Fun park owner ignores orders to dismantle ‘unsafe’ rides

A NSW amusement park owner has admitted leaving “unsafe” rides and attractions assembled despite being ordered to be removed.

Amateur theme park operator John Bruce Grant has been found in contempt by the NSW Land and Environment Court after he ignored court orders to remove certain attractions at the Granties Maze at Foxground near Kiama.

The amusement park has more than 80 attractions and attractions connected to its namesake hedge maze.

There were no accidents at the park and Mr Grant was not accused of any other wrongdoing in relation to the amusement park.

The park’s attractions included an archery range, bumper cars, a giant slide, a “ninja” wall, zorb water cannons, hayrides and a quad bike track.

After years of disputes with Kiama City Council over development plans, the council won a legal tender in 2024, forcing Mr Grant to dismantle several tourist attractions.

Judge John Robson found that not only did Mr Grant fail to obtain council approval before establishing various tourist attractions, but many were “unsafe”.

The court was told Mr Grant, in his seventies, was the sole operator.

Mr Grant was brought to court again almost two years later because he had yet to dismantle the vehicles in question.

At a hearing last month the court was told Mr Grant had been visited three times by the council in 2025 to determine whether he had complied with the orders.

The court was told photos taken by a council worker showed the vehicles had not been dismantled, while other photos depicted the “massive dilapidated state” of various tourist attractions.

Mr Grant also told the worker he continued to advertise trips and attractions on television.

The court was told Mr Grant had been made aware of his responsibilities by the council on several occasions.

The park operator, who represented himself at the hearing, told the court that the vehicles in question were not in use and belonged to him.

He argued his actions were not “illegal” and said: “I asked for permission from the council in everything I did.”

However, Mr Grant accepted that he had not dismantled any of the vehicles properly and that all the dismantling was due to weather damage.

Judge Rachel Pepper handed down her verdict on Friday, finding there was “no doubt” Mr Grant was guilty of defamation.

“He did not comply with the dismantling order,” he said.

“The photographic evidence is particularly convincing… Many of the photographs showed fences surrounding some items… and in some cases made it clear that the attractions were surrounded by overgrown bushes or were not usable.

“(But) Grant’s obligation was not only to stop the use of the designated tourist attractions, but also to dismantle them. This did not happen.”

Mr Grant will appear in court again on June 12, with sentencing to be determined at a later date.