Warburton Water World attracts hundreds of visitors creating traffic chaos

First it was the Redwood Forest, now a new attraction is drawing hundreds of tourists to the Yarra Valley, creating traffic chaos.

Families from across Melbourne are flocking to a new water park in Warburton, creating traffic and parking chaos.

Huge crowds headed to Warburton Water World on Woods Point Rd last weekend, with Yarra Ranges Council receiving reports of “people doing the wrong thing” while driving, parking, crossing roads and social distancing.

The council opened the park, which has “amazing” water features, including a drenching bucket, last September.

It’s the latest attraction in the town to draw big crowds, with visitors also causing chaos at the Redwood Forest.

East Warburton man Mark Cooper shared a video of Sunday’s traffic on social media to highlight his safety concerns.

He said a car did a U-turn over double lines causing traffic to bank up.

“It’s pretty ridiculous, the main thing is, I’ve come through there another time, and I slow right down to 20km/h, and there was a woman there with a nappy bag over her shoulder, she had two kids, one in her arms and a toddler who tried to run out in front of me,” he said.

“It’s scary – that’s why (I shared the video).

“The (council) open things up but there’s no infrastructure, and absolutely no thought about what is going to happen.”

Donna McIntosh, who also lives in East Warburton, said her regular five minute drive home from work on Saturday took 30 minutes due to traffic at the water park.

“Traffic was stopped dead by somebody who decided their need to visit the park was greater than traffic being able to get through the area,” she said.

“It was horrendous.

“The man pulled into the carpark, it was full, so he reversed back out onto Woods Point Rd and actually blocked two lanes of traffic.

“When he was beeped by other drivers he hung out of the window and told us in no uncertain terms he was here to visit the water park and he would visit the water park and that’s all there was to it.”

The park has been popular since opening in September.

Huge crowds flocked to the park on Sunday.

Ms McIntosh said she feared somebody would get hit by a car while crossing the road to visit the park.

“I think once the COVID-escapees’ excitement dies off, and kids are back at school, that it will settle down, but we are still going to have long weekends, and school holidays coming up,” she said.

“Rather than be reactive, rather than waiting for a child to be run over, we need to be proactive, we need to say there is not enough parking and we need a safer crossing.

“There is an underpass under the bridge there at the old folks’ home but it’s not heavily signposted.”

Ms McIntosh said she also believed the park, which is free to enter, needed to be supervised by someone with first-aid training.

She said a little girl had recently broken her leg while visiting the park.

Ms McIntosh said many park visitors had also been disappointed there was not more water features – she said it had a mix of water equipment, suitable for young children, and regular play equipment.

“People think it is a massive water park with massive water slides and they get there and it’s not that,” she said.

A mum who visited the park on Sunday said it “was pretty chaotic” but the traffic controllers did a fantastic job of ensuring cars were driving safely and helping people cross the road.

Yarra Ranges Council environment and infrastructure director Mark Varmalis said the council was pleased with the huge success of the park.

“However, we’re also mindful that the current uncertainty about interstate travel means that many more Victorians are taking holidays in their own backyard. As a result of this, many of our wonderful local attractions are experiencing higher-than-normal crowds on weekends and public holidays,” he said.

“We are currently liaising with local land managers and owners to find some additional overflow carparking nearby for busy warm days.

“On-site traffic management, which was introduced on the weekend, will continue on warm days, encouraging people to park safely in other locations.

“I would encourage all visitors to Warburton Water World to plan their trip with a back-up in mind, so they can head elsewhere if they arrive to a full carpark – or return later in the day.”

Mr Varmalis said stage 2 works would begin later in the year and included formalising carparking and the footpath network.

He said a council officer had been in contact with a family following a “very unfortunate accident” that happened at the park resulting in a broken leg.

“In this instance, the parent was actively supervising the child and the injury was not caused by the type of equipment within the park or by misuse,” he said.

“No major alterations to the park are needed.”