THE Toondah Harbour redevelopment could include a major children’s aquatic play area, says mayor Karen Williams.
She said the inclusion of water play areas in major projects delivered by the private sector had become more common.
Cr Williams cited Yarrabilba at Logan and Springfield, Ipswich, as examples of where this had occurred.
In less than a week about 2000 people have signed a petition calling for Redland City Council to build a free water play park.
Alexandra Hills mother of five Hayley Cook said she started a petition after hearing about a water park to be built in Brisbane.
“There are water parks and play areas in Logan, Ipswich and Brisbane but Redlands still does not have one,” she said.
“We spent almost all the Christmas holidays at Wynnum and most weekends throughout the summer just for the whale park,” she said. “It was my five-year-old daughter Chanel’s favourite place to go.”
People commenting on the petition said a water park was needed in the Redlands.
One person said the area was “screaming out” for a water park.
“This is what we want, not some monstrosity of a harbour that some pollies think will be an international tourist attraction,” the person said.
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Cr Williams said Toondah Harbour was subject to environmental and development approvals and there would be public consultation opportunities during the process.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the community as the delivery of this water play area will be at no cost to the ratepayer and provides the highly desirable facilities families within the Redlands are crying out for,” she said.
Ms Cook said a Redlands water park would bring tourists.
“We have a small council so we are not looking at anything too extravagant,” she said.
Cr Paul Gleeson said he had been pushing for a water park in the Redlands for about six years.
“The community has been asking for one for years,” he said.
Any structure like a pool that held water was costly to run because of the need for lifeguards but anything like a splash and play water park dramatically cut costs.
He said the facility could include spouts and water fountains that children could run through.
“It would not necessarily attract visitors to the Redlands but at least it would provide for our residents.”
Cr Gleeson said council had to be realistic about the cost of a park because the Redlands had a large foreshore to maintain.
“We are not able to build a $10 million asset but if we can do something like a $500,000 splash and play park it would cater for our residents,” he said.
