Let's Talk About an Aqua Play Park Proposal in Kaiapoi

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This consultation has now closed. Keep an eye on this page for future updates. 

The Council have received a proposal from the WHoW Trust to install a temporary Aqua Play Park within NCF Reserve in Kaiapoi.

About the proposal

Click to enlarge

The play park would be primarily made up of floating bouncy castles and inflatable pontoons on Courtenay Lake, with supporting features including a point of sale container, coffee and small food, a storage shed, picnic tables, a spectator area, lifeguard stand and toilet facilities.

Around 1554 square metres of the lake would be used for the park, which would operate for six months of the year during the peak summer months and school holidays. The map shows the location of the proposed park, along with a temporary carpark and access to the facility.

During the off-season, the inflatables and all other temporary buildings would be removed.

The Trust would need to meet all resource consent requirements for the activity to go ahead. The Trust are currently undertaking water quality testing following ECan guidelines. The Trust are also working with ECan to look at any potential impacts the project may have on wildlife in the reserve.

Community consultation

This type of facility could enhance the community and bring a large amount of new visitors to the area.

The Council is supportive of initiatives that benefit and enhance the community. However before any decisions are made to support the proposal we’re keen to know what you think.

Your feedback will help the Board understand whether this is something the community would like to see in Kaiapoi.

Would you like the Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board to support the application to install an Aqua Play Park in NCF Reserve? Tell us in the survey or quick poll below.

The Council have received a proposal from the WHoW Trust to install a temporary Aqua Play Park within NCF Reserve in Kaiapoi.

About the proposal

Click to enlarge

The play park would be primarily made up of floating bouncy castles and inflatable pontoons on Courtenay Lake, with supporting features including a point of sale container, coffee and small food, a storage shed, picnic tables, a spectator area, lifeguard stand and toilet facilities.

Around 1554 square metres of the lake would be used for the park, which would operate for six months of the year during the peak summer months and school holidays. The map shows the location of the proposed park, along with a temporary carpark and access to the facility.

During the off-season, the inflatables and all other temporary buildings would be removed.

The Trust would need to meet all resource consent requirements for the activity to go ahead. The Trust are currently undertaking water quality testing following ECan guidelines. The Trust are also working with ECan to look at any potential impacts the project may have on wildlife in the reserve.

Community consultation

This type of facility could enhance the community and bring a large amount of new visitors to the area.

The Council is supportive of initiatives that benefit and enhance the community. However before any decisions are made to support the proposal we’re keen to know what you think.

Your feedback will help the Board understand whether this is something the community would like to see in Kaiapoi.

Would you like the Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board to support the application to install an Aqua Play Park in NCF Reserve? Tell us in the survey or quick poll below.

This consultation has now closed. Keep an eye on this page for future updates. 

  • Aqua Park Gets Green Light

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    The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board considered a report from Council staff at their meeting on 2 August, and listened to a deputation from a member of the community. Minutes of the meeting can be viewed here.

    The Community Board approved a Licence to Occupy to the WHoW Trust for a three year term on NCF Reserve – subject to the Trust obtaining the relevant resource consents.

    Since then, the Trust have been working with Environment Canterbury and the Council to obtain the relevant Resource Consents for the operation, and these have now been granted.

    This means the WHoW Trust now have the green light to go ahead with the Aqua Play Park proposal, and intend to open the facility to the public on November 27.

    As they will be opening under Alert Level 2 COVID-19 restrictions, numbers will be limited with physical distancing measures will be in place. You can find out more here.

    ECan’s consent conditions included:

    • Anchoring of any floating, inflatable obstacles in Courtenay Lake and tethered and anchored to the bank
    • The installation and removal of 70 concrete anchors on the bed of Courtenay Lake (removal would be once the Aqua Park facility is decommissioned or once the consent expires - whichever occurs first)
    • The consented activities shall only occur for six months of the year between the months of October and March
    • Installation or placement of structures shall not be undertaken in any inanga spawning habitat during spawning season of 1 March to 1 June
    • Various conditions around wildlife, in particular bird monitoring and surveys at Courtenay Lake to locate the nests or chicks of any ‘Nationally Threatened’ or ‘At Risk’ bird species present.

    Council consent conditions included:

    • The hours of operation of the Aqua Park and ancillary activities shall only operate between 8am and 9pm Monday to Sunday
    • The operation shall be at a maximum, from 1 October to 31 March annually
    • All equipment and structures shall be fully removed from the site at the end of each six month cycle
    • The consent holder shall provide a site management plan for approval to the Council’s Compliance Team Leader that includes how rubbish will be disposed of, weeding, mowing of lawns and toilet waste disposal, as well as a comprehensive emergency response procedure, and notification of emergency procedures for any hydrocarbon spills and wet weather ponding risk.
    • The consent holder shall reinstate any damage to the carpark area to a grassed surface by 30 April each year to the satisfaction of Council’s Greenspace Manager
    • 65 car parks should be provided that are clearly marked, including three mobility car parks and five cycle parks onsite
    • Noise limits apply.

    The above is a summary only. Full details of the Resource Consent conditions can be viewed on the original consultation page under ‘documents’ here.

    Thanks again for giving us your feedback on this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you on other projects in the future.

    The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board considered a report from Council staff at their meeting on 2 August, and listened to a deputation from a member of the community. Minutes of the meeting can be viewed here.

    The Community Board approved a Licence to Occupy to the WHoW Trust for a three year term on NCF Reserve – subject to the Trust obtaining the relevant resource consents.

    Since then, the Trust have been working with Environment Canterbury and the Council to obtain the relevant Resource Consents for the operation, and these have now been granted.

    This means the WHoW Trust now have the green light to go ahead with the Aqua Play Park proposal, and intend to open the facility to the public on November 27.

    As they will be opening under Alert Level 2 COVID-19 restrictions, numbers will be limited with physical distancing measures will be in place. You can find out more here.

    ECan’s consent conditions included:

    • Anchoring of any floating, inflatable obstacles in Courtenay Lake and tethered and anchored to the bank
    • The installation and removal of 70 concrete anchors on the bed of Courtenay Lake (removal would be once the Aqua Park facility is decommissioned or once the consent expires - whichever occurs first)
    • The consented activities shall only occur for six months of the year between the months of October and March
    • Installation or placement of structures shall not be undertaken in any inanga spawning habitat during spawning season of 1 March to 1 June
    • Various conditions around wildlife, in particular bird monitoring and surveys at Courtenay Lake to locate the nests or chicks of any ‘Nationally Threatened’ or ‘At Risk’ bird species present.

    Council consent conditions included:

    • The hours of operation of the Aqua Park and ancillary activities shall only operate between 8am and 9pm Monday to Sunday
    • The operation shall be at a maximum, from 1 October to 31 March annually
    • All equipment and structures shall be fully removed from the site at the end of each six month cycle
    • The consent holder shall provide a site management plan for approval to the Council’s Compliance Team Leader that includes how rubbish will be disposed of, weeding, mowing of lawns and toilet waste disposal, as well as a comprehensive emergency response procedure, and notification of emergency procedures for any hydrocarbon spills and wet weather ponding risk.
    • The consent holder shall reinstate any damage to the carpark area to a grassed surface by 30 April each year to the satisfaction of Council’s Greenspace Manager
    • 65 car parks should be provided that are clearly marked, including three mobility car parks and five cycle parks onsite
    • Noise limits apply.

    The above is a summary only. Full details of the Resource Consent conditions can be viewed on the original consultation page under ‘documents’ here.

    Thanks again for giving us your feedback on this proposal. We look forward to hearing from you on other projects in the future.

    This consultation has now closed. Keep an eye on this page for future updates. 

  • What We Heard

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    Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts about whether or not the Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board should support the WHoW Trust’s proposal to install an Aqua Play Park on the lake within NCF Reserve in Kaiapoi.

    The majority of submitters supported the proposal, with the main reason relating to the economic benefit of having an aquatic park in Kaiapoi. They believe it will bring more people into the area, encourage spending at other local businesses and provide employment opportunities. They also saw it as a really positive activity for youth and children to keep them active.

    For those who did not support the proposal, the main reason related to the effects it could have on local wildlife for nesting and breeding. There were also concerns raised about the water quality not being suitable for swimming now, so there was concern that it is not safe for a new aquatic park.

    Summary of feedback

    We received 89 submissions and of these:

    • 71 % indicated yes, they would like the Board to support the proposal
    • 23% indicated no, they don’t think the proposal should be supported by the Board
    • 6% indicated maybe, they have some concerns before agreeing to this proposal

    Next steps

    The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board will consider a report at a meeting at 6pm on Monday 2 August at Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre. You're welcome to attend the meeting.

    Following the meeting, we'll update our Facebook page with the outcome.

    Thanks for being part of our Let's Talk consultation, and we look forward to seeing your feedback on future projects.


    Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts about whether or not the Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board should support the WHoW Trust’s proposal to install an Aqua Play Park on the lake within NCF Reserve in Kaiapoi.

    The majority of submitters supported the proposal, with the main reason relating to the economic benefit of having an aquatic park in Kaiapoi. They believe it will bring more people into the area, encourage spending at other local businesses and provide employment opportunities. They also saw it as a really positive activity for youth and children to keep them active.

    For those who did not support the proposal, the main reason related to the effects it could have on local wildlife for nesting and breeding. There were also concerns raised about the water quality not being suitable for swimming now, so there was concern that it is not safe for a new aquatic park.

    Summary of feedback

    We received 89 submissions and of these:

    • 71 % indicated yes, they would like the Board to support the proposal
    • 23% indicated no, they don’t think the proposal should be supported by the Board
    • 6% indicated maybe, they have some concerns before agreeing to this proposal

    Next steps

    The Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board will consider a report at a meeting at 6pm on Monday 2 August at Ruataniwha Kaiapoi Civic Centre. You're welcome to attend the meeting.

    Following the meeting, we'll update our Facebook page with the outcome.

    Thanks for being part of our Let's Talk consultation, and we look forward to seeing your feedback on future projects.


    This consultation has now closed. Keep an eye on this page for future updates.