Moree Water Park

Access to the Moree Water Park

The Moree Water Park was constructed by Moree Plains Shire Council for community water-based recreational and sports activities. The family friendly facility will cater for an array of water based activities such as water skiing, rowing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, wakeboard, canoeing and kayaking, along with a range of proposed shore-based facilities such as vehicle and vehicle/trailer parking areas, amenities, clubhouse, viewing areas and landscaping.

Environmental issues relating to the disposal of spent artesian water from Moree’s world renowned artesian water industry into the Mehi River were raised by the New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA required that discharging of spent artesian water into the Mehi River was to cease due to above acceptable levels of water quality added to the river. The EPA required an alternative disposal option to be adopted.

The Moree Water Ski Club approached Council with a suggestion that the proposed water storage ponds be constructed as lakes to facilitate beneficial reuse of the spent artesian water and provide for water-based recreational and sporting activities.

Having undertaken a risk assessment on the lakes, there will be controlled use of the facility by Moree Ski Club members and the Boat Permit holders (and guests). For the summer of 2016-17 there is a locked gate policy, and for the summer of 2017-18 a proposed closed not locked gate policy. During this time, we will acquire a better understanding of the potential risks that may occur through proper and improper use of the Park.

The future development, maintenance and operations of the Moree Water Park will be undertaken by the community in collaboration with the Moree Water Ski Club with little or no additional cost to ratepayers.

To find out more about the Moree Water Park, contact the Moree Water Ski Club at the following web sites – www.moreewaterskiclub.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/waterskimoree

If you are ready to get on the water this weekend, the Tareelaroi weir east of Moree and Mary Brand Park are good options for casual day use.

Creating a Water Park - Artesian Water Reuse

For over a century, spent artesian water from the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre (MAAC) and the local artesian water industry has been discharged into the Mehi River.

To solve an environmental issue and provide improved health, wellbeing and regional sustainability, Moree Plains Shire Council, in consultation with the Moree Water Ski Club, developed an idea to reuse the water by building a community water-based recreational and sports park, situated in the Evergreen Precinct, 10km south of Moree.

Lester Rodgers Katrina Humphries Paul WildeAfter calling for residents’ name suggestions, the Council officially resolved to call the facility the Moree Water Park with a plaque unveiling to take place in September. The lakes are still being filled and public access should be available by mid-summer.

Moree Plains Shire Council General Manager Lester Rodgers said the water ski lakes would introduce a significant new recreational and tourist facility which is not available in the region.

“The water park is a family friendly facility designed to cater for an array of water-based activities such as canoeing, dinghy sailing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, kayaking, model boating, rowing, wakeboarding and water skiing.

There will also be a range of shore-based facilities such as amenities, vehicle and boat trailer parking areas, viewing areas and landscaping,” said Mr Rodgers.

The Moree Water Park includes two tournament water ski lakes built in compliance with International and Australian water skiing standards and a recreational circuit lake almost 1.2km long. The lakes are filled primarily by spent artesian water which is pumped through nine kilometres of pipeline stretching from the MAAC to the water park.

The lakes are constructed to prevent water seepage into the groundwater or surface waters, which has required extensive design, quality controlled soil assessments and construction procedures.

General Manager Lester Rodgers, Mayor Cr Katrina Humphries and Paul Wilde Principal Contractor from Wilde Civil Pty Ltd

Enthusiasm from General Manager Lester Rodgers, Mayor Cr Katrina Humphries and Paul Wilde Principal Contractor from Wilde Civil Pty Ltd bubbles like the waters that have filled the lakes in anticipation for the plaque unveiling of the Moree Water Park.

Moree Water Park - An Innovative Reuse Of Water

Moree Plains Shire Council was recently acknowledged in State Parliament by Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall MP for its innovative reuse of spent artesian spa water in the construction of the Moree Water Park.

Environmental issues relating to the disposal of spent spa water from Moree’s popular and world-renown artesian spa industry into the Mehi River were raised by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The EPA mandated that the discharging of spent spa water into the Mehi River was to cease.

A seven kilometre pipeline stretching from the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre to the Evergreen Precinct will convey about 600 million litres of spent water to the soon-to-be-completed Moree Water Park.

The soon-to-be-completed Moree Water Ski Lakes after recent rain highlights the vastness of the project on the black soil plains.The Moree Water Park will consist of two water ski lakes 800 metres long, built in compliance with International and Australian water skiing standards. The third lake is 1.2 kilometres long, over 200 metres wide and designed as a circuit lake for a wide range of water sports.

Project Manager John Carleton said Council faced an environmental problem and turned it into a winning economic and tourism opportunity for the Moree Plains region.

“The lakes are designed to cater for an array of water based activities such as water skiing, rowing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, wakeboard, canoeing and kayaking.”

“The Moree Artesian Aquatics Centre and the Moree Water Ski Lakes will create a drawcard for health, wellbeing and sporting enthusiasts with flow-on effects across the community for supporting industries including food, fuel and accommodation, “ he said.

The contractor is in the final stages of construction and the Moree Water Ski Lakes are expected to be operational this coming summer.

Ski Lakes Low laying water

The soon-to-be-completed Moree Water Park after recent rain highlights the vastness of the project on the black soil plains.

Moree Evergreen Precinct Water Ski Lakes - The Story

Read online

Read the Story in TextMoree Evergreen Precinct Water Ski Lakes - The Story

Moree Water Ski Lakes Project Breaks Ground

An official sod-turning ceremony has signalled the start of construction for the Moree Water Ski Lakes development on the southern outskirts of the township.

The official sod Turning of the Moree Ski LakesThe Moree Water Ski Lakes consists of two water ski lakes 800 metres long and built in compliance with International and Australian water skiing standards. The third lake will be 1.2 kilometres long, over 200 metres wide and designed as a circuit lake for a wide range of water sports.

Ski Lakes sod turning The family friendly facility will be designed to cater for an array of water based activities such as water skiing, rowing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, wakeboard, canoeing and kayaking. There will also be a range of proposed shore-based facilities such as vehicle and vehicle/trailer parking areas, amenities, clubhouse, viewing areas and landscaping.

The lakes will be filled primarily by spent artesian spa water discharged from the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre (MAAC) and the artesian spa precinct made possible by the construction of a seven kilometre pipeline stretching from the MAAC to the Evergreen Precinct.

Mayor Cr Katrina Humphries was onsite to welcome onlookers to the event which represents one of the largest recreational projects ever undertaken in Moree.

“This morning, we are doing the sod turning, so to speak, although you can see from the big hole behind me that the sod has already been turned!"

She also invited the community to get involved in naming the new water ski park. “It’s the community’s water ski park so it is important that people have a stake in it”

“So I think this is a great opportunity for the community so be part of the history of Moree and get involved” she said.

People are encouraged to enter their name suggestion either online via Council’s Facebook page or in person at Level 2, Max Centre, 30 Heber Street. Ski Lakes Sign

Works begin at the Moree Ski LakesCouncil has appointed local contractor Wilde Civil Pty Ltd to construct the water ski lakes. Wilde Civil’s Managing Director, Paul Wilde, represented the company at the ceremony and expressed how delighted he was to be a part of such an important local project.

The Moree Water Ski Lakes will be situated in the Evergreen Precinct, an area of land owned by Council to provide opportunities for environmentally sustainable activities. The site for the lakes was selected on the basis that it is one of the few flood free areas with suitable soils and underlying geology and has no direct connection to ground water, an essential requirement for development.

The project is expected to take approximately four months to complete, subject to weather and favourable ground conditions.

Sod Turning ceremony for the Moree Ski Lakes

NBN news coverage of the sod turning

Moree Water Ski Lakes SOD Turning Ceremony

To celebrate the commencement of construction for the Moree Water Ski Lakes, the Moree Plains Shire Council would like to invite you to the official Sod Turning on Tuesday 18 November at 10am.

SOD Turning Invite to the Moree Water Ski Lakes

Moree Water Ski Lakes Gets Underway

The Moree Plains Shire Council will collaborate with the Moree Water Ski Club to develop the Moree Water Ski Lakes, a multi purpose facility that will be situated in the Evergreen Precinct, an area of land purchased by Council to provide opportunities for environmentally sustainable activities.

As a part of Council’s wider commitment to provide improved health, wellbeing and environmental outcomes for regional sustainability, the Moree Water Ski Lakes will divert spent spa water from the Mehi River to ponds developed for reuse of the water.

Moree Plains Shire Council General Manager David Aber said the water ski lakes would introduce a significant new recreational and tourist facility currently not available in the region.

”The Moree Water Ski Lakes has the potential to become the centrepiece for sport and recreational activities”

“It will create local job opportunities, bring investment to the area, support local community initiatives and leave a long-term positive legacy in Moree Plains.” he said.

Council has appointed local contractor Wilde Civil Pty Ltd to construct the water ski lakes.

Wilde Civil has been operating in the construction industry for more than 65 years and were selected due to their extensive experience of similar large scale infrastructure works. Wilde Civil will be the lead contractor for the development; however subcontracting work will flow through to local contractors.

Construction of the water ski lakes will focus on the mitigation of seepage and environmental harm to both ground and surface waters. This means a high level of design detail and well defined standards for soil assessment and lake construction are necessary to ensure the structural integrity of the lakes’ features.

The site for the lakes was selected on the basis that it is one of the few flood free areas with suitable soils and underlying geology and has no direct connection to ground water, an essential requirement for development.

Five water storage ponds will be developed, two of which will be 800 metres long and built in compliance with international and Australian water skiing standards. The third pond will be 1.2 kilometres long and over 200 metres wide and designed as a circuit lake for a wide range of water sports.

An array of water based activities will be catered for such as water skiing, rowing, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, wakeboard, canoeing and kayaking. There will also be a range of proposed shore-based facilities such as vehicle and vehicle/trailer parking areas, amenities, clubhouse, seating and landscaping.

Work is expected to commence in late October. Council will be holding information sessions where residents can find out more information about the development.