NLand Surf Park Responds to Travis County Lawsuit
Released July 15, 2016 at 11:56am PDT
Photo: NLand Surf Park
Dear NLanders,
Thank you for your overwhelming support over the past week. You’ve rallied around NLand and we’re grateful for this community of surfers and supporters from Austin and across the globe.
As you might know, the Travis County Commissioners Court authorized a lawsuit against NLand, which was filed yesterday. They believe our lagoon—which is 45 times larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool—should be regulated simply as a “public swimming pool.”
To protect our Constitutional rights, we have filed a lawsuit against the County, its health department and the individuals on the Court.
Throughout its development, NLand has focused on building a state-of-the-art facilities that feature water treatment, filtration, world-class surfing and environmentally-friendly practices. Our efforts have accomplished that goal.
Unfortunately, Travis County officials and the Travis County Commissioners Court have refused to engage in conversation. They have not acknowledged our studies or asked one question to gain perspective in this matter. Instead, they have tried to inflame the conversation by suggested we could have amoebas in our lagoon. If they’re so concerned about amoebas, you’d think they would take a look at the studies or talk to us about our water treatment systems.
NLand Surf Park recently hosted an orientation day for more than 150 new team members. Photo: NLand Surf Park
Rather than listen, the County filed a lawsuit against us. This is just a bad decision for the county, for its residents, and our employees, including more than 50 teenagers from Del Valle and Cedar Creek who have joined our team. The Court has the ability to change course and meet with us to find solutions that work for everyone in Travis County. In fact, the county health department has the authority to do exactly that.
Believe us, we would rather be on the water with you than in a courtroom arguing about regulations.
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NLand Surf Park Responds – Press Release via NLandSurfPark.com
Despite NLand Surf Park’s repeated efforts to have a dialogue with Travis County about safety at our world-class facility, the Travis County Commissioners Court has refused to work with us towards a solution that would ensure the safety of park visitors while recognizing the unique aspects of regulating such a large body of water. Instead, on July 5th, the Travis County Commissioners Court authorized county attorneys to file a lawsuit against NLand, which they did yesterday.
We do not want to be in court, but the County has forced our hand. It is treating us differently than other, comparable facilities, and applying regulations in an irrational and unfair way. To defend ourselves against the County’s aggressive action, we filed a lawsuit in Federal Court. The County has violated our constitutional right to equal protection of the law.
NLand has worked with the world’s best engineers to ensure safety in all aspects of our park’s operation. Yet the county has refused to gain understanding of our studies by engaging in dialogue with us. If they’re concerned about amoebas, we invite them to look at the studies or talk to us about our water treatment systems.
Blindly applying regulations for public swimming pools would waste millions of gallons of water and endanger our guests due to the fact that it is 45 times larger than an Olympic-size swimming pool.
As the first surf park in North America and the largest in the world, NLand is committed to safety and environmental stewardship. The park features state-of-the-art rainwater harvesting, filtration and treatment systems that capture every raindrop that falls on the park’s 160 acres. This system lowers the environmental impact and ensures our lagoon has clean and safe water. Our highly engineered filtration process underscores the value we place on public safety and conservation.
Today, NLand employs nearly 200 people in the greater Austin area, including more than 50 teenagers from Del Valle and Cedar Creek. To build the park, NLand partnered with over 30 companies with an Austin presence, infusing tens of millions of dollars into the Austin and Travis County economies. When it opens, 500,000 visitors from across the world will come to visit us in Travis County.
We implore the Commissioners to understand our studies, talk with us and ask questions so they gain perspective in this matter. The Commissioners Court has the ability to change course and meet with us to find solutions that work for everyone in Travis County. In fact, the County Health Department has the authority to do exactly that.
Our goals align: to provide a safe venue and bring economic growth to Austin and especially Del Valle. We look forward to sharing our love of surfing with Austin and the world soon.
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