Whyalla's $6 million Foreshore Water Park Begins Construction After Five-Year Delay

Whyalla's long-awaited Park and Play Plaza is finally breaking ground, turning a five-year-old proposal into a $6 million waterfront water park. The project combines a $3 million investment from Whyalla City Council with a $3.14 million grant from the Australian government's Growing Regions Program. Community leaders, including Mayor Phill Stone and Senator Karen Grogan, praised the initiative as a needed catalyst for a city still feeling the effects of the Whyalla Steelworks downturn and a recent algal bloom that shut down the iconic cuttlefish swim.

Local hotel manager Brad Griffin expressed optimism that the new amenity will attract visitors and support struggling accommodation businesses. Residents like Jess Scott hope the upgraded foreshore will also bring more dining and leisure options. Contractor Outside Ideas will deliver features such as a five-metre slide, water sprays, climbing structures, a basketball half-court and a bike-scooter track, with completion targeted for June 2027.