AusLeisure

Plans have been revealed for a major waterpark as the centrepiece of a 24 hectare leisure development at Glenview on the Sunshine Coast.

Backers of the Sunshine Park development highlight that the environmentally sustainable development will become one of the most significant tourist attraction developments on the Sunshine Coast in decades, adding millions of dollars to the Queensland economy.

To be located at Lot 22, Steve Irwin Way, Sunshine Park will feature a waterpark with a large surfing wave pool targeted to the day visitor and local market as well as a tourist village comprising of a hotel and holiday cabins for short stay accommodation.

Facilities in the village will include a function centre, restaurants and retail outlets with a number of recreational activities being offered to guests such as surfing, canoeing, bush walking, pony rides and adventure games.

The project, which has been several years in the planning, has already attracted letters of support from major local tourism operators including Australia Zoo, Big Kart Track, Surfing Australia, Carnival Events (producers of the Big Pineapple Music Festival and Golden Days Festival) and Sunshine Coast Destination Limited.

The project has been developed by Waterplay Pty Ltd, a privately owned specialist waterpark consultancy with extensive international leisure development experience including projects such as the Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Wahoo Waterpark, Bahrain and Wadi Adventure Park in the United Arab Emirates.

Waterplay spokesman, David Baird said that after several years evaluating potential Australian sites, he believed the search was finally over and was looking forward to realising the development, pending the appropriate zoning and planning approvals.

Baird explained “the Sunshine Coast is well established as one of Australia’s most popular destinations for both domestic and international visitors.

“After an extensive location search we believe the Sunshine Coast is a great fit for the project and that Sunshine Park will further enhance the current tourism offer.

“The site is perfectly positioned on a well-established tourism route near commercial operations such as a service station, quarry and nursery and in close proximity to other tourist attractions such as Australia Zoo, the Glass House Mountains and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

“The proposed site is currently used for machinery and vehicle parking (and) although it is a bit of an eyesore at present due to its heavily denuded state, we are planning major environmental rehabilitation, revegetation and landscaping as part of our project. The development will also have several environmentally sustainable features such as advanced water capture, filter and treatment systems for the waterpark; waste recycling and energy efficient buildings.

“We believe that Sunshine Park will complement the existing attractions in the area and firmly establish the location as a major tourism precinct as well as provide much needed job opportunities for the region.”

The project’s independent economic reports state that approximately 430 jobs would be created in the construction period with approximately 250 jobs during the operational phase. The value-added economic benefit to the region during the construction and operational period has been estimated at over $50 million.

Baird said that the proposed development would be delivered in two stages over three years, with the water and surf pool built first, followed by the tourism accommodation and other facilities.

He concluded “all things going well, our team hopes to begin work next year (2015) and have the first Sunshine Park guests splashing, surfing and sliding on what will be Australia’s latest waterpark during 2016.

“We’ve been delighted by the level of support to date from the local community and tourism operators. We are committed to continue working with them, along with Sunshine Coast Council to deliver this project on the Sunshine Coast.”

Long identified as having an ideal market position for a major waterpark, plans for other Sunshine Coast waterparks have failed to come to fruition in recent years.

A decade long plan for the development of the Aventura Waterpark in Caloundra ended in 2009 with Village Roadshow Theme Parks (VRTP) announcing plans to acquire Aussie World and redevelop the site as a waterpark.

VRTP's plans were eventually thwarted by the high cost of road improvements that they would have been required to implement on the Pacific Motorway - as demanded by the Queensland Government.

The Queensland Government is currently planning a 53 hectare motocross and BMX park at Mooloolah, on a site surrounding Sunshine Park’s planned location.

Waterslide image courtesy of WhiteWater West. The image is used for illustrative purposes only. 

25th February 2011 - SUNSHINE COAST WATERPARK DREAMS END WITH LAND SALE  

24th September 2009 - VILLAGE AXES SUNSHINE COAST WATERPARK PLANS

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Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.