A WATERSLIDE playground proposed for a Hastings Point caravan park has attracted opposition from local residents.

Tweed Shire Councillors on Thursday night are set to vote on an application for a $650,000 water slide play ground for visitors of North Star Holiday Resort and Caravan Park on Tweed Coast Rd.

The proposed plans include replacing existing waterslides with two bigger enclosed slides, over 60m in length, off an 8.5m tower. Inside the slides contrasting panels create a flashing light effect for riders.

According to council documents, Polin Waterpark Systems, “a global leader with over 2500 waterpark projects in 83 countries”, helped with the design for the European-standard slides.

Proposed operating hours are 9am-6pm in the summer and 10am-4pm in the winter, as an ancillary use to the caravan park which borders a road reserve and service station to the east and Cudgen Nature Reserve to the north.

Councillors are expected to debate the DA as council received 149 submissions from the community in relation to the application, 73 provided on a template letter.

Some nearby residents were worried about noise, the development not keeping with the “village atmosphere”, “catastrophic” impact on flora and fauna, and taking away Hasting’s “character/uniqueness/natural beauty.”

Another concern alluded to objections of the Gold Coast theme park lifestyle.

“There are theme parks galore with all the fast food outlets associated with them close enough for holidaymakers to access without having our own version here,” said one opponent.

Council’s director of planning and regulation Vince Connell said it had made a comprehensive analysis of all the relevant statutory planning controls and detailed responses to the issues of concern raised.

“On the balance of these statutory and merit considerations, the officers have recommended a conditional approval,” Mr Connell said.

It’s proposed only registered patrons of the resort are able to use the facility.