APRIL 30, 2016: Aqua Fun Park Mackay at Andergrove is a enterprising venture which not only boosts Mackay’s tourism offering but provides much-needed jobs for youth. It is in danger of being lost to the region and I'm keen to see what I can do to help.A government handout is not appropriate for a private business but if a not-for-profit organisation acquired equipment as a community asset and leased it out to a business to manage, that may be a viable solution.Operators Amanda Pelagalli and Kirk Langford have told me they lease their inflatable water park equipment and it will not be available to them next summer. So they need to buy their own equipment. This is a community-based tourism facility which helps Mackay to diversify and provide more reasons for visitation. Importantly it also provides casual employment for as many as 50 young people in our city, at a time when jobs for our kids are hard to find.I'm gathering information at this stage, but I'm keen to see the park stay afloat because this is about jobs for our kids and tourism options for our visitors.MORE OF THE STORYThe inflatable water park finished its first summer season in Mackay last weekend.The operators need to secure the money to buy their own inflatable water park, as well as the safety equipment such as life jackets needed to operate it.This will cost them about $150,000. They've been to the bank, but have been knocked back.Aqua Fun Park Mackay manager Ms Pelagalli said the attraction had strong community support, and was starting to attract visitors from further afield.“We opened last September after conducting a public campaign to gauge the level of support, and we had 5000 people sign up to our survey within a week,” Ms Pelagalli said.“The community here at Andergrove Lakes got behind it, and we have schools from throughout the district looking for activities for their students.“We love the concept because it’s something that families can do together.“I’m fielding lots of questions from people asking if we’ll be operating next summer, and I really don’t know what to tell them at the moment.“I want to re-employ every one of the 50 young people, aged between 14 and 24, who have worked with us through the season and they all want to come back.“We’re pulling out all stops so we can find a way to buy out own equipment."USING some powers of persuasion with me in the quest to keep the park afloat are manager Amanda Pelagalli, lifeguards Will Webley and Tess Search, and assistant manager Amy Paul.