Mount Isa youth prepared for the completion of new water slides

An outback town in North Queensland is just about to have its own public water slides installed to help keep its youth entertained.

Splashez Aquatic Centre co-ordinator Shae Donovan said the new water slides in Mount Isa should be ready for youth by June. She said the slides have become a “talking point” for hyped up youth.

Mount Isa’s teenagers have something fun to keep them cool on hot days with the completion of two eight-metre tall water slides.

The council project at Splashez Aquatic Centre has cost about $1.4m with the bulk of funds coming from State Government funding.

Sydney based water slides company Swimplex Aquatics led the building of the project but used local contractors for fencing and electrical work.

The centre’s co-ordinator Shae Donovan said contractors were completing the finishing touches to the slides, which should be ready by May 25.

“The community is pretty excited about it all,” she said.

“As soon as you walk into the facility I think it’s the first thing that captures your eyes at the moment.

“There’s already so much hype about it to be honest, it’s been a big talking point.”

Ms Donovon said additional lifeguards would be appointed at the top and bottom of the slides when they were in operation, and that there would be height restrictions using an armband system.

“It will be open specific hours of the day, not open slather,” she said.

The aquatic centre and skate park were across the road from Mount Isa Mines in a central location which had been reinvigorated in recent years, and had become an attractive place for travelling families to park.

But Ms Donovon said the slides could also be used to motivate children to perform their best during swimming lessons through a “bit of bribery I guess.”

“If you do well in your swimming lessons you can go on the slides,” she said.

Originally published as Mount Isa youth prepared for the completion of new water slides