Ian Clark is an outdoor recreation pioneer who’s given thrill seekers a unique reason to visit Melbourne: to rip it up at Victoria’s only cable wakeboarding lake facility. Inspired by trips overseas, he returned with an ambition to build something special at home and our groundwater has helped him grow an award-winning business with a big heart.
The Melbourne Cable Park is located about 40 minutes southeast of the city centre in Bangholme and welcomes around 100,000 visitors each year. Ian said the business idea was born in 2014.
“We started out as a water sports distribution business in Australia and saw the growth of cable wakeboard parks across the world and thought ‘wow, wouldn’t it be great to bring this to Melbourne’,” he said.
To get his project off the ground Ian needed to secure some project finance, a planning permit, a lease and most importantly, access to secure water.
“The site we landed on was originally part of Melbourne’s bid for the 1996 Olympics and has easy access to groundwater. It ticked all the boxes, and we opened in 2017,” he said.
Water is fundamental to Ian’s business that employs about 80 staff over the peak summer months.
“We have a 750 megalitre groundwater licence and pump water from around 60 metres underground,” he said.
“It comes out amazingly clean and pure, enters our lake system where it filters through our gravity fed pools.
“The riders who wakeboard on the lakes create bubbles and aerate the water, which actually improves the quality slightly before it exits our property out into the river system,” he said.
Ian said they deal with a lot of government departments and praised Southern Rural Water as being one of the best to work with.
“It doesn't matter if we're talking to the admin team or to the field staff, they are always professional and helpful,” he said.
“Southern Rural Water provide excellent advice, and they help guide our business in relation to the best way to use our water,” he said.
Like many savvy business owners, Ian is investing in renewable energy and cutting-edge technology to reduce emissions and ramp up efficiency. For example, an autonomous mower now cuts grass across Melbourne Cable Park.
“We call him ‘Bob from accounts’ because this robot has saved us significantly on-site maintenance,” he said.
“You simply program in where you want him to cut and he’ll go off to complete the job and then take himself back to the recharge station,” he said.
Ian said they’ve also installed a 75-kilowatt solar system on the roof of the main building that powers the park – including the groundwater pumps – and almost takes them off the grid in peak summer days.
They’re also investigating equipment and technology that will allow them to use thermal energy to heat and cool their building and lakes.
“We're looking at some heat exchange systems that involves priming our cooling system using water in the lake – which is around 25°C in summer – to reduce the air temperature in our buildings – typically around 35°C, and that saves us 10°C worth of energy,” he said.
“So, to get to a 23°C room temperature, we only have to move the needle from 25 to degrees 23°C by using the water in the lake to do the cooling,” he said.
Walking around the park, it’s clear to see Ian is passionate about providing fun experiences for people. He also takes his social licence seriously with a generous community support program proving the good vibes are baked into Melbourne Cable Park’s philosophy.
“We provide local charities, schools, clubs and eligible not-for-profit organisations complementary vouchers for fundraising events,” he said.
“We also do a lot of behind the scenes work with other charities, particularly those supporting young kids living with cancer. And we run a homeless meal programme that has produced over 15,000 meals for those in need,” he said.
Ian said his team love the charity days and the staff roster is usually oversubscribed because so many always want to give back to the community.
So, next time you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience, check out the Melbourne Cable Park and immerse yourself in high-octane adventure powered by the groundwater we supply. You’re welcome.