Wagga Water Whizz and the popular Bumper Boats on a postcard from the late 1980s. Photo: Supplied.
As the days become longer and warmer and the need to cool off becomes more apparent, the thoughts of Wagga residents will once again turn to the good old days slipping and sliding on the iconic Wagga Water Whizz or its later incarnation, the Rippa Slippa.
Inevitably, someone will post a hazy old pic of the curling fibreglass slide and the comments section will overflow with misty-eyed memories and laments that Wagga can Whizz no more.
One of the biggest surprises of this council election is that no candidate chose to run on a waterslide platform in Wagga.
Could there be a better vote winner or a single topic with such unanimous support across all demographics? Sure, roads, rates and rubbish are important, but they are not very sexy and represent the bare minimum that we should expect.
If any candidate had declared themself the ”Waterslide for Wagga” ticket, I’d expect them to have whizzed to victory on a wave of public support!
The Water Whizz was relocated and reborn as the Rippa Slippa in 1992. Photo: Wagga City Library.
Through the summers of the 1980s and early ’90s, Water Whizz was the main event at Wagga Beach along with the Bumper Boats (a tractor tube with a seat and a motor) and the in-ground trampolines.
The Water Whizz was moved to the Wagga City Baths and an expanded version was opened as the Rippa Slippa in January 1992. Sadly, it did not survive into the next millennium.
The ghost of the Water Whizz lives on in the spectacular new adventure play-park at Wagga’s revitalised Riverside Precinct which based part of its design on the popular waterslide. But of course, flooding aside, the slides are disappointingly dry.
The design of the new Riverside Adventure Park pays homage to the Wagga Water Whizz. Photo: Moduplay.
Over the years, there have been concerted efforts to bring the waterslides back and in 2019 former mayor Greg Conkey indicated his enthusiasm for a ‘slippa’ to be included in the $65-million Bolton Park master plan.
In July of 2024, Wagga City Council adopted a new Playground Strategy that will guide recreational developments over the next two decades.
Community feedback included recommendations for improved fencing and shade and – most importantly – the majority called for the creation of a splash park.
While the term “splash park” is vague and suggests more of a toe-paddling toddler vibe than some wet and wild whizzing, let’s hope it is the thin edge of the wedge and public support can split this issue wide open.
Who wants to see the mighty slide raised against Wagga’s skyline once again?
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