Partial closure of Hervey Bay’s WetSide waterpark explained| Video

Ongoing closures at an award-winning Queensland water park, constantly rated among TripAdvisor’s best, has left visitors disappointed as a string of safety issues are exposed. VIDEO, PHOTOS.

Visitors to one of Hervey Bay’s biggest tourist attractions have been left disappointed by the partial closure of WetSide water park.

The park, which opened in December 2009 for a cost of more than $13 million and has been awarded numerous tourism accolades including being named among the best three waterparks in the South Pacific, has been plagued with issues of late.

TotSide, the young children's’ area which includes water slides and the big bucket, has been closed since early December 2023, for unscheduled electrical maintenance.

The move has upset tourists and locals alike, with many visitors shocked at the closure during the Christmas holiday period.

Craig Warhurst and his family are long term visitors to Hervey Bay, with his partner in particular visiting the area for 30 years.

Mr Warhurst said the children had been “disappointed” when they arrived to see parts of the facility closed.

Happier times at Wetside - Flur Handley with brother Jasper,13, and sister Amelia,11, from Torquay.

“Us adults can lie around and relax, but for the kids the park is for them and it’s a big reason we chose Hervey Bay as a holiday destination,” he said.

Mr Warhurst’s experience was similar to that of Rafael Gerster's who also recently visited the region.

“It was disappointing to see what had been advertised was not the service that was being offered,” said Mr Gerster, a first-time visitor.

“I understood things can break and especially with electrics you need to be careful, so I just hope that it gets fixed as quickly as possible”.

But a reopening date is still unknown.

Fraser Coast Regional Council director Gerard Carlyon confirmed TotSide had been closed for electrical maintenance, and could not give an exact date on when it would reopen.

The current state of Wetside Water Park in Pialba shows a dilapidated facilited witht rotten timber and exposed wire.

“We will endeavour to have this maintenance work done as soon as possible, but it may mean these parts of WetSide will potentially be closed for several weeks,” he said.

“We appreciate that making these changes during summer will cause disappointment, but the safety of those attending and working at our aquatic facilities must be and is our highest priority.”

Electrical problems are not the only issues facing the council at the facility.

The WetSide boardwalk is currently being demolished due to rotten timber and being undermined by erosion from high winds and seas.

A council spokesman said “removal work on the superstructure, which includes the decking and balustrades, is underway with completion due by the end of April”.

“The major works, being the removal of the boardwalk substructure and piers, are scheduled to occur from mid to late May during WetSide’s winter shutdown to minimise the impact on staff and patrons.”

In 2021, council still had plans to replace the decking with the help of a $700,000 grant from the state government.

“After 11 years of operation, the existing timber decking at WetSide has reached the end of its working life and needs to be replaced,” councillor Jade Wellings said at the time.

The current state of Wetside Water Park in Pialba shows a dilapidated facilited with rotten timber and exposed wire.

About 932 square metres of timber decking was to be replaced with a Wood Plastic Composite product made from 40 per cent timber by-product and recycled plastic. Joists that needed to be replaced were to be replaced with locally acquired hardwood with the work expected to be completed by June of that year.

It never happened.

No final decisions have been made on the future of the area, with the council (now) saying, “the immediate focus on carrying out the minor works and obtaining approvals for the major works”.

The centre has had to shorten its operating hours due to low staff numbers, but council has confirmed it will operate until May and reopen in September 2024.

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