Melbourne to have a new wave pool

Melbourne in Australia will soon have a new leisure destination for surfing enthusiasts. The construction is scheduled to begin this year on the southern hemisphere’s first man-made wave pool.

The wave pool will be built on a 7-hectare plot near Tullamarine, which is just a km away from Melbourne’s central business district.

Perth-based architecture firm, MJA Studio and surf park developer, Wave Park Group are behind the project. It will be called ‘Urbnsurf’ and will incorporate lagoon-side amenities, playgrounds, skate ramps and mountain bike tracks.

The park will be developed applying Wavegarden technology. Generating waves from half-a-metre to almost 2 metres high, the new wave pool will feature 3 different zones to accommodate surfers of different skill levels. Additionally, surfers will be allowed to use the facility throughout the day — including under lights at night and in controlled situations.

Andrew Ross, executive chairman of the Wave Park Group, explained that the state of Victoria’s great natural surf was not accessible to surfers as it was too far from metropolitan  populations. He said the new wave pool would geographically unlock the popular surfing activity for the average Victorian by delivering the same wave quality but within an hour of the city. Urbnsurf is expected to open in late 2017.