People can be seen enjoying Leisure Island back in its heyday. Photo/Warren Gifford
People can be seen enjoying Leisure Island back in its heyday. Photo/Warren Gifford
An attempt to turn the clock back on Mount Maunganui's Moturiki Island failed to gain any traction with the Tauranga City Council today.
A water fun park was proposed for Moturiki, also known as Leisure Island from the days when it was home to marine mammal and other visitor attractions. Tauranga resident Catherine Hunt organised a petition that gathered 1688 signatures supporting her idea.
However the council unanimously agreed not to support the petition, with Mayor Stuart Crosby saying that Moturiki was no longer an appropriate site for this type of activity.
Mr Crosby and councillors supported the idea of a water fun park at another location, facilitated by private enterprise.
Councillor Matt Crowley said there was no way the project would ever get through an Environment Court appeal process if the council had agreed.
The petition comprised a picture of the 1981 water fun park with the words 'Bring back the fun to Leisure Island" Enjoyed by everyone ... Your support is needed to have a great water funpark on the island. Please sign and register your support.'
Moturiki Island is a site of historical significance to Tangata Whenua. It was originally a defended Maori Pa site with the terraces being clearly visible until 1940. In 1910, a quarry was established taking rock from the southern edge of the Moturiki Pa for the construction of the Tauranga to Taneatua and Tauranga to Waihi railway lines. The quarry was closed in 1926.
In 1966 the old quarry site was leased out to allow a Marineland Park onside, where six burials were discovered. Marineland operated for 15 years before closing in 1981, when the Leisure Island fun park opened with bumper boats, hot and cold pools and a waterslide.
The former owner of Leisure Island previously told the Bay of Plenty Times the water park was uneconomic and rebuilding would create a double up with the Mount Hot Saltwater Pools.
Leisure Island Tauranga. Photo/file
Spencer (Spinner) Black took ownership of Leisure Island, which opened on Moturiki in 1981, as part payment for his shares in the Rainbow Corporation which owns Rainbow's End theme park in Manukau.
Mr Black, who lives in Morrinsville, said the popular attraction was profitable during the summer season, but had to make enough in three months to cover a year of costly maintenance and staffing.
Last year, Mount Maunganui resident Catherine Hunt, and husband Thomas, started a petition in support of a water park being rebuilt on the island.
The couple aimed to present their petition for the pools to Tauranga City Council.
While Mr Black wished the couple luck, he did not see the need for more hot pools in Mount Maunganui.
