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Kirsten Simcox
Splash Planet was formerly known as Fantasyland before its reopening in 1998.
Hawke’s Bay’s rundown water theme amusement park Splash Planet needs more than $2 million in repairs and the local council is considering whether its worth opening it for next summer.
The park, which includes several pools, waterslides, lazy river, and other activities, was formerly known as Fantasyland before being rebranded and reopened in 1998. It’s been managed, funded and governed by Hastings District Council since 2004.
The park copped criticism by numerous visitors last summer for shoddy, rundown and unclean conditions. It is usually open from November through to late March but closed on February 7 this year due to labour shortages.
A report going to the council this week said routine maintenance at the end of last summer revealed a raft of issues over wide areas of the park, which needed operational changes, maintenance, repairs or renewal as part of its end-of-life cycle.
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The report said park was scheduled to open on November 13, and while this could be delayed for up to two weeks it would have an impact on recruitment, which usually relied on students and local seasonal workforce.
That gives staff just six months to complete the works, source equipment, and secure contractors, which the report said could be difficult, “especially in the post cyclone environment”.
Kirsten Simcox
The cost of passes to Splash Planet may increase in order to cover maintenance costs. (file photo)
All together, and depending on the option chosen by councillors, the capital cost of fixing the park would be $2m or $2.4m.
Existing budgets would meet up to just $690,875 of that, meaning a further unbudgetted cost of $1.4m or $1.7m would need to be met.
Operating and financing costs, depending on the option chose, would increase between $442,000 and $577,000.
The report recommended increasing gate prices “to reflect the true cost of operating the park” and to provide sufficient funds to meet financing costs of a loan.
This was preferable to increasing rates, the report said.
The increase in gate price would be between $4 and $6. Last season an adult day pass to all facilities was $32, kids between 3 and 13 were $22.
The three options for the coming summer to be considered by the council are to run the park as usual, close down part of the park, or close the whole park for summer.
The council will consider the paper and options at a meeting on Thursday.
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