Moree Water Ski Club has received a $30,000 boost to further develop the Moree Water Park into what they hope will one day be the best in Australia.
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The state government Community Building Partnerships grant will be used to purchase a solar-powered pumping and blending station which will enable the club to efficiently water the 700 trees planted at the site using blended lake and town water.
The club eventually aims to plant 14,000 trees to enhance the landscape in the creation of the iconic Mehi Beach as part of their long-term goal to make the Moree Water Park a top tourist destination.
“The best time to plant a tree is yesterday, so we’ve identified trees, trees, trees,” Moree Water Ski Club president James von Drehnen said.
“We’ve really got to focus on the trees and landscaping and we’ve got to get it in as quick as we can.”
In years to come this is going to be the number one spot people are going to be thinking about coming to when they visit Moree.
- Deputy Premier John Barilaro
Mr von Drehnen said the club was very excited about the grant, which will also be used to purchase irrigation controllers to get maximum efficiency out of their water use.
With 700 trees to maintain, and another few thousand to be planted, a system that is environmentally sustainable and cost effective will be a huge benefit to the club.
“In three or four months we’ve gone as far as we can with our existing water availability, so this is a real boost,” Mr Drehnen said.
“Everyone said this Menadool country won’t grow trees but these have gone from table stock to a metre high in four months.”
The plants are under drip irrigation and are being maintained three times a week by Work for the Dole clients, who will play a big part in the water park project.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced the funding during their visit to Moree on Thursday.
Mr Barilaro was impressed with the whole project.
“I think it’s fantastic,” he said.
“I’ve been blown away today. This is a tourism driver; it shows vision.
“In years to come this is going to be the number one spot people are going to be thinking about coming to when they visit Moree.”
The water park was developed by Moree Plains Shire Council as a family friendly facility to cater for an array of water based activities such as water skiing, rowing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, wakeboard, canoeing and kayaking, along with a range of proposed shore-based facilities such as vehicle and vehicle/trailer parking areas, amenities, clubhouse, viewing areas and landscaping.
The irrigation project will cost $60,000 all up, with the club to make up the other half of the costs. Work on the irrigation project will begin as soon as the funding comes through.