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The track is over 1km long, it ain't going to be a cheap coaster. DC might be tall, but this ride is building a launch. Actually I'd be interested to know in terms of cost, is height, or building a launch system more expensive?! Also look at all those Earthworks DW has done on the ride so far to get it ready to start building on, can't imagine that is cheap, plus the moving of the train line. The coaster isn't $32 mill, its everything included needed to get it going.

The fact that they had research done that suggested people wanted the border open and was done by the same group doing her election research and then opened the border to everyone bar Sydney. You look like you're keeping people safe, yet giving them what they want and opening. It being hard for people to get compassionate leave for people cross the border, yet movie stars and AFL players and families easily coming through. They claim the only thing they look after for their state is the health of their people. Yet when people quizzed why were some getting special treatment they claimed it was for the economy. So what is, the health or the economy? Which is why when certain groups get exemptions for the 'economy' people like the airlines, theme parks and hotel groups say this is unfair on us. If you have the correct contact tracing in place then your state should have no problem opening and trading and when little areas pop up you can clamp down hard on it.

And anyone who thinks QLD did this for health and safety of its residents can check their Labor and ABC cards at the door. Politics is all about power and ego and doing what it takes to ensure you stay in at the next election, the decision on the border was based purely on this. The QLD government has come unstuck with their contradictions and we all know the QLD & NSW premiers hate each other and play off each other.

On the tram I would love to see it run from the GC airport all the way to Coomera train station, linking to all the major tourist precincts. The airport, Harbour Town, The Spit, Sea World, Metricon Stadium, Bond University, C Bus Stadium, Robina Town Centre, Movie World, Wet'n'Wild, Dreamworld, finishing at Coomera Town Centre/Station. That way a tourist doesn't need to ever really need to get on the bus, the tram services everything, the buses can be used for more local routes, and we hopefully take more cars (hire cars) off the road and even some busses off the main arterials since the tram is there. I'd also like to see it more affordable, compared to the tram in Sydney, it's far too much to be a good alternative for a lot of people.

I could agree Marine Park when the park only had two adult rides. But once Atlantis opens that changes again and it is definitely a theme park. Interestingly in my mind Marine Park, but has rides is worse branding wise than a theme park. I don't think rides really have a place in them. But a theme park it does. But hey its one of those that was probably researched and focused grouped to the hilt and for now is the friendliest option. But hey I'm going for the hybrid, marine theme park! 😂

Yep, never started as a Marine Park, started with a ski show and evolved from there into a theme park, which in recent years was left with very few rides. When SW added Dolphins, DW added Tigers, when DW added Tunderbolt, SW added Corkscrew as they competed with each other.

Then why don't you just call DW a zoo with rides?

^ I'd even add to this, with the ride using an extra ride op to ease the burden on the operators. One loading only, one unloading only and one sitting in the control booth at all times and all they do is watch the load and unload areas and watching all the CCTV's, and since this is a continuously operating ride like how MW have permanent control booth ops on WWF, Scooby, Superman, Green Lantern, Arkham, Justice League and even old rides Looney Tunes and Batman. Hell even in their busy Summer periods have a 4th operator acting as the grouper, again same as what Scooby and WWF has in their busy periods. Or if you're so worried about your conveyor put someone on that as well, like WWF has someone on their turntable.

That's giving DW a pass right there. No, theme park industry safety was far above what DW provided. This isn't something the industry learnt from because it was already practicing it. You only have to look at the evidence VRTP gave in the inquest to see how far DW were behind the 8 ball.

You're right, it was sheer dumb luck considering, even though they weren't able to recreate after the accident, in the rides lifetime it had happened before. What is also sheer dumb luck is that no one was on the ride or injured when these other incidences occurred. I can't believe the ride was never upgraded the first time this happened, or that the park felt it was rare to occur again, why bother doing anything about it, it would be sheer dumb luck to happen again, with passengers on board!

See I count Bermuda as iconic because of those twin volcanoes. I guess for everyone the idea of "iconic" means something different. But I think if it was/is constantly used in the parks and the Gold Coast's imaging/ads, then it is iconic.

I’d agree with that, but I would say Leviathan will actually be in the next decade, opening in 2021. Hopefully it kicks the decade off with some great iconic attractions to come. We’ve also got DWs coaster on the way, which in time could also be iconic. Fingers crossed to a great decade of our parks and really showing us the creative and just plain fun attractions and shows they can give us.

SW: - Corckscrew - Dolphin Show - Ski Show - Bermuda - Heck even the Monorail (the iconic promotional shot of the Corkscrew going over the monorail... And the fact it was Australia's first) - Honourable mentions to Skyway, Vikings and the helicopters. - This park also gets my vote as the Gold Coast's most iconic park. MW: - Police Academy - Superman - Scooby - Looney Tunes River Ride - Batman Adventure - I'd also say the characters themselves out in the park i.e. Marilyn Monroe singing in the gold limo - WWF for the size of that mountain - Honourable mention to Lethal Weapon (if it wasn't so rough) Gremlins (Was it there long enough to bed in as an icon? Great dark ride though) and Studio Tour and Movie Magic Special Effects show. DW: - Wipeout - Thunderbolt - Tower of Terror - Tigers - Giant Drop - Paddle Steamer - Controversially you might say, but pre 2016 tragedy I would have put the Thunder River Rapids in there - Honourable mention to the IMax theatre (being our first here in Aus and something Longhurst was so proud of), Blue Lagoon & Kenny the Koala, Model T Ford's before they were moved, Steam Train... Maybe Claw WnW: - Aquaracer - White Water Mountain (When they had Terror Canyon) - Double Screamer - Dive In Movies - Mammoth Falls - Honourable mention to Tornado Some of those rides and attractions have been replaced by other iconic attractions i.e. Scooby, others definitely not. What I'd like to ask is, most of these rides and attractions were built in the 80's & 90's, bar Scooby and Superman (which arguably are two of the best rides the Coast has produced). 80's & 90's almost seemed like the golden age for doing things real kick ass. What in the last decade (apart from Rivals in the future) have the parks produced that could be considered "iconic"?

Something like say a Disney Aulani in Hawaii but in North Queensland here?

And if Ardent went belly up like Virgin I don't think you'd find them getting a bailout either. But instead find a new buyer. Which, as long as DW survives would be a win.

I think the point being made is Dreamworld should have a future. Ardent should not.

Just looking at how bare across the road is, I'd still love to see them lease that land, give them the needed extra space to expand, make that area through there look nice, just mandate they have to put a boardwalk along the beach boundary so people can still walk along that area.

Please elaborate on the multiple times? I'm really curious and love to hear your examples. We know of one instance, and that was an issue to do with S&S designing their cars and wheel bogies poorly. Hah I was beaten to it @rappa said exactly what I was thinking.

Considering the Gold Coast tourism industry needs both park operators, they were already investing in building new rides for their markets and this virus was out of their control, I don't have a problem with the government kicking the can a little bit for them like they have with the airlines.

What about Singapore they're being heralded as handling it the best and Universal Studios has managed to stay open?

I am being logical, the negative consequences are massive. Since when has a government package ever been enough in times of financial crisis? Again, I didn't say, not act, I just said don't go to the over the top extremes they are now. Look at the end of the day you'll never change my opinion that the world has gone mad, and the hysteria is being pushed to the extreme and that this is actually doing us more harm than good and is leading us in the end to a higher death toll than we could end up with. Obviously you'll never change your opinion that this is the right thing to do, be damed of the other consequences, even if they end up having a more negative impact on you in the future than this virus had. So, I'm just going to leave it there, and at the end of this, however long from now, one of us get to say "I was right".

Because that treatment always works so well doesn't it? Or the mental health for bushfire victims that's already been scaled back? The ASX lost $162 billion in one day. Don't think the government financial assistance can fix all that?! And I'm talking about a 2 week shutdown. I'm talking about a full blown recession that we're accelerating. The economy was on a knife's edge before, this will not end good, there are studies about the death toll from the GFC and we're seeing falls worse than that. Cars, marketing, retail, dining, entertainment just to name a few were already struggling. With all these big events cancelled what about the knock on effect it has to businesses that relied on them. The Royal Easter Show has asked for a hand out, the NRL has (and pretty much been knocked back) and before you say NRL are big and they should have planned for this better? Sure, but what about the small business around them that rely on them? The players that have mortgages... The list goes on. Not every industry or business can get a hand out and that's where the mental strain comes into effect. I didn't say we shouldn't be doing anything, we should be doing plenty, especially to help protect the elderly and those with health risks that make them more susceptible. Those people should isolate, nursing homes should lock down, if you have the cold or normal flu, stay away from people. I just think right now we've gone too far to one extreme to make people happy and feel safe, be damned with the other consequences, we'll blame them on Corona and put a band aid over it and make it look like we're doing something about that too. No it's not a virus, but the two are linked here.

And when the death toll is higher from people committing suicide from an up the shit economy over the death toll from Corona? But hey at least you guys feel safe right now.

And what about how the health care system could be overwhelmed by every dumb Tom, Dick and Harry who sneezes and runs off to the hospital thinking they have it because of how much they’re being scared by it. Or leading to a recession by our carry on and the deaths that result in that. And what about how officials say this isn’t going away, this virus is going to become the norm like Swine Flu, how long are we meant to shut everything down for then? Until the vaccine is available in a year? And surely everyone realised keeping things closed that long is unattainable. Lets remember Swine Flu became so common they just stopped testing for it and said if you’ve got the flu stay home unless it gets worse, then visit a hospital.

^^ That’s what I agree with. If health officials say most of the population will end up with this and will end up in circulation like so many viruses before it why are we crippling our economy even further. ScoMo can’t bail every industry out of this hole.