Fines not fun for park owner as rickety rides remain

An elderly war veteran who has sunk $10 million into his own amusement park has been hit with litigation instead of laughs over his dilapidated rides.

John Bruce Grant set up Granties Maze and Fun Park near Kiama on the NSW south coast in 1983 about four years after returning from military service in Vietnam.

Reopened in 2005 after a long period of being shuttered, the 30-hectare park expanded to include a garden maze, archery range, bumper cars, canoes, zorb balls and more.

In December 2024, Mr Grant was ordered to dismantle a slew of attractions after a successful legal bid by Kiama Municipal Council at the NSW Land and Environment Court.

"Many attractions have aged and are neither fit for purpose nor repairable, and are unsafe for use," said Judge John Robson at the time.

Mr Grant was also the only person operating the rides, making it physically impossible for him to be supervising everything, the court found.

The rides remained on site almost a year and a half later, leading the council to sue the funpark owner again, this time for contempt.

On Friday, Judge Rachel Pepper found there was "no doubt whatsoever" Mr Grant was in contempt of court.

He had not dismantled the equipment as required but had rather fenced it off and made it out-of-bounds for visitors.

"They haven't been used," he told the court under oath.

"They are my property."

Mr Grant admitted that pieces were missing from the Giant Slide because of 100km winds blowing the structure rather than anything he had done.

A hearing for further penalties, including possible fines, will be set down for a later date.

After first suing Mr Grant in 2022, Kiama council enlisted the help of theme park expert Clinton Ford to inspect Granties Maze.

Mr Ford has experience in recommissioning theme parks, including Dreamworld on the Gold Coast after four people died on the River Rapids ride in 2016.

"The concept of Granties Maze is a novel and heartwarming idea where children and adults can experience outdoor entertainment," Mr Ford wrote after visiting Mr Grant's park.

"However the practical reality is that the business is not organised, nor does it have the capacity to deliver those entertainment features."

There have been no incidents of accidents or fatalities at the park and Mr Grant has not been accused of any other wrongdoing.

AAP has contacted him for comment.