State to ‘health check’ reduced Macleay Valley Recreation Adventure Park bid
The ambitious $11 million plan to build an adventure tourism precinct on the Mid North Coast is on life-support after a staggering cost blowout. See how the cards are likely to fall.
Mid-North Coast
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A bold and controversial plan to establish a world class outdoor adventure park at Kempsey has been crippled by a multimillion-dollar cost blowout.
Kempsey Shire Council’s vision to build the Macleay Valley Recreation Adventure Park was backed by an $11.28 million grant from the Commonwealth and NSW government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund in 2020.
Mayor Leo Hauville has revealed the cost of delivering the project had skyrocketed by more than 50 per cent.
Soaring costs of concrete, steel and labour took the price tag for the build out to $17m in February last year - “and it’s probably gone past that now”, Mr Hauville said.
The park was to include a canopy swooping pond, indoor rock climbing walls, BMX Pump track, training facilities for skydiving, rock climbing, dormitory accommodation, a cafe, amenities and parking.
A revised reduced version of the project is now on the table.
The state government is currently reviewing whether this smaller plan would be viable, with its report due to be made in the next few weeks.
“We look forward to the Department of Regional NSW advising us of their findings on whether a reduced scope facility is viable within the remaining time frames and budget,” Mr Hauville said.
“That review may determine that the project is not viable, in which case the funding will be returned to the government. Alternatively, council will still consider whether to proceed even if the report identifies it is viable from the government’s perspective.”
The scaled-down facility would include a hangar with training rooms, a taxiway and apron for skydiving aeroplanes, the specially designed swoop pond and the necessary pathways, carpark and utilities that may allow for future expansion.
The rock-climbing wall, cafe and accommodation services would not be constructed.
Either way, the final decision on whether to proceed rests with Kempsey council, who will consider the independent review before reaching a decision.
If council decides to walk away from the project altogether the bushfire recovery money will be refunded and return to consolidated revenue.
Under the terms of the grant, the adventure park needs to be complete by June 2024.
Mr Hauville said it was his personal view the project may be put aside.
“I don’t think it will be likely (to go ahead) because of the cost cutting measures by the state Labor government,” he said.
He said Kempsey council had been hampered by a suite of cost-shifting measures, including a now abandoned plan for the NSW government to make the challenging Armidale Rd a State Road.
Mr Hauville said the proposed $5m BMX Pump track remained on target as it had a separate funding stream.
The bike track is to be co-located with the adventure park, but if the latter falls over, he said council may decide to site the track at an alternative location in the town.
On the upside, Mr Hauville said council had been successful in securing topped up funding of $9m to improve its Regional Saleyards, including covered areas and safety upgrades.
“This will be welcomed by the cattle industry,” Mr Hauville said.
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