A new adventure park, including the town’s first mini golf course, will open in Alice Springs before the end of the year. See the first images here.
A boat race with a unique difference, every year Alice Springs hosts the worlds ONLY dry river bed boating regatta.
Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson said the $1.9m park, to be built at Alice Springs Leisure and Aquatic centre, would include trampolines, climbing walls, a half-court basketball court, table tennis, swings, an adventure playground and mini golf.
“A lot of the people in the community will agree that our facilities are subpar and it will take an investment to change them, and this is where we’re starting, it’s a really promising plan,” he said.
“If you have a look at that facility, that is something that I think kids from two to 92 are going to enjoy.”
A concept plan of the new $1.9m Adventure Park to be built at Alice Springs Leisure and Aquatic Centre. Picture: Alice Springs Town Council.
The council announced on Wednesday local business MPH Projects had been awarded the $1.9m contract to build the facility, with Mr Paterson flagging the park was expected to be completed by November.
The project has received financial support through the federal government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, alongside a fencing grant and $150,000 commitment from the Territory government.
Mr Paterson said there would be a cost associated with entry, with the council currently working with a consultant to figure out what that would be.
A labelled diagram of the new park, one of multiple investments Alice Springs Town Council is making into recreational facilities. Picture: Alice Springs Town Council.
Free access to local facilities including the aquatic centre has been flagged by community groups as a possible mechanism for reducing youth crime in Alice Springs, with many calling for more free water parks similar to Darwin.
“We’re going through a plan to better understand what that (cost) will look like going forward, obviously we’ve got the mini golf, which is something Alice Springs doesn’t have which everyone’s pretty excited by,” he said.
“We should have that (cost) resolved by November as well.”
He emphasised alongside the new adventure park, council was investing millions in upgrading free public parks around the town with hopes of increasing the liveability of the area.
“We are looking to upgrade Araluen in the next 12 months, we’ve made a substantial commitment there, and also to build a regional skate park and both of those will be free,” he said.
Minister Kate Worden and local lad Harrison Cockfeild at the free Leanyer Water Park in Darwin. Picture: Glenn Campbell
“Araluen will be a multimillion dollar investment, the regional skate park will be a multimillion dollar investment, and while we’re upgrading the big ones (parks) we’ll upgrade the little ones as well.
“So I think that while we might charge for one we’re also upgrading other facilities around Alice Springs which will be free.”
He said he hoped the new facility would be a drawcard for tourists and locals alike.
“I want tourists to come here and go back to their hometown and say ‘Oh, Alice Springs has got some amazing parks’, and hopefully over the next couple of years we will deliver on that.”