Crystal Lagoons US company Crystal Lagoons have constructed artificial water bodies in numerous locations around the world and are proving an attractive addition for new residential developments such as Te Awa Lakes. Artificial beaches are booming in popularity around the world, and a new one proposed for Hamilton should – according to a marketing expert at Auckland University – prove a magnet for international tourists. But whether such a user-pays attraction would also be a long term drawcard for Kiwis– who have free beaches like Raglan and Mount Maunganui a short drive away – remains to be seen. Plans for a $30 million development called Te Awa Lakes Leisure and Recreation Park, to be located at the southern end of the 1500-home Te Awa Lakes residential development, were revealed during long term plan hearings at the Hamilton City Council this week.