It may have started as a pipe dream but the development of Moree Water Park has progressed in leaps and bounds since it was officially handed over to Moree Water Ski Club nearly 12 months ago.
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With just one month until the 2017/18 water skiing season begins, Moree Water Ski Club members, with the help of Work for the Dole clients, have been busy.
Over the past few months, another 500 native trees have been planted (in addition to the 700 trees previously planted), including bottlebrushes for hedges in the camping ground to act as a wind break and for privacy.
A 500 square metre grass area has been laid out and an automatic sprinkling system installed to water the grass to get it looking good in time for the ski season.
The first barbecue shelter is also underway with the concrete slab down and plans to have it completed by September.
The shelter will also house the solar-powered pumping and blending station, which the club purchased with state government grant funding earlier this year.
The club currently has a number of other grant applications underway, including an expression of interest for a $900,000 state government grant to build campsites, shelters, piers, campgrounds and an amenities block.
Over the next month the first trial ‘beach’ will be laid, using fabriform to separate the black soil from the sand and gravel.
Moree Water Ski Club president James von Drehnen said this will be a test before the iconic Mehi Beach is eventually built as part of their long term goal to make the Moree Water Park a top tourist destination.
“Things are going well,” he said.
“This month is all about testing how we’re going to do all these things – testing the best way to do the garden beds, the best way to build the barbecue shelter – so that everything will be uniform.”
Mr von Drehnen said the club should be congratulated on what they’ve achieved at the park in the 11 months since they took control of the site.
“We’ve achieved everything that we said we would,” he said.
“Our ‘To infinity and beyond’ plan is in progress. We’re doing everything we said we would and we’re doing it at little to no cost to council or ratepayers.
“Everyone gets a teaspoon of sugar.”
Moree Water Ski Club will be hosting a lunch at the water park for Moree Plains Shire councillors on September 21 – a year after the official opening – to give councillors an opportunity to view the progress.
The club is also hoping to negotiate with council about opening the park on a daily basis, as well as the possibility of using the big lake when it is 0.9 metres full for non-powered activities such as sailing or dragon boating.
More members wanted…
Moree Water Ski Club will be holding their Annual General Meeting at the Post Office Hotel at 6pm on Tuesday, August 8.
The club invites anyone with an interest in aquatic activities, not just water skiing, to come along and consider joining the club.
President James von Drehnen said the club is looking to expand beyond water skiing with the hopes of the water park becoming an aquatic hub and tourist destination.
“It started off as a Water Ski Club but I can see into the future it’ll probably evolve into an aquatic club – it’ll be more than just water skiing,” he said.
“We’d very much like to talk to someone to come up with some other uses for the park and form a sub-committee.”
Mr von Drehnen said it’d be great to see a sailing or dragon boat club established.
For more information, contact James von Drehnen on 0427 521 315.
