Around 250 people attended Bathurst Aqua Park on Saturday – the Ben Chifley Dam site’s first day of trading – with a similar figure through the gates on Sunday.

“It’s what we’ve hoped for in the first weekend of the park’s operation,” park designer Mick Neville said.

Mr Neville, who owns two aqua parks on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, was hired by the Bathurst park’s owner Michael Hickey to help set up the venue.

“The water temperature’s not bad, it’s not really cold, and at the moment the water’s very clear,” Mr Hickey said.

Addressing concerns raised by Thursday’s announcement Bathurst Regional Council had raised the dam’s blue green algae alert to amber, Mr Neville reassured would-be visitors the water was still safe for swimmers.

“It’s safe for recreational use, it’s not safe as drinking water, but you shouldn’t be drinking the water anyway,” Mr Neville said.

“The water is tested twice weekly by the council.”

MAP: Where is the Bathurst Aqua Park …

Mr Neville’s statements were backed up by information on the Bathurst council website, as well the official WaterNSW website.

“If people follow sensible recommendations such as not swimming with an open wound and rinsing off after being in the water, then they have nothing to worry about,” he said.

“A lot of people spend more time on the actual aqua park than in the water anyway,” added Mr Hickey.

With favourable turnouts over the weekend, the aqua park is set to become a premier attraction in the region over the summer months.

“We’ve just had a lady from Parkes book in a school group for 200 people, numbers like that are good for Bathurst,” Mr Hickey said.

“It’s a great activity for all ages,” Mr Neville added.

The park is now open from 11am-5pm on Thursdays and Fridays, and 10am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.