Inflatable water park coming to Redcliffe in time for summer school holidays

Operators of a major Gold Coast attraction are expected to set up shop north of Brisbane by Christmas.

UPDATE: Operators of a new inflatable water park at Clontarf hope to have the attraction open by November 3.

Moreton Bay Regional Council has awarded the tender for the water park to Aqua Splash.

The company had operated at the Gold Coast Broadwater for five years, before losing the contract with council this year.

Aqua Splash business development manager Matt Devine said the water park at Clontarf would feature many of the popular obstacles as well as some new ones.

“The target date for opening is November 3, just in time for the school holidays,” Mr Devine said.

Mr Devine said there were plans to run programs for schoolchildren as well as team building activities for groups and businesses.

He said it would operate on a smaller scale to start with — catering for 120 people an hour.

The area will be netted off to protect participants from jellyfish and other marine life. Mr Devine said it was the same netting they had used at the Gold Coast facility.

EARLIER: Operators of a major Gold Coast attraction are expected to set up shop north of Brisbane by Christmas.

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland has confirmed that Aqua Splash, who recently lost its contract with Gold Coast City Council, will have its inflatable water park set up at Pelican Park, Clontarf, north of Brisbane, by the summer school holidays.

Cr Sutherland said he was surprised to learn Gold Coast had let the “expert team” go.

The park, is part of the council’s Redcliffe Foreshore Master Plan and Activation Strategy.

It was meant to be installed in time for the summer school holidays last year but was delayed due to issues getting approvals from the state government.

“It was my wish last Christmas to have the inflatable water park operating on our foreshore however the state election and some regulatory roadblocks pushed that goalpost back, but good things come to those who wait,” Cr Sutherland said.

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“Doubly exciting are the employment opportunities that will come with this new tourism infrastructure, up to 40 lifesaving jobs are now up for grabs.

“This project is a key component of our Redcliffe Foreshore Master Plan and Activation Strategy, which reflects calls from residents, visitors and businesses for new opportunities along our beaches and seaside parks.

An inflatable water park will be installed at Pelican Park, Clontarf.

“Council’s resolve to creating new job and economic growth opportunities in Moreton Bay is unwavering and we’ll keep thinking outside the box to get even more exciting projects underway right across our amazing region.”

Councillor Koliana Winchester (Div 6) said it would make Redcliffe a “must visit” destination these summer holidays.

“For every southeast Queensland family who has memories of holidaying on the Peninsula, this is an excuse to relive some nostalgia and make brand new memories with the kids,” she said.

People having fun at the inflatable water park at Southport Broadwater on New Year's Eve. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I can’t wait to see this impressive piece of aquatic infrastructure floating off our foreshore, which will create new opportunities for other businesses in the area.

“I will be asking our strategic planning team to restructure our Foreshore Food Truck Trial to leverage off this new attraction and generate a new sense of vibrancy that will be felt right around town.

“Overwhelmingly locals, businesses and visitors have told us that they want an inflatable water park in Redcliffe, so I think Aqua Splash tickets will be the hottest stocking fillers this Christmas.”