Semaphore water slide to be demolished over safety fears, council looking at new water activities

The Semaphore water slide will be demolished over “significant degradation” – now the local council is looking at replacements.

The Semaphore water slide has been closed because of safety concerns. Picture: Supplied

Port Adelaide Enfield Council has voted to demolish the Semaphore water slide but mayor Claire Boan says water activities will be a key feature of any new development at the site.

Council made the decision at its monthly meeting on Tuesday night, following the closure of the facility in February due to safety issues.

Slide operator Peter Blum said the closure was devastating, especially as it had not always been the easiest business to run.

“The business itself is a bit like farming – seasonal and weather dependent. You need to be very good at budgeting,” he said.

“People want perfect conditions to do something like use a water slide.”

Mr Blum, who has been operating the business for about 10 years, said he was keen to keep running the business because he could see the huge potential at Semaphore.

“With the new expressways, Semaphore has become one of the closest beaches for the northern area, and it’s brought a lot of new money to the area,” he said.

Mr Blum presented two petitions to the council – 374 handwritten signatures and an online petition with 935 expressions of support for the business.

A report council received from Sproutt Engineers in February showed safety issues warranted the closure of the slide.

“We’ve identified that there is significant degradation at some key load locations, such as the column support located at the corner of a bend in the structure, which modelling shows is at the most critical in terms of maximum dynamic loading from water splash and body impact during operation condition,” the report stated.

The Semaphore water slide will be demolished over “significant degradation”.

The report from Sprout Engineers estimated the cost to repair the slide at $260,000.

Indicative costings to replace the slide with one of similar height and size were about $600,000 and if council looked at replacing the slide with a structure similar to the

Marion outdoor pool water slide, with the potential for two or three slides running off the tower, the cost would likely be between $800,000 to $1m.

Mayor Claire Boan said council were working through a masterplan for the Semaphore foreshore precinct and that water activities would be a key part of the plan.

“Throughout the last month, while the slide has been closed, we’ve heard a lot from the community and a lot of people want water activities at that foreshore precinct- we’ve heard that message really clearly,” she said.

“We’re looking at opportunities to replace the slide with something far safer for the community.”

Council will hold a workshop with elected members, as part of the considerations on the

Semaphore masterplan, to discuss possible water slide replacement options and costs.

Council has also budgeted $75,000 for the demolition of the slide.

The water slide opened on The Esplanade in the early 80s.