Sunshine Coast’s Aussie World Plans $60m Water Park

A theme park on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has revealed plans for a $60-million water park as part of its expansion plans.

Aussie World wants to add the water park to its 22.68ha site on the western side of the Bruce Highway at Palmview, about 90km north of the Brisbane CBD.

It would include 16 waterslides “catering to all ages”, as well as waterplay and function areas, and food, drink and retail outlets.

As well as the 37,200sq m water park area, the Aspect Architects-designed facility would include an extended two-level carpark to accommodate up to 1800 visitors a day.

The water park would sit between existing dams on the site and the northern end of the theme park on the site owned by Timevale at 1 Downunder Drive. The site is surrouned by rural and residential properties.

The new structures, including slides and rides, and proposed buildings would vary in height but not exceed 15 metres.

The development application before the Sunshine Coast Council said “the water park will diversify the region’s entertainment offerings, attracting a broader range of visitors”.

The new attraction would help generate $32.5 million to $39 million in work to vendors, suppliers and tradespeople, the report said.

Revenue from the water park, including ticket sales and in-park expenditure, is projected to reach $33 million, with up to $30 million of additional contribution to the tourism economy from new visitors to the Sunshine Coast region.

While the architecture of the new park would aim to appeal to all demographics and celebrate “everything Australiana”, it would incorporate “generous native landscaping, feature trellises, terraced rockwork and passive solar design”.

▲ Aussie World opened on the Sunshine Coast site in 1989.

The new structures “have a sub-tropical open-air, indoor-outdoor vernacular using classic Australian building materials such as corrugated iron roofs and cladding, as well as natural timber elements,” the report said.

“The overall treatment of the park will feature native animal names, topiary and themed elements such as life-size animal sculptures.”

Separate plans have been filed with the council by Timevale for a “First Nations experience” at the park.

This would replace four existing commercial tenancies in the retail village and additional space behind the tenancies.

According to the development application, the new facility would “provide a learning experience about the First Nations people of Australia, with a specific focus on the Sunshine Coast region”.

Aussie World has been operating on the site since 1989 and with the Banana Bender Pub and an associated retail village, makes up a popular tourism precinct on the Sunshine Coast.