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A new 500 metre² aquatic play space featuring zones for different age groups from toddlers to teenagers, with a range of waterslides for all ages, water cannon, tipping buckets, a splash pad and a water spray area has been opened at Kununurra in Western Australia.

The first stage of a redevelopment of the Kununurra Leisure Centre, the $3.2 million Kununurra Splash Park/Water Playground was fully funded by the Western Australian Government through its WA Recovery Plan.

Within a 2000 metre², the wet play area features bespoke play items including a 4.2 metre spraying Boab tree, 4 metre estuarine crocodile and dozens of other features designed and manufactured by Western Australian-based company Water Features by Design.

These include water cannons, large and small ground sprays, arches, mushroom features, large dumper bucket, water spillways and 'tip n fill' features for toddlers along with seven waterslides catering for various ages of users.

For safety, the 700 metre² surface beneath the play equipment comes from Life Floor and represents one of the company’s largest installations.

Featuring six different colours, the tiles have been made to withstand the harsh climatic conditions of Northern Australia and come with a five-year warranty.

Installation was undertaken by Grassports Australia (QLD)

Speaking at the recent opening, Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister, David Templeman advised “water play spaces offer unlimited possibilities to help children of all ages develop motor and social skills, encouraging creativity and imagination.

"The new $3.2 million water playground will be a wonderful asset to the Kununurra community, and I'm sure it will help everyone keep their cool this wet season.”

Also speaking at the opening, Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley President, David Menzel acknowledged the challenges the project had faced with delays caused by the pandemic and vandalism of the site.

He also advised that the majority of the work of the project including plumbing, electrical, fencing, concreting and landscaping was conducted by local businesses within the Shire.

Explaining the Water Playgound’s inclusivity, he advised “the splash park also has a number of key features with natural elements that provide users the opportunity to develop gross-motor skills and encourage imagination.

“The design incorporates rocky spillways and weirs, water cannons, random ground sprayers, overhead showers, mushroom sprayers, arc rings and a dumping bucket.

“There is an early childhood section with hand pumps, smaller slide.

“It also features a crocodile and a boab tree that sprays water … designed to truly reflect the area we live in.

“The flooring within the wet areas of the splash park is from Life Floor, the first safety surfacing engineered specifically for aquatics.

“There are a number of picnics tables as well as seating throughout the facility including less formalized rocks placed around the edge of the splash park to provide seating for adult supervision.

“For the older youth there are 5 enclosed slides as well as a children’s racer slide that is designed to get some thrills.

“It was important for the Shire that during the design stages we catered for our older youth and provided a facility that would provide a space that was safe and inclusive and attracted youth over the age of 12.”

Opening just in time for the upcoming Kimberley wet season, the Water Playground is already popular with the 5,500 residents of Kununurra as well as visitors.

Located at the eastern extremity of the Kimberley, the town of Kununurra sits approximately 45 kilometres from the border with the Northern Territory.

The Western Australian Government has also committed $6 million for the stage two redevelopment of the Kununurra Leisure Centre, which will include a new 50-metre pool.

Click here to contact Life Floor (AUS & NZ) via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Click here to contact Water Features By Design via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Images: The newly opened Kununurra Splash Park/Water Playground, with its boab tree (middle). Credit: Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley.

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