Making a splash for Xmas

‘‘Lily Elias, 10, said she thought it would be a good place for 'little kids to get rid of their energy'.’’

Porirua’s long-awaited splash pad is set to open in time for Christmas.

After years of planning, the tap will be turned on at the $910,000 water park on Friday, December 22, during an afternoon of celebrations

‘‘This is the most anticipated event this year,’’ Porirua Mayor Mike Tana said. ‘‘It’s going to be a big Christmas present for our city.’’

With water restrictions in place around the Wellington region, the park’s water is treated on site, and then recirculated.

Tana said the city’s children had been waiting a long time and it was the perfect gift for the long hot summer ahead.

The opening comes over a year after the council released the designs for the attraction. First mooted in 2013 by Porirua resident Elaine Thomsen, the 250-square-metre splash pad has been built on the lawn of Aotea Lagoon, off Papakowhai Road.

Tana said the park would be a fantastic attraction for local families as well as visitors. It features three sections geared towards toddlers, families and teens.

The toddlers’ area includes low-level water squirters, misters and sprays, while the family area has jets of water in a variety of shapes and sizes, a rainbow of misty water and a rainforest that pours water.

The teen area has spray cannons, in-ground water jets and a 6-metre-high water bucket dumper called the Supersplash. The attraction will operate during daylight hours that will vary through the year.

Monitoring systems are in place, so if there are any water quality issues it will shut off automatically, and landscaping will create a grassed picnic lawn with extra seating and an embankment to provide wind shelter.

Councillor Ross Leggett said the council was thrilled to be able to open the splash pad in time for Christmas and summer.

There had been 22 extra car parks added to help cope with the expected popularity of the new feature, he said.

On Thursday, 10-year-old Lily Elias said she was looking forward to being able to cool down at the splash pad and thought it would be a good place for ‘‘little kids to get rid of their energy’’.

The opening celebration will run from 1pm till 3pm with free icecream, tea and coffee, and a sausage sizzle, while supplies last.

There will also be music and rides on the miniature train for a gold coin donation.