ONE Bathurst resident has said he is all for the proposed aqua park at Chifley Dam, but only if it comes with a better road.
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Hickstar Investment has proposed to establish an inflatable water park on the western foreshore of the dam.
The park is to be approximately 100 metres long and 50 metres wide.
Hickstar will operate the facility seasonally for five months a year, planning to be open Thursday to Sunday every week between November 1 and March 31.
Alex Ferguson, who lives on a property off Lagoon Road, said the road leading out to the dam needs serious improvement if it is going to cater to more vehicles after an aqua park is established.
“If you put a school bus or a semi trailer on the other side [of Lagoon Road] there is no space, you are in the dirt,” he said.
“If anyone gets into trouble there is no where to go.
“Council, with the State Government, spends a lot of money on Gormans Hill Road, which is a side road, and Ryans Road, which is a feeder road, but the main artery, which is Lagoon Road, is still pretty ordinary.”
Mr Ferguson said that, if the proposed aqua park is approved, parents with young children will be using the road more often and be at risk if the road isn’t improved.
“I would not like to see a whole bunch of mums and kids in cars in any sort of danger,” he said.
Bathurst Regional Council’s director of Engineering Services, Darren Sturgiss, said there are works planned for Lagoon Road, but the proposed aqua park is unlikely to trigger further works.
“An amount of $200,000 has been allocated in the current budget for upgrades to Lagoon Road,” he said.
“The plan is to continue shoulder widening between Gormans Hill Road and O'Regans Road.
“The DA is not likely to trigger additional works to Lagoon Road, however council will continue with current works planned.
“Council will also monitor traffic flow and schedule future works accordingly.”