Australia

Surf Lakes’ Yeppoon dream just 18 months away


The revolutionary wave-making lake turning rural Queensland into a surfing mecca could be open to the public within “12 to 18 months”.

After upgrades, wave-making company Surf Lakes has resumed testing at Mulara, inland from Yeppoon, inviting pros and locals to trial and review its wave-pool as well as its newly created learn-to-surf area.

The site rocketed into headlines in 2018 when it was announced as a testing facility for Surf Lakes’ technology.

Since then, the company has lodged a development application with Livingstone Council, detailing plans to transform the site into the “ultimate surf getaway”, complete with restaurants, camping and glamping.

Surf Lakes’ general manager of global operations, Wayne Dart, told the ABC that the company expected a decision “in the next few months”.

“Once we have the application through, we’re actually starting from scratch with the commercial upgrades, he said. “There’s a lot of infrastructure that has to be developed.”

The site’s developers hope to create ‘something that is sustainable’ that gives back to the community.(

Supplied: Surf Lakes

)

That infrastructure includes access roads, a replacement of the wave-making machine with a “stronger mechanism designed for commercial capacity” as well as building a camping-glamping ground.

“It won’t be a concurrent sort of switchover, we’ll be waiting for the big grand opening,” he said.

Smiles, messages, anticipation

A young boy in a rashie and board shorts lying on a surf board and a young girl behind him paddling on her board
There were lots of happy faces during a recent trial day, says general manager Wayne Dart.(

Supplied: Surf Lakes

)

Mr Dart said Surf Lakes had recently upgraded its wave-making mechanism and was ready to “crank up” the testing process.

In the most recent trials last Friday, local surfers were treated to a day with pros Mark Occhilupo, Luca Doble and Dean Morrison at the site’s new learn-to-surf area, which Mr Dart said was recently created to allow up-and-comers to participate.

“There were so, so, so many happy faces,” he said.

Mr Dart said it was a testament to the company’s goals of “creating positive change with everything we do”.

A young girl high high-fives a man in a wet suit as he prepares to stand up on a surfboard
Surfing legend Mark Occhilupo tutors a young surfer at a open day at the Mulara site. (

Supplied: Surf Lakes

)

“We’re adamant that we create something that is sustainable and giving back,” he said.

“I get stoked when other people get stoked.



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