THE impending installation of a water adventure park at Lake Cullulleraine has left some Millewa Advisory Group members irate.
An inflatable aqua park will be seasonally accessible at the lake from December to April, beginning this Summer.
Publicly announced during the Tropical North Victoria campaign launch, the water park is somewhat of a peace offering after the location of the multi-million-dollar Trail of Lights installation by Bruce Munro was shifted from Cullulleraine to Lock Island in Mildura.
Mildura Rural City Council staff held a series of meetings in May, June and July with Cullulleraine community members to determine what other project options could be arranged to boost visitation to the Millewa.
Municipal officers said they corresponded with 76 of the community’s 81 residents online, and project options were developed in close consultation with the Millewa Advisory Group, with the aqua park was the most popular choice identified in a survey.
Millewa Advisory Group member Ron Hards contested the popularity of the choice, dubbing the aqua park a “seat of the pants decision” which he said had left the community “gobsmacked”.
“There’s no credibility in their argument about this being cost efficient and a community need as we see it,” he said.
“We’re very sceptical whether it’s going to hit the mark with tourists and whether it’s going to bring people out from Mildura.”
Fellow advisory group member Mick Thomson said he’d have preferred a silo art installation at Karawinna.
“I know silo art isn’t for everybody either, but the feedback we’ve had from the little artwork display we’ve got in Werrimull is just overwhelming,” he said.
“Council say it doesn’t bring any financial gain to communities, but I’ll argue strongly against that.”
Both men flagged concerns over the depth of the Lake Cullulleraine, hypothesising that it may not be deep enough to safely operate the aqua park.
“They just haven’t looked at the the likelihood of where it can go,” Mr Hards said.
“There’s no two metres of water (depth) anywhere in the lake, it’s going to mean excavation and I doubt they’ll be allowed to do that.”
They also suggested there were many unanswered questions about the aqua park’s precise location, staffing arrangements, opening times, ticketing prices and ongoing costs to the community.
“We’re just a little bit sceptical as to how it’s all going to pan out,” Mr Thomson said.
“I don’t see them recouping their cost, to be honest, unfortunately it’ll probably run at a loss.”
A council spokesperson said there would be no ongoing operational costs beyond a one-off payment to support the aqua park being established.
Staff expected to confirm opening times, location and other details with the operator by the end of October or start of November.
Staffing, safety and other operational arrangements would be the responsibility of the operator, who had run similar inflatable water parks at other locations.
Municipal general manager of strategy and growth Peter Alexander said the entire Mildura region would benefit from this project, but the Cullulleraine community stood to benefit the most.
“During our consultation meetings with Millewa residents, we outlined the potential for a number of other complimentary elements to the inflatable water park such as a fishing pontoon and swimming rope,” he said.
“While some of these elements would require additional funding, the more holistic offer focuses on family fun, day visitations and night stays.
“It’s my view that’s why the overwhelming proportion of the local community were in favour of the water park.
“While the strong support for this project from the Millewa community is an important factor, it simply makes sense from a broader tourism perspective – we’re leveraging on a natural attraction that is part of Cullulleraine’s identity – Lake Cullulleraine.
“It also stacks up against some of the other projects that were considered, such as the silo art project, which would not only have been more costly but would have provided minimal economic benefit in terms generating overnight stays.
“This is a fantastic opportunity that we hope the community will embrace.”
