A Maitland councillor has flagged plans for a day spa and wellness centre for Maitland’s historic Walka Water Works.
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Cr Loretta Baker told this week’s council meeting that the site’s pumphouse would make an ideal location for a day spa when councillors were discussing an interpretation plan for the site.
Cr Baker said the city is lucky to have such a wonderful landmark, open space and historic buildings so close to the city centre and more people should take advantage of it.
She said previous calls for it to be used as a restaurant or function centre had been quashed by potential investors who told council the location was not a viable business venture.
I always think of Walka as a tranquil, peaceful place. Whatever goes there has to be something that won’t cause damage. It must preserve the amenity.
- Cr Loretta Baker
“Why I don’t know, nor do I know who these developers were,” Cr Baker said.
“I always think of Walka as a tranquil, peaceful place and I go there a lot. We don’t have any day spas in Maitland and everyone seems to go to the vineyards for those services.This is a quality of life place where we are able to enhance its natural attributes.”
An educational hub, a tourist attraction of national significance and a spa are three of the possibilities councillors discussed at this week’s council meeting for the site.
Council unanimously approved a master plan for the 64 hectare site which is owned by the State Government. Council pays substantial maintenance costs each year and received a $40,000 grant from the state to implement the first stage of the plan which will focus on developing educational attractions.
“Walka is a lovely space and whatever goes there has to be something that won’t cause damage. It must preserve the amenity,” Cr Baker said.
She hopes ratepayers will come forward with some ideas for the site. A Mercury reader suggested reopening the museum that once operated there and marry it up with a tourist information centre. Another reader suggested a boathouse and cafe.
Cr Baker said Walka is a base for a weekly park run which attracts up to 500 people each Saturday. “We don’t want to lose that because it is a great event,” she said.
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