Discovery Parks Nagambie open day celebrates flood recovery

SOME 18 months has passed since major floods devastated regional Victoria and inundated one of the largest leisure parks in the Goulburn Valley: Discovery Parks Nagambie Lakes. After major flooding in mid-October 2022, the park was flooded again in January 2024. Discovery Parks Nagambie Lakes celebrated the completion of extensive recovery and rebuild works on Friday, April 12 at its official re-opening. The park management crew wanted to celebrate by hosting a community open day event, which drew more than 500 people. This was one way to thank locals who supported the flood-devastated park, and their staff and workmen from across the region who worked so hard to make the park ready for this re-opening day. The event also showed visitors and guests the park was once again open for business, and ready to host a healthy tourism boost in Nagambie and the local region. The celebration kicked off at 2pm and the Discovery Parks regional operations manager Sean Goggin gave a speech thanking the community for their ongoing support over the past 18 months, especially the local employees who have worked diligently and loyally to get the park up and running again. The park comes under Vic Parks, and Vic Parks president David Pratt was present to talk about the future of the park and other advice for those under Vic Parks' umbrella. Visitors enjoyed an afternoon of live music, snacks from local food trucks, family-friendly entertainment and activities, tours of the rebuilt park and river cruises on the Goulburn Explorer. HOW WAS THE PARK RESTORED? What followed the 2022 flood was more than a 12-month rebuild process as Discovery Parks set about ensuring the park would be more resilient to future flooding events against a backdrop of building supply and trade shortages, and further weather challenges that saw the park flooded again in January this year, requiring a temporary evacuation. Now, more than 50 cabins have been raised on stilts above major flood levels and extensive recovery works completed across the park, including returfing all grass camp sites, a full refit of the onsite conference centre and extensive repair works to park amenities including the communal kitchens, pool, tennis court, bouncing pillow and activity centre. The park is officially open again for business.