Prioritise Cleveland Aquatic Centre and Replace the Children's Slide
Principal Petitioner: Thea Hunter
Date of Receipt: 15 May 2026
At 10 signatures, this petition will be considered properly made.
Petition Request:
This petition calls on Redland City Council to urgently commit funding and provide a clear timeline for replacing the children’s slide removed from the Cleveland Aquatic Centre in May 2024. If media reports are correct that the slide was removed after reaching end of life, Council must prioritise its replacement. The Cleveland Aquatic Centre is a vital Council-owned community facility relied upon by local children, families, schools, and sporting groups. While Council has stated the Centre will remain operational and continue as the citywide aquatic centre for Redlands Coast, residents have seen the removal of children’s infrastructure without replacement, ongoing deterioration of facilities, and no publicly announced timeline for restoring the children’s play area. At the same time, Council continues supporting the proposed Olympic Whitewater Facility at Birkdale. We believe existing community facilities should be properly maintained and upgraded before major prestige projects are prioritised. We therefore call on Redland City Council to:
1. Fund the replacement of the children’s slide and upgrades to the aquatic play area in the next Council budget.
2. Publicly release a timeline for design, procurement, and installation.
3. Ensure the Cleveland Aquatic Centre remains a modern, family-friendly facility.
4. Prioritise investment in existing aquatic infrastructure before committing further resources to the proposed Olympic Whitewater Facility.
5. Provide transparent public reporting on future plans for the Centre.
Local families deserve safe and enjoyable community facilities now. PLEASE REPLACE THE SLIDE REMOVED IN 2024!
Petition Response (30 June 2026):
I refer to the petition presented to Council regarding the replacement of the children’s slide at the Cleveland Aquatic Centre. The petition has been received and referred to the Chief Executive Officer as an operational matter for response.
Council acknowledges the importance of the Cleveland Aquatic Centre as a valued community facility and appreciates the community’s interest in ensuring it remains a welcoming and family-friendly environment.
The children’s slide was removed in May 2024 following assessment that identified it had reached the end of its service life, including visible signs of deterioration. Removal of the asset was necessary to ensure the ongoing safety of facility users.
Since this time, Council has undertaken detailed assessments of potential replacement options. While preliminary investigations were conducted, including engagement with suppliers to obtain indicative proposals, the options explored have not met Council’s requirements in relation to safety, suitability, and ongoing operational considerations. As a result, Council will not be progressing with a like-for-like replacement of the slide at this time.
It is also noted that any future consideration of replacement infrastructure would need to meet current industry and safety standards, including updated Royal Life Saving Guidelines, which may influence design, configuration and cost.
At this stage, there are no confirmed plans, budget allocation, or timeline for replacement of the slide. Consideration of improvements to the Cleveland Aquatic Centre, including potential enhancements to play features, forms part of broader planning for the facility and surrounding precinct. These considerations aim to ensure the facility continues to meet the long-term needs of the Redlands Coast community.
Council will continue to consider community feedback, including this petition, as part of future planning processes.