Australia-based theme park operator Village Roadshow has secured the long-term management rights to Phoenix Waterworld Safari water park in Maricopa County, Arizona, US.

The company will operate the property, a 14.5-hectare site located within the 600-hectare Adobe Dam Regional Park, on behalf of Maricopa County Parks & Recreation Department.

Village Roadshow will take control of the park on 1 October this year and plans to invest in the region of US$25m to expand the attraction over the 2009-10 seasons.

Village Roadshow's managing director, Graham Burke, said: "The Phoenix transaction represents a major step forward in our plans to take our highly successful Gold Coast water park formula to the United States.

"The Phoenix market is a superb fit for our business, with its long hot summers and year round warm climate. With nearly 4.2 million people living in the Phoenix metropolitan area, and over 13.5 million overnight visitors to Phoenix each year, we have the vital ingredients in place to create something special."

Village Roadshow also acquired the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Oahu, Hawaii in May this year and has recently announced plans to buy aussie World on Australia's Sunshine Coast.