PLANS to open the $5 million Pirates Cove Adventure Golf theme park at Hillarys Boat Harbour have been terminated, with directors blaming delays and exposure about a past link between the family behind the project and a British serial paedophile.

Pirates Cove recently got the go-ahead for two 18-hole adventure golf courses and a Double FlowRider surf machine at the former Great Escape waterslide park.

“We are deeply disappointed and saddened we are unable to make this project work as it would have added to the community and to Perth,” Pirates Cove Adventure Golf director Ben Gorvin said.

The adventure golf concept — an Australian first — was greeted with enthusiasm when it was announced on September 12.

Just over a week later, three contractors working on the project withdrew after learning of a past association between a now deceased serial child rapist William Alexander Goad and the family behind the development.

Ken Gorvin, a shareholder of Pirates Cove and the father of the company’s two directors, was Goad’s British business partner for more than two decades.

The 58-year-old said last month that he had no knowledge of Goad’s crimes at the time they occurred and was himself thoroughly investigated resulting in no action or charges being laid against him.

Yesterday, Ben Gorvin said the publicity associating the project with Goad “has had a negative impact” and would have delayed the initial March opening until October next year.

“We just can’t afford to wait that long and cover all the costs until then,” he said.

“The coverage tainted the project by association ... and has also diminished our enthusiasm to push ahead with it. Replacing these contractors would cause huge delays.

“We are deeply saddened that the actions of William Goad 20 years ago have affected a wonderful potential project in Perth today and we want to reiterate that these matters are not in any way associated with the Pirates Cove venture.”

Wyllie Group has a ground lease over the Great Escape at Hillarys Boat Harbour, which is owned by the Department of Transport.

Chief operating officer Todd Morcombe said Wyllie Group was also disappointed the adventure golf plan had been shelved after 18 months and “a lot of work” by all the stakeholders.

“At this stage we are exploring alternatives for the site,” he said.

Devon and Cornwall police records show that Ken Gorvin offered to stand surety for Goad’s bail after his arrest in 2003.

The documents also say that the men travelled together on a train in England before Goad was arrested.