Plans released for Mannum Waters’ $10m holiday, water sport parks to provide jobs, economic boost for the region

A proposed water sports and holiday park worth nearly a combined $10m will bring jobs to the Murray River community.

Nathan Millsteed from Landn Parks, flyboarding, one of the attractions that would be offered at Mannum’s proposed water park. Picture: Supplied

Developers hope to start work on a water sports park at Mannum in the coming months, bringing what they say is a much-needed economic boost to the area.

The State Government has publicly released plans for the water park, along with a holiday park, both slated for the Mannum Waters development and costing a collective $9.6m.

Nathan Millsteed’s business LANDN Pty Ltd is planning the water sports park, featuring a range of attractions and activities including flyboarding, water slides, rapids, zorb balls, a flow rider (wave generator), zip lines, cable skiing, wakeboarding and an inflatable obstacle course.

If approved, he said work on the park could begin straight away and it could potentially open by the end of this year, providing an opportunity for those without boats and water sport equipment to join the fun.

“Within our circles, within the wakeboarding and speed boats community, everyone is really hanging out for it,” Mr Millsteed said.

“They’re extremely keen on having a cable-ski system here … and that brings competitions here to SA.

“It’s really relevant now in SA because everyone doesn’t want to (holiday) interstate in case they can’t get back.”

So far, a 148 houseboat-berth marina has been completed at Mannum Waters, along with 12ha of wetlands, 168 allotments, and 50 homes either completed or under construction.

A further 440 allotments are approved for development but 52 would be replaced by the holiday and water parks.

Mannum Waters developers has amended its environmental impact statement (EIS) – requiring approval from Planning Minister Vickie Chapman – to make way for the new water and holiday parks after the rest of the project was signed off in 2008.

The amended EIS says the water and holiday parks will increase the housing and marina development’s appeal to investors.

It says Mannum needs help to increase local incomes and rates revenue and the projects will bring “a significant boost” to employment.

More than 100 cabin and caravan sites are slated for the holiday park, along with camping areas.

Nathan Millsteed from LANDN PARKS is flyboarding. Picture: Supplied

It will offer water-based activities, such as fishing, canoeing, swimming and wetland walks.

Mannum Waters project manager John Weber hoped work could start on the holiday park by the end of the year and it would open in 2022.

“The area itself is very popular and during peak times the existing holiday accommodation is at 100 per cent capacity,” he said.

“There’s certainly demand for near-Adelaide short-term holiday accommodation options and this will help fill that gap.”

More than 30 people would find work during the construction of both projects. The water park would use about 30 staff during peak summer period, while about seven full-time staff would be needed to run the holiday park.

Business partners Adam Bruce and Paul Daniel have also flagged plans for a separate water sports park at Murray Bridge.

Public submissions are due on March 26 and a public information session is planned at Mannum Hotel on March 10 from 11am-4pm.

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