First Minister Rhodri Morgan yesterday (Thursday) visited Bluestone in Pembrokeshire to see how work is progressing on the construction of a unique £110 million short-break destination. Work is progressing well and Bluestone expects to welcome its first guests in July 2008. The first phase will include 186 timber lodges set around a traditionally-designed village featuring more accommodation in the form of 30 cottages and 17 studio apartments, along with a spa, restaurants, a pub and a range of shops. The first phase also includes a sports club and the Blue Lagoon water park. All aspects of the development have been designed with environmental responsibility in mind. Eco- friendly initiatives include an energy centre which creates heat from biomass crops grown by a co- operative of local farmers. The First Minister said: "I have had a great opportunity to see at first-hand how work is progressing on the iconic Bluestone project. When it comes to combating climate change, sustainable developments like this are a beacon for eco- tourism and a new way of providing a new kind of green employment, with hundreds and hundreds of new green jobs. It's another superb example of how Wales is transforming itself in the decade since devolution and is now ready to take on big challenges. "This is not just another tourist attraction. It is very much a new kind of one-off, European-scale, mega tourist attraction that will create a new image for tourism in Wales. It will pull into Wales a kind of tourist that would not previously have considered Wales for a holiday. "When Bluestone is open, it will be an ideal short- term holiday destination, and will have a major economic impact on the region. It will be one of the biggest employers in the county, providing a wide range of new career opportunities and boosting the level of skills and opportunities in the local community." The project has received £14.5 million from the Welsh Assembly Government and a £4 million investment from Finance Wales. Work on the second phase, which will include the remainder of the accommodation, will begin next year. A state- of-the-art and a snow centre comprises the third phase, scheduled to begin in 2009. Mr. Morgan continued: "Bluestone is the first of a new sort of short break destination and I'm pleased to say that the concept is entirely indigenous to Wales. It provides an excellent opportunity to bring the world to Wales and promote our unique culture and heritage." The water park will be home to a wave machine capable of producing the largest indoor wave in the UK and the snow centre will be the first of its kind in the UK to feature real snow created by snow canons in a refrigerated dome constructed over a ski slope.