Australian man ordered to take down giant waterslide he built in his back garden

An Australian man who erected a giant, multi-coloured water slide in his back garden has been ordered to take it down by the local council.

Luke Newton, from Perth, built the slide with help from his friends. But he has been told to remove it within 14 days because of safety concerns.

The 25-year-old said the 12m-long slide has “brought the local community together and spread happiness,” adding the reaction from his neighbours has been “nothing but positive”.

He told The Telegraph: “The slide was given to me by my neighbour’s mate who wanted it gone from the warehouse he purchased. The previous owners were an indoor kids’ playground.

“The entire street has come around to see it and have a go, the adults are even more keen than the kids!”

A timelapse video posted to Mr Newton's Instagram page shows the slide being constructed:

Mr Newton said he was contacted by local Mayor Albery Jacob after a complaint from a resident worried about the risk of injury and death.

The council said the slide had breached local laws and did not adhere to building regulations. Mr Newton has been given two weeks to deconstruct it.

But he claims no one from the council has come to inspect the slide.

“All they've seen is an outdated photo on the internet and then sent me a vague letter saying it needs to go,” he told the Telegraph.

The machinist adds he is “most definitely” going to fight the council’s decision.

“This slide has brought my local community together and spread happiness,” he says.

“And even more than that, it represents the ongoing fight that everyone faces against the council and local governments to keep their individualism and freedom to do what they like and not be constantly slammed down by ‘the man’.”