Elli Peterson-Pik with his son.
Camera IconElli Peterson-Pik with his son. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

Maylands Waterland: residents disappointed with proposed options

Toyah ShakespeareEastern Reporter

RESIDENTS are disappointed with two new proposed options for the ageing Maylands Waterland and claim Bayswater council ignored community consultation.

In January, council knocked back options put forward by the community and City officers, as the project needed to be increased from $3 million to $6 million to assess the ideas, deemed not affordable.

Two new $3 million proposals have been put forward, both fenced, with a new cafe, play zones, shelters, barbecues and the existing car park kept.

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One option features a shallow depth pool, 9am to 5pm opening hours six months of year, with an entry fee and an annual operating cost of $211,043.

The second has a splash pad play area, open 7am to 7pm nearly all year round, no entry fee and an operating cost $77,553.

Maylands Residents and Ratepayers Association president Maylands Eli Petersen-Pik said the City and councillors “made a mockery” of the $50,000 community consultation process.

“By not including an option to simply re-build the existing facility, which was the outcome of the community consultation, the City seems to be trying to railroad people into accepting a possible downgrade,” he said.

“No-one asked for a cafe (instead of the toddler pools)… this is not what was discussed or agreed upon.

“We have something there that is unique and they’re taking that away.”

Mr Petersen-Pik said while the name Waterland would be kept, most of the water features were gone including pools, except for a shallow 60cm one in option one.

He said community members that took part in consultation participants also rejected an option for a water spray playground instead of the pools.

Baby and toddler pools, the lazy river and the waterfall discussed during consultation did not feature.

The facility had to be shut down twice in the 2014-15 season for urgent maintenance and water quality control.

The survey for the two options will be open until May 15.