He said it would need 6 to 8 months to work on the project proposal with assistance from Wheway Lifestyle International, a London-based consultancy group specialising in spa development.

''The consultants believe that this spa can be the most beautiful natural spa, thanks to the hot spring water and limestone hills at the Tambun hot springs area,'' he told reporters after Perak’s Sultan Azlan Shah visited the RM1bil SunCity Ipoh project on Wednesday.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, senior state government officials and senior Sunway Group executives.

Cheah said once the spa project started, it would take about 2 years to be completed.

He believed that the spa would be unique when compared with other natural spas in the world.

''Focusing on healthy lifestyle, the (proposed) spa will be a place where people can come and relax.

''That's why we are concerned about the natural environment. Maybe we will have dining package in the caves (in the area),'' Cheah said.

The 1st and 2nd phases of the SunCity Ipoh project are expected to cost RM50mil each. SunCity Ipoh will incorporate a public golf driving range, Sunway Lagoon Ipoh and the Kedai Rakyat commercial project.

The 280m Ipoh public golf driving range was officially launched in October last year while Sunway Lagoon Ipoh's groundbreaking ceremony was officiated in January this year. Kedai Rakyat's launch was officiated on May 24 this year.The whole SunCity Ipoh project, spanning 538.4ha, is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

Source: The Star