Bunbury splash park to open by Christmas as construction begins again after birds nesting at site take flight

Construction of a highly-anticipated water play park in Bunbury has been given the green light to resume, after a pair of nesting birds put a halt to work. The loved-up pair of pied oystercatchers, pictured below, decided to build their nest at the development site for the city’s new splash park, causing construction work to be paused until the chicks had safely hatched. Touted as Bunbury’s next big tourism drawcard for families, the $1.7 million water playground will boast 40 shipwreck-themed features for children of all ages including a tipping bucket and spray posts. Work was halted on the project, which has been jointly funded by the City of Bunbury ($700,000) and Discovery Holiday Parks ($1m), at the end of October after the birds “decided it was a prime location to build their nest”. However, the City last week confirmed the chicks had since hatched and the family had taken off, meaning site work could re-commence. “The feathered duo nesting at the site of the water splash park have taken flight with their chicks,” the City wrote in a statement. “The development of the highly-anticipated splash park had come to a halt after a loved-up pair of pied oystercatchers decided it was the prime location to build their nest. “Since their departure works have now begun on site.” A Discovery Holiday Parks spokesperson said work was paused for no more than 10 days to allow for the chicks to hatch from the eggs. “We were pleased to see the chicks move on safely,” they said. “The water park is on track to open prior to Christmas, though the exact date is still to be confirmed.” Construction for the splash park began in April as part of Discovery Holiday Parks’ $8.5m expansion of its Bunbury Foreshore caravan park at Koombana Bay, which will have 26 new cabins, 38 powered sites and a multi-use dining and recreation room. The spokesperson said the entire project, including the new accommodation, would be complete before March 2022