Kempsey Council’s Macleay Valley Recreation Adventure Park approved

From skydiving to rock climbing, adrenaline junkies will be well catered for at a one-of-a-kind adventure park which has been given the green light on the Mid-North Coast.

The Macleay Valley Adventure Park has been given the green light by the green light by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.

Featuring indoor climbing walls and a BMX track – even a ‘swoop pond’ for competitive skydivers – the long-awaited Macleay Valley Recreation Adventure Park at Kempsey has been given the go ahead.

Funding of $11.28m for the park, to be located at the Kempsey Regional Airport, was announced in late 2020 as part of the state and commonwealth’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.

And now the Northern Regional Planning Panel has approved the $15.3m project with a number of conditions to address some of the main concerns such as flooding.

One of these conditions is that the movable dwellings at the park should be registrable with wheels and tow bar and could be moved in less than 30 minutes if required.

Kempsey Shire Council general manager Craig Milburn was delighted to hear the regional panel had approved its development application calling it a “key step” in the long-awaited project.

The Macleay Valley Adventure Park has been given the green light by the green light by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.

“Council is now waiting to hear from the state government on our application for additional funding,” Mr Milburn said.

“This is needed to address the cost increases faced by this project like so many other projects across the shire and across the country.

Kempsey airport is operated by the local council and does not operate daily passenger services but is predominantly used for flight training and skydiving. Pic: Lindsay Moller

“Once we hear the outcome of that application, we will make a decision on what will be delivered – be it with the existing funding or the increased amount.”

The airport is operated by council and does not operate daily passenger services but is predominantly used for flight training, skydiving and emergency services.

The bold concept includes a multifunctional swoop pond of approximately 110m by 40m.

These ponds are generally used by skydivers known as ‘canopy pilots’ for competitions, which involve flying close to the ground at high speeds, testing pilots’ skills as they glide across the water and onto a landing zone.

To secure points during competition, the skydivers drag their bodies close to or across the water while performing movements or tricks before making their landing.

While serving its core purpose for competitive parachutists, the proposed pond at Kempsey Airport will be used to teach flat water kayaking and small craft sailing and for water-based activities for children.

The large main building at the park will have three sections housing rock climbing walls, a skydiving centre, training rooms, a cafe and aircraft hangar for two planes.

Outside will be the swoop pond, associated runways, bike tracks and a car park with plenty of bus spaces.