![Back when the ski park was only a pipedream: ‘‘[We realised water skiers were] stuffed because we ain’t got no water’’ ... James von Drehnen on the proposed water park site that could double as Moree’s artesian hot springs evaporation pond. Photo: Edwina Pickles, 2010.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-JV4n4a6iwKJ9DNUAb9ehsn/9cc8542a-1a3b-4d86-beaa-9d9baa3ebdf5.jpg/r0_0_620_349_w576_h298_fmax.webp "Back when the ski park was only a pipedream: ‘‘[We realised water skiers were] stuffed because we ain’t got no water’’ ... James von Drehnen on the proposed water park site that could double as Moree’s artesian hot springs evaporation pond. Photo: Edwina Pickles, 2010.")
BY THE time summer swings around, the Moree Water Park will have two lakes ready for use, and as such the facility is going to need a name.
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The Moree Plains Shire Council is calling for naming submissions for the park.
The facility will grow and develop based on the contributions of the Moree Ski Club and the Moree com-munity.
Through negotiations on the size and shape of the ski parks Council was able to come to an agreement with the Moree Water Ski Club to develop the ponds in compliance with International and Australian water skiing standards.In return the Moree Water Ski Club and the com-munity will be responsible for further development to the park.
“While council could build the evaporation ponds, they don't have the money to build the facility into a recreational club over the next few years,” Cr James Von Drehnen said.
The park has been designed to be family friendly and will be equipped with amenities, vehicle and boat trailer parking areas as well as viewing areas.
More than water-skiing the park will also be used for canoeing, dinghy sailing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, kayaking, model boating, rowing, wakeboarding and water skiing.
“Ultimately this is going to be a community asset, and I think in the next five years the park will become an iconic attraction in the shire,” Cr Von Drehnen said.
With the park nearly ready for use, the community is encouraged to submit suggestions for a clearly recognisable name for the water park, which Council will consider at its Ordinary Council meeting on Thursday, July 14.
“A lot of the work yet to be carried out is to be done by volunteers so the community needs to have ownership of this project,” Cr Von Drehnen said.
Moree mayor Katrina Humphries believes the water park will be a real attraction to the Moree Plains.
“It is very important to have not only tourism offerings but also sporting facilities that keep the community interested and having fun,” Cr Humphries said.
“Sadly, we put far too much emphasis on the negative with election campaigns and the misery of conflicts and we can forget that we need to have fun and that we have great opportunities for recreation on our doorstep.”
Name suggestions must be received by 5pm on Friday, July 1 and should be sent to coun-cil@mpsc.nsw.gov.au, via post to the Executive Office, Moree Plains Shire Council, PO Box 420 Moree 2400, delivered to council through council’s Facebook page.
