General News
15 July, 2025
Community weigh in on potential splash park ahead of council’s feasibility study
Community members have had their say on the Central Goldfield Shire’s proposed Splash Park ahead of council’s feasibility study to be presented later this year.
A survey that informed the Central Goldfield Shire’s Play Space Strategy, which had over 350 responses, found almost all respondents (97 percent) would use a free access water play facility.
A water play area was a higher priority than other park types for 92 percent of respondents while almost 70 percent said that a water play area is a higher priority to build than other play space upgrades.
The survey found that community members who supported a splash park cited its accessibility, play for kids, attraction to the region, and need for a space to cool off with 22 percent mentioning the lack of an outdoor pool.
However, those not in favour cited factors such as cost, that money should be spent elsewhere (such as the outdoor pool or other play spaces), and that a water play space would only be used seasonally.
“Having a full size fully functional outdoor pool would be more beneficial than a splash park or any more play spaces,” one respondent wrote.
“Currently our kids are learning to swim in an indoor pool where they can touch the bottom which is not ideal or overly realistic if they fell in fully clothed.”
Other respondents flagged council’s resources could be better spent on upgrading existing play infrastructure.
“The ongoing cost and water usage concerns me. For the cost it is only one season so three to four months at most. I think the money could be used to [do] better,” another read.
Another respondent flagged the seasonal nature of a splash park as a concern.
“A minority of the community is very vocal regarding a splash park, but many wouldn’t understand the ongoing costs involved with the running of this, as well as the overall use each year. I wouldn’t be taking my little kids there unless it’s a hot day, which is only going to be over approximately three months of the year,” they wrote.
Further research for the splash park has also been conducted including mapping locations, site inspections, cost analysis and interviews with other councils who have splash parks.
In 2023, when the splash park feasibility study was expected for early 2024, then Central Goldfields Shire councillor Grace La Vella said community feedback would be an important reference point for the feasibility study, assessing the potential of a splash park in Maryborough.
“We heard loud and clear that play spaces are important to our community and that you’d love to see a water play park facility here,” she said.
“The Splash Park feasibility study will help us better understand what the possibilities are, and how much investment we would need to make this happen.”