Everything posted by New display name
- **Hold Onto Your Hats! **Roller Coaster Functions Normally** Apocalypse Cancelled**
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‘How we keep Dreamworld thrills safe’
@Smol bean @Prequel Choose your AI generated reply. "Jobs are like Snapchat filters—always changing, sometimes disappearing. Graphic designers, welcome to the club of ‘adapt or vanish’!" "Job roles come and go like fashion trends. Today it’s graphic designers, yesterday it was elevator operators, tomorrow… who knows?" "Graphic designers, don’t worry—you’re just the latest in a long line of jobs learning the hard lesson: evolve, pivot, or become a museum exhibit."
- ‘How we keep Dreamworld thrills safe’
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Village Roadshow accuses executives of $1m dodgy dealings
Village Roadshow has stood down executives in its theme parks business after identifying what it has described as the misuse of company funds and deliberate misreporting of transactions to hide these activities. The entertainment giant, now owned by BGH Capital, is one of the country’s largest cinema operators and runs its biggest theme parks including Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild on the Gold Coast. On Wednesday, Village Roadshow chief executive Clark Kirby told staff at least $1 million in inappropriate payments had been found “with the total amount likely to increase as the investigation continues”. It is unclear which executives have been stood down. But Village Roadshow has brought in forensic accountants and lawyers to investigate, people briefed on those inquiries who spoke on condition of anonymity said. Village Roadshow had launched its review after being told in February that executives had allowed some suppliers to charge the company more in exchange for benefits including cars and fuel cards, they added. In his note to staff, Kirby said inquiries had “identified very concerning serious conduct involving misuse of company funds and resources by current and former senior executives for their personal benefit”, pointedly adding there had been “recent changes in the … leadership”. “I was shocked to find this had occurred and grateful that it was brought to my, and the board’s attention,” Kirby said of the payments. The Village Roadshow board has yet to decide whether to refer the matter to Queensland Police, but may do so once the investigation is complete. https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/village-roadshow-accuses-executives-of-1m-dodgy-dealings-20260401-p5zkm8?utm_source=afr-web&utm_medium=share_article&utm_campaign=companies&utm_term=product_feature
- Motocoaster Permanent Closure
- Motocoaster Permanent Closure
- Motocoaster Permanent Closure
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Motocoaster Permanent Closure
I suggested months ago, as long as the track could handle it (non engineer) Intamin have been talking about been able to change trains to spinning trains. Was Greg being extra cheeky with with the play on spin? Intamin can replace standard coaster trains with spinning trains, notably through their specialized Multi Dimension Coaster technology, which allows cars to rotate 360 degrees and utilize turntables for a dynamic, controlled spin experience. These trains can offer varied experiences, from free-spinning to controlled, and can be integrated into new or existing coaster layouts. We don’t know why MC suddenly closed, but these are my two leading Intamin based theories, assuming the track is still operational and they’re just swapping the trains. First: a spinning coaster conversion. Second: (dark ride) with a multi-directional coaster train, although that started to feel redundant once I remembered JR already fills that niche. Spinning coaster Multi-directional At the end of the day, DW could scrap the MC entirely and retain the station. They could even repurpose the station into a walkthrough attraction.
- VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
- VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
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VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
Parks that constantly run sales start to look like an outlet mall rather than a premium attraction. Once guests see a park as “cheap,” it’s hard to push prices back up. Cheap tickets can pack the park. That sounds great until: ride lines explode staffing costs increase maintenance gets heavier After the 2016 accident, attendance collapsed. To get people back through the gates, the park leaned heavily on very cheap tickets and aggressive annual pass deals. Attendance slowly recovered, cheap annual passes brought locals back The market has got used to very low prices and revenue per guest has stayed weak and dropping. The park had less money to invest in major new rides So now when attendance has improved, the park isn't swimming in cash. It’s like filling a bucket that has a few holes drilled in the side. My view is, DW has reinvented itself as the Aldi of theme parks, you only go because it's cheap.
- VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
- VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
- VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
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VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
Anyone can fill a park. The trick is filling it with people who buy lunch because a park full of people looks good in photos, but a park full of people buying churros, plush toys, and $12 soft drinks is what the accountants frame on the wall. You’re adding all these new attractions, so the last thing you should be doing is discounting tickets to get people in. If the rides are doing their job, the marketing department shouldn’t have to dress up as a clearance sale.
- VRTP Premium Annual Passholder Perks
- Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster Overhaul
- Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster Overhaul
- Aussie World's approved DA drawings.
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Aussie World's approved DA drawings.
I’m about 50/50 on whether Aussie World plans to build this themselves or if they’re getting the DA approval ready to sell the land or bring a partner onboard. The looping water slide makes me think the project might be drifting a bit outside their comfort zone. That’s the sort of ride where the insurance company suddenly wants a meeting. In the end, the plans say “indicative only,” which is planning-speak for, don’t fall in love with any of these slides.
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Aussie World's approved DA drawings.
Council approves new Aussie World waterpark catering for up to 1800 people a day ByChris Gilmore 10 March 2026 The Sunshine Coast is set to be home to a new waterpark after Aussie World’s proposal to build a $60 million facility was given the green light. The plan to build the waterpark on privately owned land to the north of the existing Palmview attraction was approved, subject to conditions, by Sunshine Coast Council on March 6. Aussie World’s parent company Timevale Pty Ltd initially submitted the development application in June 2024, with the concept design featuring 16 waterslides for all ages and numerous pools and waterplay areas. The waterpark is also set to include food and beverage outlets, a pool bar, sun lounges, cabanas and souvenir shop. The council issued a request for further information in July 2024, with Aussie World responding via town planners Project Urban in June last year. Further advice was provided by council in July, with the applicants replying in December. The council’s approval includes 105 conditions and has a currency period of six years. A minimum of 655 car parking spaces must be provided, with a two-storey car park to be built along Frizzo Connection Road, more than doubling the current capacity at Aussie World. The conditions also include measures to minimise impacts on residents of the Palmview Forest estate to the west, with the advice from council noting it had received a petition with about 300 signatures expressing concerns. “The residents raise residential amenity concerns, in particular about the proximity of the proposed rides and potential noise impacts,” it said. The conditions say any buildings, excluding waterslides, are limited to a maximum height of 15 metres. All slides must also be set back at least 50 metres from the western boundary, and any within 70 metres of that boundary are not permitted to exceed 35 metres. “Retention of a 30-metre-wide vegetated area (which will continue to contain mature trees) will also assist in visually screening the proposed development from nearby residences,” the documents state. Project Urban notes Aussie World also conducted a survey, with about 91 per cent of 765 respondents indicating support, and that some adjustments were made to the initial proposal in response to setback concerns. “The overall extent of the waterpark has been retained. However, rides have been relocated within the development footprint,” it said. Architectural plans by Future Design World provide more details about the plans for the waterpark. “The overall theming treatment for the Aussie World Water Park is based on nature and native Australian flora and fauna,” it says. “Area treatments will feature native animal names, topiary and themed elements such as life-size animal sculptures. The architecture sets a backdrop for generous native landscaping, feature trellises, terraced rockwork and passive solar design based architectural treatments. “The buildings are intended to create a subtropical open-air indoor/outdoor vernacular using classic Australian building materials including corrugated iron roofs and cladding as well as natural timber elements. The site plan for the waterpark, with the two-storey car park at the top left. The existing theme park is to the right. “In conjunction with the architectural theme, the waterpark will be nature and native Australian animal-themed with lush subtropical landscaping endemic to the Sunshine Coast. The waterpark will have Australian animal-based attraction names, signage and theming opportunities that appeal to both young and old while continuing the Aussie World celebration of everything Australiana.” The plan also includes clearing about 2.9 hectares of vegetation, some of which Project Urban notes has previously been disturbed and is currently used for skirmish. The clearing will be offset through financial contributions and a rehabilitation plan. A bus set-down area, passenger loading zone and bus-only lane, as well as upgrades to the intersection of Frizzo Connection Road and Pignata Road, and the northern access to the site from Frizzo Connection Road, are also required. Aussie World has previously said the waterpark will draw an estimated 780,000 annual visitors by 2031, generating $15.2 million to $30 million towards the local tourism economy and up to $39 million through the three-year construction period. It will create employment for 193 full-time staff during the peak season and 87 full-time staff during non-peak periods. “The waterpark will continue to strengthen the Sunshine Coast’s reputation as the tourism capital of Queensland for families and young adults, adding to the already exceptional line-up of tourist attractions across the region,” general manager Jenny Howell said in 2024. Aussie World has been operating on the site since 1989. The approval says the waterpark can operate from 7am-7pm Sunday to Wednesday and public holidays, and 7am-10pm Thursday to Saturday. It is expected to have a maximum capacity of 1800 patrons per day. Aussie World was approached for comment but said it couldn’t comment further until the conditions had been fully reviewed. Sunshine Coast NewsAussie World's $60m waterpark expansion approvedThe Sunshine Coast is set to be home to a new waterpark after Aussie World’s proposal to build a $60 million facility was given the green light. The plan to build the waterpark on privately owned land
- Aussie World's approved DA drawings.
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VRTP Ticketing Update Late 2025
Competition between the parks is healthy, but this feels less like competition and more like a group sprint to the bottom. As a guest, I’d rather see them competing over who has the best park, not who can be the cheapest.
- Motocoaster Permanent Closure
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Motocoaster Permanent Closure
It’s coaster common sense 101. You don’t park a train in the station long term. A station is for loading and unloading humans, not for train storage. That’s what the maintenance bay is for. It keeps the running wheels happy instead of slowly squashing them into sad little pancakes. If you are looking at selling the ride and if the maintenance bay only fits one train, the other doesn’t just sit in the station. It goes into storage.