12:00a.m. 21st May 2008

| By Carolyn Tucker

Aussie World general manager David Thompson says the redevelopment of the park represents an exciting opportunity for the Sunshine Coast. Photo: Cade Mooney/174859

It is shaping up as a wet ’n’ wild war, after theme park and media giant Village Roadshow announced plans to transform Aussie World into a state-of-the art water park.

A similar proposal has already been flagged by consortium Adventura Waterpark, which has lodged an application to build a $110 million attraction on disused cane land on Caloundra Road.

Both businesses claim their projects will be completed by September 2009, pending the necessary approvals.

However, Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot has expressed doubt about whether the region needs two water parks in close proximity.

“I don’t know that we’ve got the capacity to have two water parks at the moment,” Mr Abbot said.

“I think it would be really difficult to have two of these attractions within five or six kilometres of each other.”

Yesterday, Village Roadshow announced it would outlay $60 to $70 million to buy Aussie World and create Wet ’n’ Wild Sunshine Coast.

The Ettamogah pub would remain intact as part of the redevelopment, which is expected to eventually employ about 300 people.

The conditional agreement with current Aussie World owners John Paini and Kerry Lawn, who have sold the 24-hectare site for an undisclosed sum, allows Village Roadshow to acquire the property after it completes planning for the park next year.

Adventura appeared to be unfazed by news that it was facing stiff competition from an established and cashed-up market player.

Spokesman Damian Brown said yesterday’s announcement would have no impact on the consortium’s plans, which were on track for mid-year approval.

“It’s very clear that residents of the Sunshine Coast want the Adventura water park to happen sooner rather than later, and we are more confident than ever that the various levels and offices within government can see its benefits and want to help us bring the project to fruition,” Mr Brown said.

However, Village Roadshow’s chief operating officer, Peter Foo, said the company was confident it had a superior location and product.

Mr Foo said Village Roadshow had previously rejected an offer to become joint venture partners in Adventura’s proposal because it believed the concept was flawed and the numbers did not stack up.

“We were looking before they were looking and when we do things, we do them properly,” he said.

“We’ve gone with this site because of its prominence, its access, the existing infrastructure with car parking and businesses, and it is already zoned for entertainment purposes.

“Environmentally, it is a better location because a large area has already been cleared and it has potable natural spring water.

“We have a watertight business model and we are very confident we will open first.”

General manager of Aussie World David Thompson said the sale and redevelopment represented an exciting opportunity for the Sunshine Coast and the park’s current employees.

“We’ve got 99 staff and we’d like to think that everyone who would like a job would get one,” he said.

“I think this is unbelievable for the Coast, for the locals and the staff here, and I’m looking forward to working with Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow.”

Mayor Abbot declined to comment on the company’s announcement before seeing the detail of its proposal, but said it would be considered in the broader context of the Sunshine Coast’s character.

“We probably do need something like this on the Sunshine Coast but I’m not making any comment until we see the application,” Mr Abbot said.

“I am wary of this type of application and how it fits in with our tourism focus – our beaches, the environment and lifestyle.

“We don’t want to become reliant on this type of attraction.”

Peter Bryant, from the Caloundra Ratepayers and Residents group, said a Wet ’n’ Wild would be welcome on the Coast if it had its own water source but he did not think the area could support two such attractions.

“That would be a commercial decision for the developers but I don’t see how that would be viable,” Mr Bryant said.