A trial to house a portable sauna made from a converted shipping container at a beach in Tasmania’s north-west has received approval from the local council.
The proposal to transform an existing concrete slab at Mersey Bluff Beach near Devonport into a ‘Savu Saunas’ sauna was endorsed by all Devonport City Councillors during a recent meeting.
Under the licensing agreement, Savu has been granted permission to place the portable sauna at the Bluff for a 12-month trial period, with the future option to extend if it proves to be successful.
The council believes that the trial aligns with its objectives of boosting tourism and promoting health and well-being, giving health and wellness enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy a hot sauna session followed by a refreshing cold plunge into the ocean.
“It will look quite aesthetically pleasing, it’s a beautiful part of the coast and I think it will add to it, I don’t think it will detract from it,” Councillor Alison Moore said.
Other councillors suggested future landscaping or other small additions could be made to the site in the future.
Savu will be charged a $5,000 license fee for the first year, which the council expects to review following the trial.
The proposal still requires consent from Crown Land Services, as the designated area for the sauna falls under Crown Lands ownership and is leased to the council.
