Vandals damage Port Hedland splash pad

In the latest in a series of delays and setbacks in its development, vandals have caused hundreds to thousands of dollars damage to a new splash pad in Port Hedland.

The Town of Port Hedland says offenders have entered the construction site and poured chemical material over the splash pad, causing major damage.

In a separate incident, offenders broke into the caretaker's facility and flooded the residence.

The splash pad, set to be the largest in the Pilbara region, had been due of finally open on 2nd December. Earlier delays included a delay in the arrival of the original playground soft-fall material at the end of last year, caused as a result of the delivery truck being involved in an accident, and the subsequent replacement of the original playground surface after the original was found to have a poor reaction to local conditions.

In April, it was announced that the splash pad did not meet safety standards, which required rectification by the contractor.

As a result of the vandalism, Mayor Kelly Howlett says the site is now not expected to open until the new year, which is extremely disappointing, the Mayor telling ABC "a lot of work, a lot of money and a lot of effort and pride goes into the construction and putting together of these facilities and it's just devastating when something like this happens."

Mayor Howlett says the Council will work with contractors on developing a new works program and opening date, adding "now we do not have an opening date and certainly it's going to be dependent on a number of things unfortunately.

"We may need to do a new splash pad laying down and depending on the availability of workers and resources and materials to do that."

Marquee Park is one of two major aquatic projects currently being undertaken by the Town of Port Hedland.

The South Hedland Aquatic Centre is also undergoing upgrades and redevelopment and will include a new Latitube Wave Rider, Aqua Tower, learn-to-swim pool, water heating for winter months and state-of-the-art water treatment plant.

The Marquee Park project is funded by principal partners Town of Port Hedland, Royalties for Regions, Pilbara Cities, BHP Billiton Iron Ore, Pilbara Development Commission and Department of Housing's South Hedland New Living Project; and supporting partners Newcrest Mining, Lotterywest and Variety WA.

Image: The Marquee Park splashpad.

13th July 2012 - TOWN OF PORT HEDLAND AND YMCA PARTNERSHIP INITIATES PORT HEDLAND LEISURE