Toowoomba Regional Council’s Paul Antonio, Megan O’Hara Sullivan, James O’Shea, Tim McMahon and Carol Taylor reveal if they would support a water park

Twelve months out from an election, Toowoomba councillors have voiced their opinions on the widely debated project, that if installed, could see a much-needed boost to the region’s tourism.

• Opinion: What’s our excuse for no water park?

A Toowoomba councillor has claimed that while a water park may not be on the cards for the next 30 years, a splash area was a much more realistic proposition.

Toowoomba Regional Council came under fire this week after announcing a water park was not possible until your great grandchildren are old enough to enjoy it, despite key stakeholders throwing their support behind the project.

Councillor Carol Taylor called out Groom MP Garth Hamilton, Toowoomba South member David Janetzki and Toowoomba North member Trevor Watts for “making statements about what council should be doing with ratepayers’ money”.

“To be popular is great … to be fair and informed would be a far better accomplishment,” she said on a Facebook post.

Speaking to The Chronicle, Ms Taylor said a water park was “just not possible at the moment”.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has come under fire after key stakeholders showed their support for a widely requested water park. (AAP IMAGE/ Matthew Vasilescu)

“We were smashed with four or five emergency events last year. We’ve got roads everywhere that needs fixing and all of this has raised its head,” she said.

“I would love for our community to have a water park, but council just can’t afford it at the moment. It’s not possible.”

An illustrative guide of a water feature was unveiled in the concept designs of the $65m Toowoomba Railway Parklands project, however it was still 20 to 30 years away.

While several townships typically dryer and colder than Toowoomba have found success through water parks, TRC Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald said council must focus on more urgent upgrades to infrastructure first.

“Council must give priority to community expectations for the delivery of our critical services and upgrades in the first instance,” Mr McDonald said.

However, Ms Taylor said if the definition of what some claim is a water park was changed, there may be a possibility.

Toowoomba Regional Council councillor Carol Taylor

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“A splash area may be different. We may be able to put something like that at one of our swimming pools,” she said.

“I think a splash park is doable, and I think if we can work towards that rather than a ‘water park’.

“I would love our community to have a splash park. Something like Chinchilla I think is doable.”

The Chronicle approached every TRC councillor to see if they would support a water park in the region.

Mayor Paul Antonio and councillors Megan O’Hara Sullivan, James O’Shea, Nancy Sommerfield and Tim McMahon all said yes, if it was possible.

“I think it would be a great idea, but of course getting it to happen would be the issue,” Mr Antonio said.

“Things like a water park would be an added attraction for Toowoomba and I would be comfortable to go on the journey to work out how we would do it that doesn’t cost the community a fortune.”

Ms O’Hara Sullivan said she would support a water park if it was proved that it was a priority for a majority of the community.

“I’ve spent a lot of time at water parks with my kids … but we have to be very careful with building community expectations with what is affordable,” she said.

Mr McMahon said while there were many constraints to take into account, he had been looking at ways to possibly welcome a site in.

“I have small children and I think we need to look at it,” he said.

Mr McMahon said whether it be through existing infrastructure of park redevelopments, there were avenues that could be explored to install a water park in the region.

Mr O’Shea acknowledges people’s activity with water had changed over the years.

“It’s no longer just a square box with water … it’s all something that definitely needs to be looked at and I’m in support of the investigation into it, that’s for sure,” he said.

Ms Sommerfield said if someone was able to find a way to install and maintain a water park without impacting the already stretch council budget, she would support it.

“But even (to find that) would be a miracle,” she said.

Councillors Rebecca Vonhoff, Geoff McDonald, Bill Cahill, Kerry Shine and Melissa Taylor were approached for comment.