Community Profile - January 4, 2018

Just weeks from now, Live Wire Park will be open and ready for action in Lorne. Only one kilometre from the beach and just 300 metres from the start of Erskine Falls Road, it boasts an attraction that is one of only five of its kind in the world and it will be one of the largest adventure parks worldwide.

Live Wire Park is a series of rope courses with 90 individual activities. There’s a course for children (Short Circuit), one for 16+ years (Super Circuit) and a 525 metre gravity fed roller coaster (Shock Wave zip coaster). A suspended bridge walkway (Canopy Circuit) follows the topography of the land for 140 metres and is compliant for wheelchairs as well. 30,000 to 40,000 adventure seekers are expected annually initially who Luke will encourage back to the main street to eat and stay over. Apart from the adventure offered, jobs will be available as well.

Safety at the park is of supreme importance which is managed by daily, monthly, biannual and annual checks from specially trained staff, arborists and the European company who installed the Park attractions.

The brainchild of Luke Nisbet and his dad Chris, and inspired by a well established French model, they began investigating the possibility for such a park in Lorne, six years ago. With the support of the community and its organisations and the Surf Coast Shire, Luke is very keen to publicly thank everyone who has helped make it happen.

Luke grew up and was educated in Melbourne. The regular holidays he had on the surf coast, as long as he can remember, explained his already strong attachment to the area which, after his parents bought a house in Lorne fifteen years ago, has only strengthened. Completing a degree in nusiness marketing he left for overseas and spent months travelling through Europe and UK. He returned home and joined the family business for 13 years before embarking on the Live Wire Park project.

Have you noticed the Aquatic Club bus around town sponsored by Live Wire Park? The anglers will tell you they enjoy very cold beer thanks to a fridge the Nisbets also donated. Impressively, community-minded Luke has also recently been appointed as the treasurer of the Lorne Business and Tourism Association.

Luke is hands on seven days a week park director but will travel twice yearly to the specialised French company who installed the project, to keep up to date with the latest in offerings and technology.

It seemed unreasonable to ask if he had other interests but with the energy he has, guess what? He is fanatical about music, and loves listening to vinyl and going to gigs. He surfs and hikes.

How will you know when Live Wire Park is open? He is inviting the school and the community to a trial. You will know!