BATHHOUSE Business and Community Liaison Group wants the State Government to stop feeding it guff about the Hepburn Springs Bathhouse following a further delay.
Major Projects Victoria spokesperson Jeremy Gronow told The Advocate the official opening would now be held off until June.
He also said contractors would begin working six-day weeks and have most of their January holidays taken away to avoid a further hold-up.
The business and community group has asked for regular official government updates and inspections from now until the opening so the community can be kept fully informed.
The calls come after Major Projects Victoria project manager Delia Taylor took members of the Bathhouse Group on a detailed inspection of the site.
New Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Tim Hayes and councillors Janine Booth, David Smith and Bill McClenaghan were also at the tour.
At the site Ms Taylor would not commit to an opening date, but said she hoped the north wing with the pools would be finished by June.
The latest deadline shift comes after MPV earlier this month announced the project would be finished by Easter instead of January.
Ms Taylor said there had been significant building delays due to the complex design, problems with concrete pouring and other technical issues that had occurred as the building had progressed.
Ms Taylor said the South Wing would be finished before the North Wing and if the new lessee wanted to move in before the `'wet wing" was finished, she understood it would be negotiable, particularly for any outfitting or training.
Spa Therapies Group chairman David Reilly said the Bathhouse Group wrote to Premier John Brumby last week to express concerns about building and lessee delays and in particular, the serious lack of communication from
the various government departments.
"From a business point of view, I and others in the wellness, accommodation and other tourism industries would like the facts, whether we like them or not," Mr Reilly said.
"To survive these new delays we need continuing, reliable, accurate information so that we can rework our business plans and advertising, plan our staff requirements and holidays."
Hepburn Regional Tourism Association Carol Hulst and bathhouse group member endorsed Mr Reilly's comments.
"It has been incredibly frustrating in obtaining credible information we could distribute to the community," Ms Hulst said.
"This project is vital to local businesses and the general community and it is unfortunate that the opening date has been delayed yet again.
"However, once it is up and going and the pavilion has re-opened the Mineral Springs Reserve will provide a great destination that will be a boost to businesses and tourism," Ms Hulst said.