AusLeisure

While Jamberoo Action Park has reopened for its 2010/11 season, its multi million-dollar expansion plans are on hold after a NSW Land and Environment Court decision.

A plan for the park's Kangaroo Island development, worth up to $30 million and including seven new rides, was lodged with Kiama Municipal Council last year.

Owner and former AALARA President Jim Eddy had hoped to start work on the $15 million first stage earlier this year.

However, the court decision, that land beside the park could not be used as a car park, combined with the planning process, has set back the plan at least two years.

Eddy told local media that "we have contingency plans, so (the court decision) probably isn't a big deal but, having spent $650,000 in three years, it is a big deal to me and it is starting to wear me out.

"It doesn't matter whether it's Kiama ... or wherever you are, you go through this nonsense. The planning process is a lot more complicated than it has to be. Not just for me, but for everybody."

Kiama Municipal Council had expressed concern over traffic issues, water management and zoning of the land proposed for a new car park included in the expansion plans.

The Council's Development and Assessment Manager, Chris Fuller, said the proposed car park was outside land that benefited from existing use rights.

Late last year Eddy lodged a 'deemed refusal appeal' as the Council had not completed its project assessment within the required time, Eddy stating that the appeal was a consequence of the limited window of opportunity he had to undertake redevelopment in the park's off season.

The Court has upheld the Council's position, that use of the adjacent land as a car park is not permissible under its Rural 1A zoning. The decision does not mean the expansion plans have been ruled out altogether.

The Council and Eddy have worked together on a 'gateway process' application for NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly that could see the land rezoned through amendments to Kiama's local environmental plan.

Meanwhile, a letter writer to Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper has questioned the delays that the NSW Land and Environment Court are inflicting on Eddy's development while the NSW Government plans to rezone land at Sydney's Eastern Creek and contribute millions of dollars to Village Roadshow's planned Sydney waterpark.

Jamberoo Action Park has marked its recent season opening and is prepared for the NSW school holidays.

From 25th September to 10th October, Jamberoo Action Park will feature Sammy's Shark Tank of Terror in addition to the thrills and spills of attractions including The Taipan, the Outback Bay Wave pool, the Surf Hill aqua racer and the iconic mountain toboggan.

As Jim Eddy says to the people of NSW "why travel interstate when unlimited family fun is just at your doorstep!"

For more information go to www.jamberoo.net

13th September 2010 - VILLAGE ROADSHOW TO BUILD WET’N'WILD SYDNEY

9th December 2009 - EDDY LEAVES AS WOLLONGONG TOURISM REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

8th June 2009 - JAMBEROO TO SUBMIT KANGAROO ISLAND DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.