Bunbury water park cost cops flak
The full cost of building the long-awaited water playground could be as much as $7 million, according to a Bunbury councillor.
Cr Michelle Steck has broken ranks from the council to reveal the projected cost of the project - which she said was contained in confidential documents provided to councillors - and express concern the water playground is not a "core function" of the council.
She said the playground would cost about $200,000 a year to run.
However, Mayor Gary Brennan said this figure was not accurate but refused to be drawn on Cr Steck's comments.
In rejecting Cr Steck's claim on the cost, Mr Brennan said only information provided officially by the council could be relied upon.
Cr Steck said she was concerned about the cost of the project because it was intended the park, set to be built on the edge of the Leschenault Inlet, would be open for only about six months every year and would not charge an entry fee.
"Everything council does has an effect on every single ratepayer," she said.
"This will cost the ratepayer - there is no doubt about that."
Cr Steck said she would not support the proposal because it was not a council "core function".
She said the council should focus on "roads, rubbish, footpaths, parks and gardens and sporting grounds".
"I don't believe this is an enterprise we should be going down," Cr Steck said.
"Adventure World is not owned by a council, it is a private enterprise."
Councillors were last week given the first water playground concept plans prepared by Josh Byrne and Associates.
The concept includes 120 water spouts, a marine theme based on the Bunbury's old timber jetty, a cafe and numerous grassed areas for the public.
However, the cost of the project could change depending on a detailed design that could take as much as nine months to complete.
Mr Brennan has previously conceded the council would need to seek Federal and State Government funding as well as approaching businesses for naming rights.
