West Beach Parks has put out the call for ideas to develop a prime piece of foreshore land

West Beach Parks is looking for proposals to take over and manage a prime piece of foreshore land – but your idea will have to be a fun one.

West Beach Parks is looking for a new addition to its leisure precinct, with a prime piece of foreshore land up for grabs.

The 7157 sqm piece of land is not for sale – but an expressions of interest process has started to see what ideas will emerge, with a 20 year lease on the site available.

The site is nestled between accommodation site The Retreat at West Beach Parks, the aerial park West Beach Adventure, a South Australian Research and Development Institute facility and the beach itself.

West Beach Parks chief executive Kate Anderson said the existing facility, built in the late 1990s, initially hosted an attraction called The Woolshed, where people could go and experience elements of farm life.

The state government organisation is now putting out the call for new ideas for the site, and Ms Anderson said they had no preconceived ideas of what they might prefer for the location.

What’s next for West Beach? A water park?

There is a firm and fast rule however – no residential or tourism accommodation options will be considered.

“It’s very much about activating it to be complementary to our existing activities, so in the sport, leisure, recreation, entertainment, tourism space,’’ Ms Anderson said.

“We certainly don’t have any preconceived ideas, which is why we're doing a staged approach.

“Stage one is ‘come in and tell us your ideas and what your concept is’ and then we’ll get a gauge of whether there is any interest in the market, then we’ll move to stage two.

“The sky’s the limit. It’s a beautiful site … we’re really hoping we get some amazing proposals.’’

The site set to be developed, circled in red, is right on the West Beach foreshore. Picture: MetroMap

The former Woolshed restaurant and function centre at West Beach.

Ms Anderson said the building had been empty since 2011, after being used as a function centre and restaurant, and rave parties were held there towards the end of the tenure of the last tenant, which didn’t fit with the rest of the precinct.

“The Trust, as the freehold owner of the site, is eager to explore expressions of interest submissions from respondents to develop, and ultimately occupy the site to provide complementary services to West Beach Parks as a leading integrated sport and leisure facility in Australia for the enjoyment of current and future generations,’’ the EOI documents state.

Would the site be ripe for an outdoor cinema …

Or an aquarium?

“The Trust will be offering a lease term of a maximum of strictly 20 years.

“The development will provide a broader family entertainment experience that complements other Trust facilities, to ensure that West Beach Parks continues as a premier leisure destination.”

The West Beach Parks precinct already includes a skate and BMX park, The Retreat, West Beach Parks Gold, the Boat Haven, BIG4 West Beach Parks caravan park, sporting reserves and the costal park.

Expressions of interest will be received until 4pm on July 20, with a shortlist to be settled on by August 3.