Below are reports from the sessions held at this year’s conference: Indoor Play; Go Karting; Waterparks and Aquatic Centres; and Zoos, Wildlife Parks, Aquariums and Museums.

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Indoor Play

I would like to again thank the Panel of Speakers at this years Indoor Play Session, Professor David Eager, Professor of Engineering UTS; Mike Burchett, Supabounce; Tim Newman Morris, Lollipops Franchise Manager, AALARA Board; Ken Smith, Megamania.

They presented the members and delegates with an informed update of the Draft Standard for Indoor Play Facilities. All the panel are members of the ME-051 Sub-Committee for Indoor Play.

Professor Eager brought along some of his testing equipment, probes used to determine entrapment hazards and the rig used to perform the Impact Attenuation Test Method after explaining the method and terminology he performed tests on impact attenuating materials, definitely the highlight of the session.

A special thanks to our sponsor, Ryan Gillatt, Rhinoplay.

Jeana Zacchini Chair Indoor Play, AALARA Board

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Go Karting Industry Forum

A successful breakout session was held with Go Kart operators at the recent AALARA Conference.

The forum brought together owners and operators of Go Karting parks from around Australia and has enabled the industry operators to communicate through AALARA to the ME-51 committee of Standards Australia.

AALARA has engaged the services of a Certified Structural Engineer to conduct a report on barriers on go karting tracks.

This report will be submitted to Australian Standards along with other submission from the go karting committee later this year.

Gary Wachter Chair Go Karting

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Waterparks and Aquatic Centres Industry Forum

This forum was successfully conducted with 30 colleagues from across the aquatics industry with representation from large theme parks, smaller operators and local government facility management.

Session sponsor Craig White (Water Play) and panel members Jim Eddy (Jamberoo Action Park) and Lee Carter (Wet’n’Wild) presented short papers to stimulate discussion.

The major issues facing the aquatics industry continue to be staff recruitment and retention; risk management and safety strategies; and maximizing available water resources.

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Zoos, Wildlife Parks, Aquariums and Museums The team that delivered this session were extremely pleased with the support of the attendees.

The session was full and actually required additional seating to cater.

We put this down to the fact that the session was new to the conference and the extremely high standard of the Panel.

Covering significant business areas such as visitor education and new and innovative product the team was made up of CEO Sydney Attractions Group, Kevin Bush, the acting Commercial Manager of the world famous Taronga Zoo, Susan Baker and the wonderfully talented Rebecca Collins from Queensland Museum South Bank.

All panel speakers delivered an intimate, open and fresh look into their respective businesses.

We look forward to further business discussions from this section of the attractions industry next and given the questions raised in the session we may look at the revenue generation areas of retail food and beverage and sponsorship.

Thanks to all who participated.


Paul Sexton

Chair Zoos, Wildlife Parks, Aquariums, Museums Sub Committee