General News
29 May, 2024
Waterslide gets the thumbs up after huge turnout to opening
Splashez Aquatic Centre was the place to be in Mount Isa on Saturday.
Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae says she was delighted to see lines of smiling kids at the opening of the new waterslides at Splashez Aquatic Centre, declaring them a success story for the city.
The mayor was joined by the Assistant Minister for State Development Julieanne Gilbert to cut the ribbon, although it was local youngster Sahmara Coles who did the honours.
“Considering it was the last week in May I was really happy to see a big turnout,” the mayor said.
“I know the council team put a lot of work in to make it happen.”
Mayor MacRae said it was the previous term of council which decided on the waterslides and opted for them to provide something for teenagers in the community.
“There’s something for little kids at the Family Fun Park and we also wanted something for the people who are coming through Mount Isa. Maybe they’ll stay an extra day so their kids can use the pool and the slides,” she said.
“People from Cloncurry might come to town, do some shopping, take the family to the pool and then go see a movie.”
The bulk of the funding came from the Queensland government’s Resources Community Infrastructure Fund, with the council receiving $996,000 to complete the project.
“The Miles Government is proud to have been able to make this aquatic attraction a reality,” said Assistant Minister Gilbert.
“We are looking to the future of Mount Isa and the benefit of this new aqua play facility goes beyond the little ones who will splash around in it.
“Some of the immediate benefits include the support of an estimated nine jobs to run the facility in addition to an estimated four during the construction.
“This aqua play facility is one of three projects in Mount Isa that have been allocated almost $12 million in Queensland government funding through our Resources Community Infrastructure Fund.”
While the mayor and the assistant minister conveniently left their swimmers at home, deputy mayor Kim Coghlan was given the ceremonial first slide on Saturday.
While she didn’t go down as fast as some of the kids later that day, she still gave it the thumbs up.
“What a blast,” she said.
