Airlie Aqua Park opens despite legal threats

The new Airlie Aqua Park, an inflatable water playground located at Queensland’s Airlie Beach, has commenced operations.

Local entrepreneur Jason Ford has invested in the Wibit Sports equipped playground to offer aquatic fun in the Whitsundays town.

Having gained a six-month approval from Whitsunday Regional Council to open the water playground Airlie Beach’s Beacon's Beach earlier this year, the attraction had been due to open on 25th June in time for the current school holidays.

However, a group of local residents halted the opening, claiming Council should not have approved the attraction.

Talking to local media, Ford explained acknowledged the community support that the attraction has generated, stating “although a legal battle will ensue I believe not only in my venture but also in the process in which Council has approved my park.”

Ford added he would not be bullied into walking away, stating "I've spent hundred of thousands of dollars already, I've pretty much put every single cent I've got on the line here because I believe in it.”

The Whitsunday Regional Council, which in April also gave approval to another operator to open a water playground on the south-west edge of the Airlie lagoon rock wall, has said it would defend any action taken in respect to the approval process of the Airlie Aqua Park.

The Council's planning and community director Dan Staley said the application had been assessed for the commercial use of local government-owned and controlled land.

Staley stated “in relation to the on-water Airlie Aqua Park this again is not ‘development’ and the operator is not undertaking ‘tidal works’.

"The park is an inflatable, moveable, temporary structure, situated on water in an area of beach that is not in front of any properties."

A Facebook page started to show support for the Airlie Aqua Park has gained more than 2,500 likes in less than a week.

The open water playground is protected by a Stinger net and patrolled by lifeguards.

All users wear a lifejacket while on the structure.

For more information go to www.airlieaquapark.com.au

Click here to view the 'I Support the Airlie Aqua Park' Facebook page.

Click here to view the online petition backing the Airlie Aqua Park.

For more information on Wibit, click here to contact the company via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Suppliers Directory.

To contact Wibit's Australian distributor, Robert Savell of Hydrocare Pool, click here to view the Hydrocare Pools entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory. 

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