Cairns Sugarworld to be rebuilt?

Cairns Regional Council has voted to undertake a feasibility study into future options for its Sugarworld waterpark, including whether to build new slides and other water-based features.

The waterpark, which closed last month after a Council engineer identified structural problems in waterslides on the site, will remain closed for at least 16 months following the Council's decision, which went against officersâ recommendations that the council upgrade two existing slides for about $700,000.

That recommendation would have seen the 'Banana Bender' and 'Flying Fox' slides fixed for up to 10 years, depending on further investigations into their condition, while consideration was given as to the future of two smaller slides.

However, Cairns Regional Councillors, supporting a motion by area Councillor Nancy Lanskey, said it was time to build a new waterpark, which could include new waterslides or other water features.

Mayor Val Schier added that aid there had been "huge advances" in water-based attractions since Sugarworld's slides were built in 1975.

Council officers had estimated that a new waterpark would cost around $4.2 million. The officers report had suggested that the waterpark may become a "very small player" in the region's water leisure market within five years with the opening of the Adventure Waters park at another site in Cairns.

Meanwhile a public campaign has began to have Sugarworld reopened with a 'Save Sugarworld' Facebook group attracting more than 11,000 members. Group spokesperson Raj Patel said "the community is clearly calling for the park to be reopened as soon as possible and without major changes.

"If we are going to spend $4 million, yes, we might make some small changes, but my opinion is it should be kept 99% the way it is."

Rhonda Wallace, who organised a 2,670-signature petition to reopen the park, added that 16 months was too long to wait.

28th April 2010 - CAIRNS COUNCIL CLOSES SUGARWORLD WATERPARK