall the ride is gravity powered so it's practically silent. Our decision to not transport visitors to the start of the ride at the top of the hill, mean its carbon footprint will be zero which aligns with our role as a kaitiaki of Hanmer Springs."

Notified consent is open for submissions until Monday.

Images: Conical Hill stands behind Hanmer Springs (top) and the planned path of the zip line (below). Images: Supplied.

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