Client project
Raging Water Sydney Action Park
Overview
Doolee Construction was engaged by Swimplex to undertake surface preparation and protective recoating of the external surfaces of the waterslides at Action Park Sydney (Raging Waters). The scope covered two separate slide towers, one comprising two large swirling slides, and the other comprising eight smaller slides.
Scope of work
- Surface Preparation — Prepare the fibreglass substrate by hand and mechanical sanding to a dull matt finish using P80 grit paper in accordance with the project coating specification.
- Cleaning — Wash down all prepared surfaces with clean, fresh water to remove preparation residue and ensure a sound base for the new coating system.
- Coating System Approval — Propose and gain approval for an alternative Hempel (Wattyl) system in lieu of the specified Dulux system.
- Protective Coating Application — Apply the approved two-coat Hempel system (Hempaprime Multi 500 primer at 150µm DFT and Hempaxane Light topcoat at 100µm DFT) to a total of 250 microns DFT, suited to a C3 service environment per AS/NZS 2312:2014.
- Colour & Finish — Apply topcoat colours strictly to the client's nominated colours, maintaining consistency across all ten slides spanning both towers.
- Programming & Sequencing — Sequence works across both slide towers while the park is closed to restore all ten slides to a like-new external finish ahead of the scheduled September 2026 reopening.
Challenges
- Confined Access Across Two Slide Towers
The works spanned two separate towers, one with two large swirling slides and the other with eight smaller, equally hard-to-reach slides, with boom lifts needing to be carefully manoeuvred through the tight, irregular gaps created by the slides' curved geometry. A dedicated access study was carried out ahead of works to plan safe boom lift movement and manoeuvring through these confined spaces, enabling the works to proceed safely across both towers.
- Poor Ground Conditions & Plant Mobility
Ground conditions across the site were soft, resulting in boom lifts becoming bogged during the works. This presented both a significant safety hazard, given the risk of plant instability, and a productivity hurdle. Ground mats were introduced to provide a stable working surface for the boom lifts, supported by dedicated toolbox talks addressing ground conditions and safe plant mobility across the site.
- Tight Program Ahead of Seasonal Reopening
With Raging Waters closed for the duration of the works and a fixed reopening date in the third week of September 2026, the program required careful coordination of preparation and coating activities across both towers and all ten slides. Through close coordination and prioritisation of work sequencing, the program was successfully managed and the works completed within the required timeframe.
Highlights
- Colour Accuracy to Client Specification Topcoat colours were dictated directly by the client for each slide. As colour codes were provided directly by Swimplex, colour matching was straightforward and did not present a significant challenge during the works, with consistency confirmed across all slides on both towers.
- Coating System Approval & Product Substitution The project was originally specified with a Dulux coating system. Doolee introduced an alternative Hempel system, which required review and approval by the client before works could proceed on that basis. Doolee arranged for the coating supplier to meet directly with the client, working collaboratively to reach agreement on the most suitable system and finalise the coating solution.
