A WORLD-CLASS facility could put Moree back on the map.
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The water park being constructed south of Moree is hoped to be in use by this time next year.
Moree Plains Shire councillor, James von Drehnen said Moree needed to reclaim its regional status.
“It has diminished over the years due to complacency and while this is only a small step, it’s an important step,” he said.
Cr von Drehnen expected the facility to be a premier site not only in Australia, but possibly the world. “It’s very design specific,” he said. “There will be a tournament lake and a recreational lake because not everyone wants to go over jumps.
Cr von Drehnen said the tournament lake was designed for slalom skiing and was 850m long, saying its width varied from 60m to 80m.
He said the tournament lake was like an “airstrip” which would only have one boat at a time but up to 60 skiers could be towed behind that boat in any one day. The circuit lake will be 1.1km long and an estimated 30 per cent wider than Tareelaroi Weir, according to Cr von Drehnen.
“It’s good because it’s wider and there are no trees which means no underwater snags, and no more than five boats at any one time can use that.”
There will also be the opportunity to host national and international competitions after five years of operation.
Steering committee member, Greg Croft, added it was important the community knew it was a facility for everyone. “Everyone needs to know it will be a water park, not just a ski park.”
“There’s a belief in the community it’s only going to be for those who have expensive boats and water skis. That’s not the case. It will be a community facility; we want you down there with your canoe, your kayak or we want you to swim laps or do a triathlon.”
The project has had its struggles, Cr von Drehnen saying the constraints the council has had to meet had been “out of control”.
“A development application was submitted which was subject to conditions and then the council had to satisfy those conditions before they got a construction certificate.
“We’ve now got the construction certificate so it’s open to tenders for the next four to six weeks. I’m really excited about it,” Cr von Drehnen said.
“It’s incredible the plan hasn’t really changed in eight years, but now something is happening,” he said.
Spent water from the pool will be pumped to ensure a fulltime supply.
Construction is expected to start in a couple of months.
