Warner Village Theme Parks has begun a AUS$20 million expansion of its Wet’n’Wild Water World theme park on the Gold Coast.

The first stage of the development will open in September 2005 and includes a children’s aquatic playground.

An upgrade of Mammoth falls, which will allow for greater capacity, will also be completed in September.

A new ‘kids only’ area will feature a number of interactive elements and complement the park’s existing play and activity zones.

Upgrades to other slides and pools will take place as part of the program. The remainder of the expansion programme will be rolled out over the next three years.

Sea World’s Water Park will also be upgraded this year. State-of-the-art water slides are due to be installed in the theme park, which already has giant swimming and wading pools.

WVTP has invested in two other facilities in the last 12 months.

Last year, it spent AUS$13m on the new Shark Bay attraction at Sea World and in September, opened a park showcasing indigenous Australian activities such as sheep shearing, boomerang throwing and kangaroo feeding, called Paradise Country.

Chief Executive Officer of Warner Village Theme Parks, John Menzies says the expansion plans for Wet’n’Wild further demonstrate the group’s commitment to sustaining the appeal of the Gold Coast as Australia’s leading tourist destination.

“This expansion programme will really establish the strength of Wet’n’Wild Water World as the only water theme park choice for visitors young and old, from every market.” Details: +61 7 5588 2222