Multimillion-dollar upgrade for fun park

Rotorua's Leisure World is to undergo a multimillion-dollar upgrade.

The Rotorua fun park told the Daily Post it has been cleared by the Department of Labour after an investigation into whether parts of the Marguerita St attraction were unsafe.

Now Leisure World is to go ahead with its plans to build a $6 million to $8 million fun park including an 8000sq m lagoon and bures (island huts).

A Wellington couple contacted the department and the Daily Post with a list of complaints when they visited the park on December 30. A child who got into trouble in a pool received medical treatment from St John officers, they said.

Other complaints included rusted steps leading to the hydroslide, rotting and discoloured matting surrounding the spa pool and a staff member not washing hands or wearing gloves while preparing food.

Leisure World owner Mike McGurk told the Daily Post he had been given the all clear by the department and now felt exonerated by the positive assessment of the fun park facilities.

"Every item [in the list of complaints] they had was complied with," he said.

"The water quality was perfect. The staff's attendance had been recorded in the log books ... the only thing we could not confirm was whether [the staff member] had washed her hands. I was not there so I could not tell you 100 per cent whether she had done that."

Department officials said a report on Leisure World in response to the complaint was due today.

Mr McGurk he had purchased land including the steeplechase course at the neighbouring Arawa Park racecourse to help with Leisure World's expansion.

Mr McGurk, who has owned Leisure World since 2001, made an attempt to redevelop the park about three years ago, however those were scuttled after a neighbour complained about parking issues. Mr McGurk is also behind a massive $50 million redevelopment at the Spa Hotel in Taupo, which he also owns, and was aiming to begin the reconstruction of that facility in May.