Maylands Waterland.
Camera IconMaylands Waterland. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Maylands Waterland runs dry this summer

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

THE Friends of Maylands Waterland has supported the decision to close the ageing facility this summer and save money for a future redevelopment.

Bayswater Council unanimously voted on Tuesday not to open Waterland for the 2019-20 season while options are being developed.

A City officer’s report said the move would save about $170,510 allocated to the Maylands Waterland reserve fund, taking its total for a future overhaul of the site to almost $2 million.

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Friends of Maylands Waterland members Margaret Helmsley and Josh Eveson, City councillors and officers are part of a working group that supported the facility not opening as long as savings from its closure were quarantined for a later redevelopment.

The group wants some form of water-based park at the site by November 2021, but a concept has not been approved yet.

Cr Elli Petersen-Pik’s amendments to reaffirm the council’s commitment to redevelop Waterland as a family-friendly water-based park and authorise chief executive Andrew Brien to follow a timeline proposed by the group and aim for some redeveloped facilities to be open by November 2021 were supported.

Mr Eveson said the site would not be re-purposed.

“The challenge ahead is clear,” he said.

“Waterland is about children and waterplay; it’s about pools and not just a splashpad, but the restriction is cost.”

Mayor Dan Bull said Waterland no longer complied with standards and could not be accessed by people with a disability.