Hervey Bay’s Wetside Water Park in jeopardy amid erosion concerns

A popular water park on the Fraser Coast is under threat, as a new report reveals the council is running out of options to protect the area from erosion.

WetSide Water Park in Hervey Bay. Photo: Fraser Coast Regional Council.

The Fraser Coast Regional Council has hosed down concerns Hervey Bay’s multimillion-dollar WetSide Water Park could be relocated amid erosion fears.

A recent council report revealed works to protect the popular water park from erosion had been slow and there were few options left.

Councillors voted at the December 14 meeting to remove the damaged boardwalk overlooking the ocean at WetSide, and explore options to maintain access to the beach and make nearby food and drink shops more accessible.

They also voted to investigate the feasibility of constructing a revetment wall in front of the park.

A report presented to the councillors at the meeting said consultants found the only viable options were building the wall, expected to cost millions, or relocating the park.

It said progress on protecting the water park from erosion had been slow with “only ad hoc works” done to mitigate the immediate risks, and three consultant reports since 2015.

“Aside from relocation of WetSide, the consultants have advised that the only other viable long-term solution is to construct a revetment,” the report said.

About $1m has recently been invested into the Aqua Ninja Course at the water park.

WetSide Water Park in Hervey Bay.

A Fraser Coast Regional Council spokesperson said the council was “not planning to relocate WetSide”.

“Council will carry out a full condition assessment of WetSide to outline the maintenance and renewal requirements for the facility over the next decade,” a spokesperson said.

The report reveals removing the boardwalk could cost $375,000 and constructing a replacement boardwalk is estimated to cost between $500,000 and $1 million.

“If affirmative action is not taken to protect WetSide, the erosion will continue,” the report said.

“This will require sectional removal in a reactive unstructured manner, or the structure may become unstable and pose an increasing public health and safety risk.”

Building a revetment wall is estimated to cost between $2.67 million to $4.8 million depending on the specific design.

The Main St and Esplanade roundabout, and WetSide Water Park at Pialba on the morning of November 13, 2018.

Councillor David Lee, who moved the amended motion at Wednesday’s meeting, said it was important to acknowledge the impact of erosion and the consequent impact of public safety on the boardwalk.

“I urge my colleagues to explore the possibility of a natural alignment of a revetment wall, at least give the consultants an opportunity to provide advice to council about whether or not that product is feasible,” he said.

“And if so, what the cost of that project is, and whether or not it can be integrated into the existing Coastal Management Strategy.”

Part of the oceanfront boardwalk to be removed at WetSide. Photo: Fraser Coast Regional Council.

In a statement, councillor Jade Wellings said the boardwalk was “badly affected by erosion caused by big seas and storms in the past 10 years”.

“The beachfront has been severely affected by erosion which has exposed the foundations for the boardwalk and shade sails making it unsafe,” she said.

“While council develops a long-term solution to beach erosion at the site, some beach renourishing and replanting works will be undertaken in front of WetSide, to boost protection of the waterpark.”

Other long-term solutions could include a permanent revetment barricade or stone or sand-filled bags.

According to the report and options analysed in the Coastal Futures Strategy, a “permanently nourished beach form is unlikely to be viable” to protect WetSide, and “beach nourishment programs that only rebuild the beach over a small area such as the shoreline extent of WetSide will provide only short-lived relief from wave action”.

The amended motion was carried unanimously by councillors at the December 14 meeting.