Family Fun Precinct to Undergo $5.1 Million Upgrade

Family Fun Park May 2020
The Family Fun Precinct, including the Family Fun Park and Mount Isa Skate Park, will undergo a $5.1 million upgrade that will include extra shade structures, improved security and fencing, and new lighting.

Published: 26th May 2020

The Mount Isa Family Fun Park and surrounding precinct will be significantly upgraded and improved thanks to a $5.1 million project jointly funded by the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions (BoR) program and Council.

Stage 2 of the Family Fun Precinct Redevelopment project will deliver critical infrastructure improvements to increase the usability, functionality and appeal of the multi-use recreational venue.

Mayor Danielle Slade said the Precinct – which comprises the Family Fun Park, Mount Isa Skate Park and Splashez Aquatic Centre – was a vital part of the city’s sports and recreation infrastructure, and the upgrade would give it a much-needed boost.

“While Council is certainly aware of the importance of being careful with its spending in the current climate, this project will be a wonderful long-term investment in the community and is very good news for Mount Isa,” Cr Slade said.

“As a Council, we have to keep going and doing what’s best for the community, and this is part of that long-term vision.

“We envisage the Family Fun Park will be a facility that will be highly utilised once COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.”

State Development Minister Kate Jones said the government was proud to be partnering with councils and the private sector to deliver projects that create jobs.

“We are facing one of the most difficult times in our State’s history. But we know that to fast-track Queensland’s economic recovery, we need to invest in job-creating projects in regional Queensland,” she said. 

“This program will not only create hundreds of construction jobs across the regions, it will create more employment opportunities for locals, helping small businesses in these communities and boosting industry supply chains.”

BoR Round 5 focuses on construction and planning projects that will create and sustain long-term employment in regional Queensland.

Under previous BoR funding rounds almost $295 million has been allocated to 223 projects across 66 local government areas in regional Queensland.

This work has supported more than 2400 jobs and attracted additional investment of $487 million from councils and other organisations.

Councillor Kim Coghlan, whose portfolio is Parks and Gardens, said the Family Fun Park has remained a popular facility but is more than ready for an upgrade to bring it up to a higher standard.

“I along with many other residents look forward to the project completion,” Cr Coghlan said.

She said the upgrade project was bound to be very well received by Mount Isa community members.

The upgrade is planned to include:

  • Installation of new strategically placed shade structures throughout the Fun Park, Parklands, Skate Park and Aquatic Centre;
  • Security upgrades including fit-for-purpose fencing and lighting;
  • Re-surfacing and irrigation upgrades in high-use areas;
  • Replacement and installation of new play equipment, free exercise equipment and high-impact park furniture throughout;
  • Upgrades to pedestrian/cycle paths through the Parklands and flooring in the Amphitheatre;
  • Aquatic Centre operational upgrades including a solar energy initiative and dedicated first aid/lifeguard facilities; and
  • Minor upgrades to signage and sustainable landscaping.

The Family Fun Park will get new fencing and security lighting, which is designed to discourage vandalism and antisocial behaviour in the area, and the new shade structures to be installed will be of the highest quality to protect the children and adults who frequent the park from sunburn and sun damage.

The project was made possible thanks to $3.756 million in funding from Round 5 of the Queensland Government’s BoR program, with Council to contribute $1.355 million to the project.

Council’s contribution of $1.355 million (including in-house professional and technical expenses) is part of its obligation to receive the $3.756 million in Queensland Government funding and was allocated in Council’s 2019/20 Budget.