Water park, holiday village planned for Mannum to boost river-based tourism
Tourism in the Murraylands would receive a huge boost under plans to build SA’s only water park and a new holiday village next to a major housing development.
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A new water-themed adventure park and a holiday village are planned to help Mannum capitalise on its growing popularity withtourists and fill a demand for Murray River-based attractions.
Two SA-based companies are working on the projects, which would sit alongside the 600-allotment, 150-boat berth MannumWaters residential development, where 60 homes have already been built.
Mannum Waters has major project status, and its developers are working on changes to its environmental impact statement, which must be approved by the State Government to make way for the holiday village and water park.
Landn Parks director Nathan Millsteed said the water park would feature a cable ski area, water slides, flyboarding, water and land-based obstacle courses, “Tarzan” swings into the water and zip lines.
There would also be rock walls, zorb balls and a children’s water play area.
“It will be bringing quite a few attractions we haven’t seen in SA before and some not even in Australia,” Mr Millsteed said. “It’s a bit out of the city but the river life is very important for SA so we think it will do very well.”
The water park would take up about 10ha of former flood plain. The holiday village would be developed on 5ha alongside the Mannum Waters development. Mr Millsteed said the park would be open year-round, with around 30 staff during the summer peak and up to 20 at other times. It is expected to attract groups of scouts who would stay at the holiday village.
“With Mount Barker and Murray Bridge expanding the way they are, we’re really hoping to capitalise on (people from) that side of Adelaide.”
Land owner Tallwood Pty Ltd, which is behind Mannum Waters, plans to sell the site for the water park to Landn Parks.
Tallwood would develop and retain the holiday park, featuring at least 60 cabins and the same number of caravan sites, plus 40 separate powered campsites and facilities for school camp groups. Glamping accommodation is also planned in the longer term.
Mannum Waters managing director David Potter said Mannum had “a growing tourist draw”.
“They have a number of activities throughout the year like the Sounds by the River and the (Mannum) Hot Rod Show,” he said. “It presents an opportunity for a really significant tourist hub.”
It is hoped the holiday park and water park will open towards the end of next year.
Both Landn Parks and Tallwood said it was too early to say how much their projects would cost.
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