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3:29AM Saturday 26 July, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 9° - max 20°

Water park planned for Aussie World

10:58a.m. 20th May 2008

| By Suzanne Keen

Village Roadshow has announced it will spend $60 to $70 million to buy Aussie World and turn it into a world-class Wet ‘n’ Wild-style water park.

The company said today it had entered into a conditional agreement to acquire the park, set among native Australian gardens and trees on a 24ha property off the Bruce Highway at Palmview.

Aussie World operates the Ettamogah Pub, the much-photographed, quirky-shaped building which hosts regular live gigs, as well as a ride park and various retail outlets.

"Our plan is to lodge a development application for a world-class Wet 'n' Wild-style water park, bringing our uniquely successful formula to the Sunshine Coast area which will also complement the existing Ettamogah Pub,” said Village Roadshow Limited (VRL) chairman John Kirby.

“Our vision is to construct a water park on the property which will provide the Sunshine Coast residents and tourists with the latest water-based rides and attractions.”

Melbourne-based Village Roadshow is a major movie producer and film and DVD distributor, and also owns and operates popular theme parks on the Gold Coast, including Warner Brothers’ Movie World, Sea World, Wet 'n' Wild Water World and Australian Outback Spectacular.

Mr Kirby said the park at Aussie World would feature 10 state-of-the-art rides including an uphill water coaster and “the highly successful Tornado Bowl Slide”.

“This will be an exciting new development and a major tourist attraction for the area,” he said.

Aussie World currently employs around 100 staff, and Mr Kirby said these people would be offered the opportunity to continue their employment under the new management.

The total cost of purchasing the property and developing the water park will be around $60 million to $70 million.

The contract allows Village Roadshow to acquire Aussie World after Village Roadshow completes planning for the new water park, expected to be during 2009.

This will allow the new water park to be operational as early as September 2009.

Aussie World, which was rated eight out of 10 in a 2005 review by a UK theme park publication, hosts various functions and events during the year, including the iconic dunny races, Australia Day celebrations, and the upcoming Sausage King finals and Ride for Daniel.

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Posted by LJ_Turner from Marcoola
on 20 May, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Sounds great. My boys and I will love it.
Posted by vanga from caloundra
on 20 May, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
great planners think alike.

we are heading towards water restrictions all over the coast - because brissie needs our water, so the money hoons decide we need a wet and wild water park.

what a joke.

If they want to spend 70 million dollars come and talk to me I've got some good ideas that will reap large rewards
Posted by Bella from Maroochydore
on 20 May, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
That's right Vanga. Knock it before it has even had a chance to get past the planning stage.
Posted by moretotell from Maroochydore
on 20 May, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Vanga either you do not get much or you are bitter and twisted. It about time the coast had more decent attractions, but in any event you do not have to go there. Further, I do not like hoons either, but what do they have do with a water park.
Posted by Superdooper from Pelican Waters
on 20 May, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What about the Water Park that is planned for Caloundra, on Caloundra Road.!!????
Posted by jdt1986 from Buderim
on 20 May, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This sounds so cool! I can't wait! The Sunshine Coast has been crying out for a facility like this for ages!

I must admit, the situation with the future of water usage restrictions on the Coast does bring up some interesting points though... A water park in an area that is soon to be sucked dry by Brisbane?

To get round water issues, I think they should build a rollercoaster park instead (ie. Movie World Mark II)... a theme park of any description would be cool though...
Posted by Jas73 from Caloundra
on 20 May, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Does this mean the water park that was planned for Caloundra Rd is off, or will this be in addition? Either way it is a great idea. Wet 'n' Wild is a great family place - to have something like that on the Sunshine Coast will be a great bonus for families that are already visiting - means more employment & more tourist dollars (along with the locals') staying here.

Building world class attractions takes money, which is being spent by a Victorian based company in Queensland - not coming from public funding so where is your problem Vanga? It is not just about the money is it?

Another plus, Vanga is that by using the water here means there is less we have to send to Brissy.

What was that noise in the background...oh sorry, the banjo fell over while typing ;)
Posted by dukeboy from buderim
on 20 May, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
water restrictions, lets remember brissy want our water cause we actually get rain fall here, right recycling systems and big rain water tanks at the park would solve that, council should consider that when it comes to the application that the park is able to collect and store water for its own use to decrease the demand on them tapping into residential supply. I dont' own a pool but have neighbours with pools and as yet am to see them having to fill them with the hose. Makes perfect sense to build one where the rain falls.
Posted by AussieOwl from Nambour
on 20 May, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Caloundra Water Park on or off? or is it the same company. I think the Sunshine Coast could handle 2 theme parks anyway. My kids will love it. As far as water restrictions, Wet 'n' Wild has managed amid restrictions!
My understanding is the Caloundra Water park was also catering for accommodation and other attractions?
I say "bring on the tourist $'s to the Sunshine Coast".
Posted by ben18318 from warana
on 20 May, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think this is great the "Adventura Park" plan for Caloundra road looked very lame to me, their promotional stand at Kawana last week looked very cheap. We don't need another cheap tourist park we need these guys with their cash and a proven track record. Go with this proposal and make a better use of the Caloundra site.
Posted by vanga from caloundra
on 20 May, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
we've got the best wet and wild attraction in the world - and its free and doesn't use any of our precious drinking water - - its called the beach.

ROFLMAO moretotell - - I don't get much. LOL

lovely piece of argumentative writing. where did you study? - the School of Philosophy at Woolloomoolloo University

As for more attractions do you really want the place over run with more terrorists? Our roads made less usable by the multitude of 4wd riding plebs who think water parks are so cool?

take a look at the sunshine coast now - its stuffed thanks to the terrorist influx
Posted by My_say from Mt Coolum
on 20 May, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Cool. Bring it on. All these newly built water attractions pay fairly for their initial water but spend large amounts of money on water capture storage tanks and purification so don't worry to much about that issue.
Posted by vp123 from Palmview
on 20 May, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Not happy - this will impact on local residents who live here! Increased traffic, Noise, Property value! Keep Aussie World as it is and keep your Massive theme parks where they belong - On the Gold Coast!
Posted by wojtek from Eerwahvale
on 20 May, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Woohoo, urine and chlorine. You'all can have it. At least it might get some of the jet ski yobs off the water and into a controlled environment.
Posted by Chauncy from Sunny Coast
on 20 May, 2008 at 8:17 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What a wonderful proposal!
Located centrally for all of the Sunny Coast residents and visitors to enjoy and serviced by the Bruce.
Highway #1 must be the most capable strip of bitumen for handling increased traffic without congesting the coastal arterials.
We desperately need a fresh major tourism venue to compliment Australia Zoo as I’m afraid the Big Pineapple, Ginger Factory and to an extent Underwater World leave the Sunshine Coast looking like we are still livin in the 70’s.
How often does a major development fit neatly within our planning codes? I presume the land would already be zoned for tourism.
SO MANY POSITIVES –
Increased sustainable employment not reliant on the building industry.
Reduced greenhouse emissions given we don’t have to drive our kids to the Gold Coast and surely Village Roadshow (being specialist operators in this industry) will have state of the art water recovery systems that won’t draw excessively on Auntie Anna’s supply for Brisbane.
If they are able to have this venue operating by September 09 as suggested, it will prove that our new super council is more effective and efficient than its predecessors.
Id like to see that.
Posted by Brisso from Brisbane
on 20 May, 2008 at 9:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hard to understand why anyone would object to letting Village Roadshow improve a site that's already a tourist hotspot. West of the freeway... it hardly effects anyone that's actually on the coast. Having an attraction on the sunny coast like this might just give it the edge in attracting family's that usually holiday on the gold coast. If you don't like tourists, you might be living in the wrong place. Oh, and thanks for the water you guys will be sending us!!
Posted by atapro from Noosaville
on 20 May, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Where's all that water going to be coming from?

Hmm...Isn't the Traveston to Brisbane pipeline going to be running behind Aussieworld? Yes I think it is... Well they are ripping off our water without so much as a thank you. Why not borrow some of it back en route. A well placed spiggot and gate valve and we have all the wet and wild water we could want...free! They wouldn't miss it. And once it has done the rounds of the theme park we can feed it back into the pipeline and send it on its way to Brisbane - pee and all. Yes!

Aussieworld really could do with a few million megalitres of water pumped through it anyway. Perhaps the Ettamoga Pub will float off like Noah's Ark and settle on Mt Ninderry. I am quite fond of the old pub and wouldn't like to see it swamped in the great Ettamoga flood.

Isn't the new railway line going behind Aussieworld too? Surely we could make something of that. Maybe we could divert a bit of that as well.
Posted by newsblog from Coolum
on 21 May, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ah, if we have two water theme parks... the bigger the better - and then we can keep OUR water for OUR benefit in OUR area .. even if it is for commercial uses and commercial benefits! If our water is used by local water theme parks, old Captain Bligh will be looking at the southbound water pipes, to find the flow has slowed considerably .. I love that idea! Cut her off at the pass!!
I'd do anything to see her big water plans crash!! So I support the water theme park plan!!

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