8. Question No. 8—Economic and Regional DevelopmentJO LUXTON (Labour—Rangitata) to the Minister for Economic and Regional DevelopmentQuestion No. 8—Economic and Regional Development8. JO LUXTON (Labour—Rangitata) to the Minister for Economic and Regional Development: Why did the Government invest in the Ōpuke tourism complex in Methven?Hon STUART NASH (Minister for Economic and Regional Development): The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) extended a $7.5 million loan that was structured for the unique nature of this development which I officially opened yesterday with the member for Rangitata Jo Luxton. Ōpuke is a project of regional economic significance in the Canterbury High Country. It is a zero emissions operation that uses solar power from a farm of solar panels to heat water straight from the mountains. It will allow Methven to become a year-round destination building on its existing reputation for skiing and other adventure tourism during the winter months. It will help transform the regional economy away from seasonal peaks and troughs and help transition from short-term jobs to an all-year-round town with more visitors and permanent jobs. While I try to avoid getting into hot water the Ōpuke Thermal Pools and Spa complex is a compelling case for investment.Jo Luxton: How did the partnership work between Government regional businesses and Canterbury local government to bring this project to fruition?Hon STUART NASH: Work on this project first began in 2009 when local business Methven Adventures Ltd and its predecessors started the design feasibility and resource consent work. They enlisted backing from local government in the Canterbury Mayoral Forum and took a strategic approach to focus on a wider seasonal spread of visitors across the region and the South Island. These are precisely the sorts of projects that align with the objectives of the Provincial Growth Fund and the Government's regional economic development strategy so financing backing from the Government made perfect sense. As Methven tourism and business leader Dave Dynes said yesterday and I quote The Government's belief in what we were doing the Government's reasons for putting their money behind it was really good and if we hadn't got that the project would have been dead in the water."Jo Luxton: How does the investment at Methven align with other regional economic development projects and strategies in Canterbury?Hon STUART NASH: It is the third-largest PGF project in the Canterbury region after a $10.5 million racetrack at Riccarton and the $10.8 million Wakatu Quay development in Kaikōura. This sort of investment is transformational and part of a wider Government strategy to strengthen our regional economies businesses and jobs. These projects are examples of innovative thinking and partnerships. They offer new economic solutions to challenges facing provincial towns businesses and jobs as well. Last month we passed an important $2 billion milestone in payments to regional economic development projects. The momentum of regional economic development is now picking up pace. We reached the $2 billion milestone just 10 months after the $1 billion milestone in February this year which itself took three years to achieve."