IT IS with a heavy heart that I pen this letter.

On September 17, I will reopen the Airlie Aqua Park, but unfortunately for locals and tourists of this great town it will not be here.

Since being forced to close, I have endured sleepless nights and bouts of anxiety over "what to do now”.

An opportunity was presented to me to buy a half-share in AquaSplash on the Gold Coast, so as of Saturday I say farewell to the place I called home for the past 14 years.

Since my forced closure last September, I have had no less than 15 meetings with council, including past and present mayors, all councillors and the council executive.

I have put forward many ideas to be able to reinstate the fun, family attraction.

Although I am leaving, I have made it known to the powers that be that I would return to reopen if approved.

I sincerely hope that council will facilitate the return in the not-too-distant future, as there is not a day that goes by that I don't get pulled up by community members asking when it will return.

I set out in good faith to provide a fun, family activity and bore all the associated risks in a new start-up business, and I'd do the same in a heartbeat if invited to return.

If this is something that you, as a community, would like to see back, then make it known to our elected councillors, for without their support it will fade into a distant memory.