Jobe

Apologies- my bad. Just looking at the official RMC website, there is no mention of T-rex track or product anywhere on the website- not in products offered or even as an addendum under the Raptor track section. Whilst that may not mean that much in the overall scheme of things, it could mean that they have gone cold on the concept for now . Of course ,it could also mean that they simply will not add it to their product range until there IS actually an installation. Also RMC have been extremely busy over the last 2 years, with significant projects being completed and upcoming. This could impact their marketing of the new concept and their willingness or ability to deliver one in the next 18 months or 2 years. Given that the Raptor track and concept is still relatively new with only 2 coasters built, this could be a matter if waiting until the right concept and park comes a knocking. As has been stated, it would be great if that park was Dreamworld.

Thanks for the reply and review @DJKostya. Sorry I missed your original trip report- I will hunt it down for a complete look. Yeah I cannot disagree with you here Skeeta- the RMC Hybrid would definitely be the more visually stunning vista for Dreamworld. Its funny that you mention that there appear to be no plans to build further Raptors. Both rides are legitimately qualified successes in their own right- not including DJKostya's excellent review- but I have seen many others extolling the fantastic ride that this coaster brings. Perhaps parks are a little reticent due to its low throughput compared to other coaster models? It could also come down to price and perceived bang for buck? Maybe Dreamworld would be better off signing an exclusive deal with RMC to build both coaster types- with the Raptor coming first and then the larger Hybrid being the cream on the cake......

Yeah not exactly what I stated and I did say that it was in my opinion and then gave reasons for that opinion. I have read a lot of reviews on the RMC Raptor and this has helped formulate said opinion ( hence the "by all accounts , a great ride" statement) As I havent seen anyone on these boards stating that they have ridden the two Raptor's in existence, Wonder Woman and Railblazer, I did think it a pertinent question to ask. Not 100% sure if Slick has ridden one either ( although I bet it may be likely- for context have you @Slick?) , but you certainly didn't question his choice of ride at being in his list. Just saying Mind you, if Dreamworld WERE to build an RMC Hybrid, then I , and most likely everyone on this board, would be suitably impressed. Either way , to reiterate my earlier point, it is a great and logical list.

Great video and a great list of rides!! There is so much sense and logic here that we can all hope that someone with any pull at Ardent or Dreamworld watches this video and takes note. Unfortunately the Manager's at Dreamworld lately have only been having a very big pull- at the public's expense. The replacement ride for the Wipeout is the one that's the most puzzling for mine. As Slick effortlessly showed, the Zamperla off the shelf option would have been the easiest fix for the park and would have replaced the Wipeout with an improved , newer like for like ride that the public WOULD have appreciated. If a small park like Luna Park Sydney can replace an aging , popular ride like the Tango Train with another almost identical attraction , keep public sentiment and goodwill, then why the hell cant a large themepark with far more resources like Dreamworld do the same thing?? Its positively inane and really highlights the lack of foresight and experience in running a theme park that the current level of Dreamworld management obviously lack. Having ridden Manta at Seaworld Orlando I can positively say that a B & M flyer would be a brilliant addition to Dreamworld but as Slick pointed out ,highly unlikely due to the cost. Would be awesome to see one winding around Dreamworld though! I think one of the Intamin coasters mentioned would be too similar to MovieWorld's offering , as good as they are. The Vekoma options look excellent but an RMC Raptor would be the best choice for Dreamworld , IMHO. They would be an Australian first, would be clearly definable as being unique and by all accounts, a great ride. Most importantly, however, they would not be horrendously expensive and should be well in the realms of possibility for Dreamworld to afford. Does anyone know the difference in prices for an RMC Hybrid versus an RMC Raptor? Also has anyone on the pages actually ridden a Raptor? I would like to hear first hand of the ride experience!

Great video thanks for sharing!!! 👍

Interesting theme park news that could affect Wet "N Wild Sydney. Parques Reunidos have received a $703 million dollar takeover bid from a Swedish Private Equity firm. As well as recently taking over Wet'N Wild Sydney, they own over 60 theme parks, water parks and Zoos/Aquariums across the globe. These include; Amusement parks Dragon Park Ha Long - Quảng Ninh, Việt Nam Bobbejaanland - Lichtaart, Belgium Dubai Parks and Resorts - Dubai, United Arab Emirates BonBon-Land - Næstved, Denmark Mirabilandia - Ravenna, Italy Movie Park Germany - Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany Parque de Atracciones de Madrid - Madrid, Spain Parque Warner Madrid - Madrid, Spain Attractiepark Slagharen - Hardenberg, Netherlands Tusenfryd - Vinterbro, Norway Kennywood Amusement Park - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Idlewild and Soak Zone - Ligonier, Pennsylvania, United States Miami Seaquarium - Key Biscayne, Florida, United States Castle Park - Riverside, California, United States Dutch Wonderland - Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States Lake Compounce - Bristol, Connecticut, United States Sea Life Park - Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii, United States Story Land - Glen, New Hampshire, United States Mountasia -- Marietta, Georgia, United States Zoo and nature parks Zoo Aquarium - Madrid, Spain Selwo Aventura and Selwo Marina - Estepona, Spain Delfinario Costa Daurada - Costa Daurada Mar del Plata Aquarium - Mar del Plata, Argentina Marineland - Antibes, France Lakes Aquarium - Lakeside, England Blackpool Zoo - Lancashire, England Bournemouth Oceanarium - Bournemouth, England Sea Life Park - Waimanalo, Hawaii, United States Miami Seaquarium - Miami, United States[citation needed] Water parks Aquopolis Costa Daurada Cullera San Fernando de Henares Sevilla Cartaya Torrevieja Villanueva de la Cañada Bø Sommarland - Bø i Telemark, Norway Aquasplash Marineland - Antibes, France Mirabilandia Beach - Ravenna, Italy Aqualud - Le Touquet, France Noah's Ark Water Park - Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States Raging Waters (3 Locations) - Sacramento, San Dimas and San Jose, California, United States Splish Splash - Riverhead, New York, United States Water Country - Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe - Greensboro, North Carolina, United States Sandcastle Waterpark - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Wet'n'Wild Sydney - Prospect, New South Wales, Australia The board of Parques Reunidos are meeting to discuss the offer. The article on the sale can be found here: https://skift.com/2019/04/26/theme-park-operator-parques-reunidos-gets-703-million-takeover-approach/

Yeah well I was referring more to the Melbourne one as that is the one I have experienced and can safely say wasn't shit. But each to their own. As I stated earlier, i think the fact this this experience appears to have been not well advertised or well known , even amidst some of the posters on this board, would have to be a major reason why this appears to have failed. A number of other factors could have contributed- high rent, poor cashflow, parent company had other financial issues. Who knows?

Ahh!! What a shame it closed. There are similar venues across Australia - there is one in Docklands at Melbourne of which I had the pleasure of visiting with the family. This is called ArtVo and is thoroughly recommended. http://artvo.com.au/ They are basically an immersive art gallery where you stand in front of these huge art and wall murals and insert yourself into the frame for amazing 3 D effects. Depending on how you shoot the picture, the effects can be awesome. They are huge amounts of fun and are great for the entire family. I would have thought that an example on the Gold Coast would have been a well attended attraction, but perhaps this comes down to the cosmopolitan crowd that live in Melbourne. It doesnt sound like this one was well advertised though? I was a little wary of the concept at first but i found the experience to be awesome- the whole family loved it. Its definitely not shit

Bit like Park Chat Live? 😂😎

Awesome video mate great job!! Filmed on a GoPro?

No love for Intamin or Mack? Vekoma?? 😂

Hahaha yeah I remember that guy!!! Obsessed isnt the word!!! It was unhealthy!! Yeah thanks @djrappa, you are absolutely right. I had meant to post originally that the actions of the guy in the video are not exactly legal- if you view the video there are several instances of trespass which cannot be ignored. Please dont take this as any way shape or form that anyone on these boards condones such actions- play it safe people!

Here is a great article on Tony Maloney ,from late last year. He is currently serving as the chief ride mechanic and Maloney's Corner was eponymously named after him. Luna Park mechanic who knows every nut and bolt still on the job JANET FIFE-YEOMANS, The Daily Telegraph November 17, 2018 12:00am Living in Sydney has been a merry-go-round for Tony Maloney. The 71-year-old started working at Luna Park as a wide-eyed 13-year-old and he is still there. He literally knows every nut and bolt of the heritage-listed fun park, having numbered, dismantled, removed, refurbished and then rebuilt every ride twice, in 1993 and 2000. After keeping the park safe for generations, the master mechanic tried to retire a few years ago but couldn’t leave the magic behind. Tony Maloney checks up on a merry-go-round. Picture: Justin Lloyd After a few weeks away from the fun park that has been his life, he was on the phone to the park’s managing director Peter Hearne. “I rang Peter, who said ‘why don’t you come back two or three days a week’,” Mr Maloney said. He has been on every ride in the park countless times but Mr Maloney remains a rollercoaster tragic and looks back with nostalgia on the days of Luna Park’s wooden rollercoaster, its original Big Dipper. “We used to have to walk the whole ride every hour because the rails would move,” he said yesterday. Tony Maloney is the longest-serving employee at the park. Picture: Justin Lloyd There was a narrow boardwalk the mechanics used while the trains were going — and for the record there were three carriages carrying up to 72 people at a time. Mr Maloney has since ridden some of the world’s biggest rollercoasters but nothing can scare him. “I love coasters, it’s the adrenaline rush,” he said. The 83-year-old park has had its own rollercoaster of a history. It closed after the fatal Ghost Train fire in 1979, opening again in 1982 only to close again and reopen in 2004. Mr Maloney wasn’t at work the night that a father, his two sons and six school students died when fire destroyed the wooden Ghost Train building, but he still felt the impact of the tragedy. Firemen battle the blaze at the Ghost Train ride on a tragic night in 1979. Luna Park’s Ghost Train building as it appeared in the 1940s. Inquests have since failed to determine a cause, ruling out an electrical fault and reports of arson and finding that, on that night, there was no attendant patrolling inside the building “in case of fire” as had been the practice. Mr Maloney grew up in Milsons Point, not far from Luna Park, and his grandfather drove the steam trains that dropped off passengers to catch ferries before the bridge was built. He remembers when huge queues waited to get into the park and the first 500 kids into the park got a bag of lollies and free tickets to four rides. “We used to go swimming in the morning and then to the park to spend Saturday afternoon and it was fantastic,” he said. The dance hall and bandstand from the 1940s at Sydney’s famous attraction. Sliding thrills at Luna Park in the 1950s. Luna Park Udrive and Coney Island kept them queueing in the 1960s. He was almost a “Luna Park baby”, following his parents Joan and Alan Maloney working on sideshows such as Hoopla and the Laughing Clowns from the age of 13. He started full-time as a fitter in 1961. Mr Maloney met his wife, Wendy, when she worked as secretary to Ted Hopkins, the showman who transported the original Luna Park rides from a failed amusement park in Glenelg in South Australia to the former bridge work yards. The couple’s three children worked at the park and there is even one site, Maloney’s Corner, named after Tony. The original face was painted by artist Rupert Brown around 1935. The park’s fifth face, designed by artist Arthur Barton, circa 1950. The face of Luna Park catches a ride during a 2001 re-fit. Children ride the Wild Mouse after the 2004 re-opening. NSW / Amusement Centre Lefties make about as much sense as a goose’s Mr Maloney knows all the tricks and secrets that make the rides a thrill but his “baby” is the Wild Mouse rollercoaster, which arrived the year before he did. For years he took it to pieces and rebuilt it at the Easter Show, when the show was held at Moore Park to the background of singing by three brothers better known as the Bee Gees. Mr Maloney has overseen all types of dismantling, such as this one in 2003. Picture: Scott Hornby Jordan Stenmark and Dancing With The Stars partner Jessica Prince went on Luna Park rides for Jordan to overcome dizziness. Katy Perry tries a Luna Park dodgem. Night-time magic at the timeless fun park. Mr Maloney loves hearing customers come back and reminisce. Picture: Justin Lloyd He even took the Wild Mouse up to Brisbane and on a train over the Nullarbor to Perth. Mr Maloney is unashamed about his love of the whimsical amusement park and even its old daggy rides such as the River Caves and Noah’s Ark. “I love seeing people coming back. They go on the slippery dips and swear the slides were much higher and longer when they were kids,” he said. Now required to get development approval for new rides, the park is lining up some Christmas specials including the Power Surge and the Wave Swinger, which have a perfect spot in Maloney’s Corner." What a great article on such a living treasure as Tony. His memories and experiences for the park are priceless and I am sure he could tell some great stories!! Characters like these are now found few and far between- its great to see LPS still utilise his experience and expertise in operations. What a great poster child for the older generation still working and contributing significantly to society. Here is another very interesting article that shows the worth of the amusement park to the local economy. Dating from late last year, it was published in the height of the DA application standoff with the state government that has since been resolved in the parks favour. Luna Park worth $683m to economy over five years NEW data has revealed the massive worth of Luna Park to Sydney’s economy as the iconic harbourside attraction faces as uncertain future. Independent research estimates Luna Park will contribute $120.6 million to the Harbour City’s economy this year and $683.4 million over the next five years. Sydney Business Chamber executive director Patricia Forsythe said the embattled park was more than just a place for fun rides and fairy floss. Sydney Business Chamber’s executive director Patricia Forsythe. “It also employs about 1000 people a year in a wide range of positions including in the amusement park, catering staff functions and events roles,” Ms Forsythe said. “It actually plays a big role around business events. From a business point of view, we’d be lost without the sort of space it has to host the large corporate events for thousands of delegates.” The latest data on the park’s economic impact follows a recent Land and Environment Court ruling which threatens the long-term viability of the attraction. Luna Park, a harbourside institution since 1935 which attracts a million thrillseekers each year, will now have to seek lengthy planning approvals for every new and moved ride and attraction as local residents gain a greater say in the process. Luna Park is a big money spinner for Sydney’s economy. Ms Forsythe this week reinforced the concerns of the park’s operators where it could get caught up in red tape. “Luna Park plays a really important role in the overall Sydney visitor economy,” he said. “It has been there, dare I say it, longer than almost any local resident. Too many people take it for granted. “It already conforms to standards that have been developed with the neighbourhood in mind (since it reopened in 2004). This was a way to respond to residents’ concerns. “The park is too important, and the NSW government has got to resolve this issue as soon as possible.”

Yeah I dont think that would be the major cause of concern , to be honest. The steel Big Dipper only ever had noise complaints leveled against it , not obstruction issues. A new coaster would have to be extremely high to attract that sort of complaint and I think the management of LPS are smart enough to not do that. The previous Big Dipper was 131 feet high and I could be wrong, but I dont think we will see another coaster be installed at this height or exceed it. Also LPS now has a working height limit envelope to work to - if attractions do not exceed this height limit then they do not attract a complying DA process to go through. Theoretically , they still could build a ride with the height of the previous Big Dipper but i think that the will of LPS to do so is not overly strong.

Hi guys- happy Sunday!! Just perusing Youtube and saw this excellent video on Scenic World and of particular interest to me, the never opened Orphan Rocker. The poster does a good job of giving a great over view of the entire ride as it currently stands and does a bit of urban exploration around the site. In this we see: The resting place of the previous Scenic Railway ( replaced by the current one in early 2013) The resting place of the 2nd Scenic Skyway ( replaced in 2017) He walks quite a good part of the existing Orphan Rocker track and we also get to see the trains up close, which is very interesting. He also explores a disused path ( in thongs!!!!!!!😲- make that of what you will ) to the nearby Orphan Rock feature to which access has been closed to since the '50's He also gets some great footage of the Scenic Railway as it journeys down near the Orphan Rock formation. We all know that the Orphan Rocker has never opened and this video really puts the final nail in the coffin to the question COULD it ever open. Sadly, with subsequent additions to the Scenic Railway and the Skyway, the loading station for the ride has since been removed as has also several pieces of track along the course. This ride will forever go down in Australian amusement park history and indeed the world as one of the biggest "what if's" that never reached fruition. Scenic World appear quite content to leave whats remaining of Orphan Rocker to slowly decay and fall apart , which is of course a massive shame. I do remember seeing an interview article with Anthea Hammon , the current Managing Director of Scenic World ( and daughter of Scenic World founder , Phillip Hammon) where she explains that the the Orphan Rocker "just doesnt fit in with the current direction of Scenic World" . Any hopes for any revival of this ride in its current form or even a new refurbished form are virtually nil. Here is the second video posted by Gareth that focuses on Scenic World and its other attractions- its also good viewing. Here is also the link to the most current article on the Orphan Rocker from the Daily Telegraph in January 2019. ( Beware, you may be hit by a paywall here ) https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/scenic-world-md-anthea-hammon-reveals-what-happened-to-the-orphan-rocker-roller-coaster/news-story/40ddd7cf1b0e8570830ab6e67315cec8 In case you cannot see it, I have posted it below for all. The article does have some quite excellent rare pics of the ride in operation and with passengers on board. Scenic World MD Anthea Hammon reveals what happened to the Orphan Rocker roller coaster Nicole Hogan, The Daily Telegraph January 23, 2019 10:21am IT has been the centre of conspiracy theories, rumour and curiosity for over 30 years. The Orphan Rocker at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains was dubbed ‘the world’s scariest rollercoaster’ by enthusiasts and ‘dangerous’ by online theme park forums. It started in the 1980s as a passion project for Scenic World owner Harry Hammon and his son Phil. In 1985, Harry told the media, “It’s a frightening ride ... it really will be bit of a horror”. The Orphan Rocker at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains The 840-metre steel coaster was anticipated to be the first of its kind — an Australian-made and manufactured thrill ride — with carriages like coal mine carts, darting through the forest, plunging down tunnels and towering 200-metres above the rainforest floor. Over time, theories would surface grasping to explain delays in the ride opening. Some would say the coaster was unsafe, claiming sand-filled test dummies were hurled from carriages zipping around cliffhanging bends. Others reported locals didn’t want the noise associated with a thrill ride; others would hypothesise the ride was built incorrectly, by unqualified engineers, and some speculated it was the local council who wouldn’t approve it. The Rocker was the brainchild of Phil Hammon “We don’t generally comment on the Orphan Rocker,” says Anthea Hammon, the third generation family member to manage the major tourist attraction. “To be honest, it is what it is. I am happy to grow and evolve Scenic World and the Rocker didn’t fit with what we were doing. So, I wasn’t particularly heartbroken by it.” Which is surprising as Ms Hammon admits she was so enthralled by roller coasters as a youngster, she wrote to American theme parks to ascertain how to build them. The 840-metre steel coaster was anticipated to be the first of its kind “I just loved roller coasters,” says Ms Hammon. “I went to all the ones in Queensland and there was one at Wonderland in the 1980s. I first went on one when I was about eight, we went to Expo 88, and that’s what really started it for me. “I went on the really cool suspended coaster they had, I can still vividly remember it because it made such an imprint on me. “During high school I wrote to a few roller coaster companies in America and asked ‘What sort of engineers do you employ? Because that’s what I want to be’ and that is what drove me to study mechanical engineering.” The Orphan Rocker had rocking carriages like coal mine carts Ms Hammon adds that the demise of the Orphan Rocker and the incessant conspiracies clouding it are tedious. “Honestly, it is a pretty boring reason why it didn’t open, and that is, we had so many visitors that my father needed to dedicate his time to building the cableway and creating different attractions for the site. “I think when there is a really boring story people fill the void with something that is more interesting. Darting through the forest “We were pushing a million visitors a year off the back of a wave of Japanese visitors in the early 90s and Dad knew the sort of attraction they wanted, which was another cable car and to get better access into the back of the valley. “He spent six years, more than six years developing that, so by the time he planned it, got that through council, got it built and opened it in 2000, he had to dedicate all his time to that. “When you are in business, you need to build a business strategy that is going to support the market that you are delivering your product to,” says Ms Hammon. Plunging down tunnels While not heartbroken the Rocker never officially opened, Ms Hammon says her obsession with roller-coasters has transformed into something else. “Yes I have a fascination with roller coasters, but equally now I have a fascination with cable cars. I want to go to Switzerland one day to work on cable cars over there,” says Ms Hammon. “I think the roller coaster obsession was a teenage thing that I moved past. I love rides now, but it’s not a fascination I have anymore. Towering 200-metres above the rainforest floor “I am really happy to see the way Scenic World has evolved to where it is and building the new train was just an amazing experience and is probably better than any rollercoaster we put in because it is our hero product.” Hammon adds, “Whatever we build at Scenic World needs to fit with our customers and what they are telling us they want, and the demographic of the people we have visiting — which is why we just upgraded the Skyway — putting 30 per cent more capacity in that because that’s what people want to go on. Parts of the abandoned rollercoaster remain in place at the site. Picture: Facebook Engaging visitors is a high priority and Ms Hammon has an intuitive vision of what Scenic World is, and what it isn’t. “We are a funny mix of an attraction — we are not an amusement park, we are not a theme park, but we aren’t just a board walk, we are not rides, but we are a bit history, we kind of fit into quite a few boxes — which gives you that authentic mountain experience,” says Hammon. “We are not trying to be a theme park, it doesn’t fit the environment that you are in — theme parks are normally in a created space, whereas we have a natural environment — this beautiful backdrop to work with makes it much easier to provide that authentic experience — rather than saying ‘here is the environment!’ and ramming that down people’s throats.” Today some parts of the structure are still visible, overgrown with vegetation, discoloured and lying abandoned. ‘I WAS EIGHT WHEN I TOLD STAFF I WOULD RUN THE PLACE’ Growing up in a natural wonderland definitely had its perks for Anthea Hammon, but how does a girl grow up to run one of NSW’s most successful tourist attractions? “My dad used to work six days a week, Sunday through to Friday and I had the great joy of coming to work with him most Sundays, from about the age of five, until I moved away for university. “Initially when I small I would follow him around and do everything he did and that’s where I got my love of engineering from, following him around when he was working on rides or pinball machines or maintaining the boilers. Managing Director of Scenic World Anthea Hammon sits on the remains of the Orphan Rocker. Picture: Adam Taylor “I have four siblings, but none of them really did that as much as I did. That was my time with dad, as well as the seed for my love of all things engineering. “Old staff members have told me when I was eight years old I used to yell from the platforms that I was going to run this place one day,” says Ms Hammon laughing, “But I grew out of that, I think as a little kid you always want to do what your parents do, yet I always wanted to be an engineer. “I decided I wanted to build roller coasters, so most of my high school years were driven by that. I did all those types of subjects to achieve it. I did my thesis on things up here at work and that meant being involved back in the business. Theories surfaced grasping to explain the rides demise “At that time, after a break going to Sydney for university. I thought I want to come back. We were doing a lot of redevelopment at the time, we were rebuilding the Skyway in 2003 — we have just rebuilt it again — so that really got me interested. I thought ‘I don’t want to go and work in a car factory’, I would really love to come and work here and at that point in time dad needed help, so I stepped into the business.” Ms Hammon says the family ties to the business are deeply entrenched. “My grandfather was working in the business until he was about 90 and my great aunt, used to work in the ticket box. “We would go out walking our my mum on weekends, and we’d walk down the Furber Stairs and catch the train back up, but my aunt wouldn’t let us out of the train without a kiss on the cheek — that was the ticket price for the ride. I have really beautiful memories of growing up within the family business. Some said the coaster was unsafe, claiming sand-filled test dummies were hurled from the carriages “My brother worked here as well, as joint managing director for five years. He has an economics and commerce background, so he and I had this excellent complementary set of skills set that when we started running the business together — me with engineering and him with the finance side of it — was brilliant when we were undertaking $30 million dollars of investment in the new scenic railway.” efties make about as much sense as a goose’s fart Ms Hammon explains this was very much a legacy left to her by her Dad, Phil. “When I started, dad was already undertaking the redevelopment of the Skyway — he had rebuilt the main building — I came in and took a load off his hands managing the maintenance team and organising all the maintenance for the new rides. Initially I was more of a project engineer and over time took on more.” Anthea and Phil Hammon The constant cycle of upgrading and reinventing the attractions cemented Ms Hammon’s future in the business. “With the new train in 2013, it just got to the point where like every 20 years we have to refresh the rides because that’s the design life. It was like we have the choice of either buying a new gear box and motor, or building something new, something that’s really going to engage with our customers and be what the next generation of customers expect. “We put in the changeable seats with the cliffhanger and laid-back options and created a bit of interactivity, which is what the customers are really telling us they want. “Was it daunting? Sure, it is always daunting. Rebuilding your main attraction and we had negative feedback from people saying ‘how dare you change the ride, we loved the old train’ and I agree the old train had its glamour, but it had its challenges and unfortunately with things like this you have to move with the times and keep upgrading.” Scenic World attracts millions of visitors a year SUPPORTING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY As a way of formalising the Hammon’s generosity in supporting the Blue Mountains community, the family recently launched a new program, sharing what they do with locals. “Last year we launched the share program — a philanthropic program where we give three per cent of our profits back to the community,” says Ms Hammon. “ We have partnered with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Schools Plus, the Foundation for Rural and Original Renewal and Western Sydney University, to help education at all levels. Scenic World is home to world’s steepest railway “It’s really about building within our community, better skills, and better school finishing rates so that we can create more skilled people who then contribute back to our community up here. “This all links back to those family values of getting people to work and live in the Mountains and be part of the community." So that appears to be the final word on Orphan Rocker- RIP. It would have been an absolutely AMAZING ride if it had opened and it would have attracted hundreds of coaster enthusiasts from around the world to come and ride. What a shame that it is nothing now but a case of what could have been and consigned to being just a footnote in our amusement park history.

Yeah easily, if not more. But if there is a plan for one , then at least there is some consideration by Ardent to still be in the game with Dreamworld for the mid term at least. If this occurs, then its a massive injection for the future of the park. However, for that to occur , they need to start planning that NOW . Lets hope that the scale of vision that we all hope can fix Dreamworld's woes can also be realised by Dreamworld's current management. As Slick says, cautiously optimistic, but there are a number of hoops to jump and walls to climb before we can breathe a bit easier for the future of the park.

Yeah Slick I agree 100% here. The cash injection ( fingers crossed it actually occurs) is the first sign that Dreamworld actually are starting to develop some sort of plan to restore the park somewhat to its former glory. With the eventual opening of Sky Voyager , which should garner some more positive press for the park and renewed interest from the public, the park looks like it may be edging closer to turning a corner. However , that corner is QUITE large. Lets see how things develop, see what occurs, how the money is spent and what actually is purchased in the form of new rides ( and the obverse of that of course, seeing what effect that other rides removal will have- RE Wipeout). As has been stated before, Dreamworld need to hit hard now with a bang and that bang should be in the form of a new large coaster.

Couple of quick updates- today marks 15 years that Luna Park Sydney reopened in 2004 after having Big Dipper removed and a very doubtful future. 15 years is a great achievement and has gone very quickly. Now we are in 2019 and we have seen the start of a ride reinvestment program that should see the park grow and update to be bigger and better than ever! With the success of Volare, we are all excited to see what the next 5 years brings for LPS. Its great to see a historical amusement park like LPS not only survive but now begin to thrive! From all of us here at Parkz, we all share in the celebration of this achievement and hope for continued success for the park! The next update is a little older in scope but it has not been mentioned before on the boards. Belated congratulations to LPS for winning an award at the Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia for Best New Initiative Large Scale Venue. This award celebrates the hard work and excellence that LPS brings to their functions and venues and it remains a highly sought after venue location. It also highlights the importance that the Big Top, Crystal Palace and Lavender Green outdoor event space is to the overall continuing successful operations at Luna Park Sydney. Its this successful reinvention to a historical amusement park and mixed multi purpose function/venue centre that has been integral to LPS firstly weathering the storm of resident and noise disputes and now thriving over the last 15 years!! Great job!

@Brad123 thanks for your post. It was a balanced and well thought out response. I certainly agree in principle with what you have stated, in an overarching sense. i guess what it does come down to is interpretation. As you say, it’s very easy to misdiagnose intent on a public forum at times. i guess by talking about these key issues and how some people perceive how and why things are posted , we can all be better educated and I suppose better armed at dealing with these instances as they arise. If it helps in clearing up any misunderstandings and preventing these from occurring then this is the positive impact that I mentioned. Also,, just to be clear, in what I was referring to was not meant to highlight JUST Push, Skeeta or Alex, nor paint them in the light as being the only recipients or antagonists of these issues. There were certainly examples involving them but it was not meant to limit nor target these 3 posters as being the root cause. It is also not meant to reduce the numerous positive contributions that all 3 have made on the board either., which in my mind , far out weigh any perceived negatives I realise this is a sensitive topic and only through civil discourse and debate can we clear the waters and find the common ground we all seek. Cheers for that- I think there has definitely been enough said about this topic and I am certain we can all move on to what we come here to do- to indulge in the passion and love that is theme and amusement parks in general. 👍

Skeeta this isnt about anyone who loses a debate. I understand that what you first posted was meant to be a joke and in all honesty I get that. However, Push obviously was a little offended by it and then responded. However, it was when AlexB posted AFTER that, with the very post that WAS removed ( ostensibly by the mods ) was when , for me , the line was crossed. You have to ask yourself- why was that particular post removed when the others remained? All you can draw from it was that it was offensive and went against the Community guidelines. Now this is not just about Push but lets use him as an example. Is this the FIRST instance of where posts have been pointed and directed at him in a demeaning way? Have there been comments made within posts that have been said in a derogatory tone in reference to him? The answer is obviously no as we have all seen posts as I have described that I would say falls under these banners. I am happy to have a joke- don't get me wrong. I have been on these boards for longer than most and I have seen a lot of instances and posts where the community guidelines are nowhere near followed . I come here for my enjoyment and for fun, to indulge in a love of mine- one that we all share. I agree if we all lightened up about certain things the board would be far more friendlier but this goes for proponents of both sides of this debate. Tone and context is everything. You are absolutely right here Joz and they both certainly can. But at best it's a bandaid solution as you have correctly intimated later. It doesnt remove the problem. Bullying behaviour is all about having and showing power over another individual (especially in this case, a public forum) and if the subject of that bullying blocks someone , the antagonist simply moves their behaviour onto someone else. It does not change. Not a problem. Seeing that I had just read said post is the reason for it now being given. I disagree with your premise , hence the fountain. That's why the capability is there is it not? Respectfully I disagree. I dont think that this word has been thrown around willy nilly either- this is in response to instances that have happened over a great deal of time. Not just one instance. Many. Let me be clear this is NOT about someone who has JUST had a disagreement. This is about the sustained and numerous instances where someone has been villified not just for posting an opinion, but in some cases, for posting at all, and all the derision that numerous cohorts can muster with that. Also its irrelevant that you think its not bullying. If the person in question feels offended or that there is an issue, then that is the overriding context. You cant speak on behalf of how someone feels because you are not them and you are not in there situation. To post the view that no one else know's what bullying is ( except you apparently) is nothing short of sheer arrogance. The only thing diluted here is your perception of what bullying actually is, in my opinion. I have no issue with good natured ribbing or banter. Its when malicious intent and underlying tone changes banter into something else that i have issue with. Just because someone doesnt know you personally doesnt mean what you say about about them on social media or forums cannot hurt or damage them in some way. YOU may be ok and I may be ok and able to handle situations like this but guess what? We are all different and we all react differently. I agree here Skeeta. Bullying is not the same as when there is a conflict or fighting between 2 parties. I hate to go to a dictionary meaning of bullying , but it comes in many, many forms. To be a bully: Furthermore, acts of bullying can be if: Now there have been actions and posts towards other posters that can definitely fall under one or all of these banners. I have seen it and there are other posters that have recognised this , independently and on their own. We have already seen evidence that there are people who are intimidated from posting on these boards at times, because of these actions. That seems to have been ignored amidst the rest of the debate. I am not sure what you are getting at here- HOW are we harming people who really get bullied? By having the courage to call out behaviour that can sometimes appear on these boards? By pointing out through civil discussion and debate that bullying practices and techniques do and have existed on the Parkz forums? Then I guess we are all guilty as charged. It was never going to be a popular view with certain people, cliques and circles on this board. I must say, I am a little flabbergasted at the lack of affinity that can be shown on these boards at times. This is one of them. I am not advocating for either side here, nor do I think of myself as a crusader ( as you have stylised me and others) I am, however, just standing up for what I think is right, to try and enact some positive change. Please do not misunderstand me here- I understand completely that there will be arguments and people on these boards will have disagreements and differences of opinions from time to time.That's normal. As has been shown, this could be one of those times The behaviour I have described as happening, however, is completely different. If by posting this view, one person takes this on board and posts with a little more empathy , then in my mind, that will be a positive thing. I guess we will also see , after airing this view, how I will be treated now on these boards moving forward. What I do not want to see is bullying or bullying behaviour be trivialised or water downed upon detecting or identifying. My final point is that I am not the only one that has felt the growing undercurrent of tension that can inhabit certain posts that are directed at certain posters. There are several who have arrived more or less to the same viewpoint , independently ,as they have viewed certain interactions on these boards. This is not just a one person view. Its something that IS happening and has been exposed by several other people. We have certainly heard from some in this debate. How many more remain silent? I say again to all what I posted before; Don't be a prick and the board will sort itself out. Accountability for these type of posts must be taken by ALL involved.

Great points and very well articulated @CaptainLazerGuns. Good point @Naazon. We know better than most, how far and fast Dreamworld has fallen. Thats not to say that we want to see it close or shut its doors- for mine its the exact opposite. If we tend to focus on the negatives, for mine, its because there are so few positives in Dreamworld's current situation to balance these out. We ALL want a strong and viable Dreamworld, but most of us recognise that this is currently far from the case. We are all hoping that at some stage someone sorts out the predicament that Dreamworld is in and restores it back to its pre-eminence in the Australian theme park industry.

That's insulting @Skeeta You mean like inferring that someone isn't intelligent? There's an awful lot of black kettles here folks. To put things into perspective with this comment though, this was not the escalation post, this was Push's response to a previous post which he found insulting and returned salvo on. There is always a starting point and you cannot just pick bits from the middle and infer that this was the nexus point where things went south. In this case it wasn't. Lets not muddy the waters here. I am not saying this to take sides for either views, I am just weary of these sort of posts that inhabit these boards at times. They are neither needed or required. I get that there are egos and arrogance involved and your "standing" or "pecking order" on the board is displayed- however- I say this to everyone- just don't be a prick and the board will sort itself out. Accountability for these type of posts must be taken by ALL involved. Finally this: When this sort of message gets posted in the wake of this last series of posts , you then can see the size of the issue that can affect the boards. The fact that a long time reader that has not posted for , in his own words, "a while", can recognise some of the posts here and call it for what it is, despite denials or deflections from others, should ring alarm bells for all involved on the forums. This absolutely supports the view that @iwerks brought up a while ago Now I am sure that this view or opinion that I have aired will cause some outrage for a select few. Thats ok- sometimes civil discussion can cause that. What I do hope is that this does not evolve into a "running joke" with needling comments that pop up in other posts from time to time. ( As they have in the past) I think its a serious issue and one that should be taken on its merits and I feel that a growing number of contributors and posters on this board are fully recognising this. At the end of the day, we all love theme parks and the amusement industry. This is a fantastic forum and platform in which we can indulge and interact with other like minded individuals. I guess on the back of this. we all need to think a little harder ( including me) on how and what we post. This has certainly been an enlightening experience for me and I hope that it does get noticed. I would hate to think how many other potential posters or future members of the forum are holding back or intimidated from sharing because of these actions. Hopefully , we can encourage more and more people to join and let OUR community grow with out fear of the shackles that have held them back previously. Cheers guys.

Yeah 100% correct here @Baconjack. Although nothing has been confirmed, there is very strong evidence to suggest that LPS will be adding a Maurer Spinning Coaster at some point in the future. The consultation with Pitt and Sherry , which is confirmed on their website is as solid as it gets. Also, the previous Senior park Manager, Brad Loxely , hinted strongly to me that another coaster will be coming to LPS. This is great news and a coaster such as a spinning Maurer would be an excellent addition for the park and also an Australian first. Lets hope that now the legal issues of DA's and adding rides has been resolved , that these plans are now firmly back on track. Could the park build another large coaster? Given the new laws that have been documented in regards to adding rides, I think that they certainly could. However , the park has several points to consider in regards to height and also placement within the park, before they could do so. I think that any large coaster would be subject to a DA , as in this case , it would more than likely exceed the limitations that have been placed on this process. A better question would be"Does LPS have the will to build a new large coaster?" On this point i would most certainly say no. Given the issues that could arise from such a install and as has already been pointed out , they want to remain on good terms with their neighbors. A new 100 foot plus coaster would not be welcome, unfortunately. LPS does need another coaster and I feel that this WILL occur with the ride reinvestment program that is now currently being undertaken. One point to note is that Luna Park still hold the trademark to the name Big Dipper, so it could still be utilised on any new coaster. Given the awesome Immelmann curve that is the feature of a Maurer spinner, its easy to see how the name "Big Dipper could be used for a coaster of this type. I personally would prefer to use the name Wildcat for it, but Big Dipper works just as well. I would love to see any new coaster use the Tumblebug space- this may require some elements being built over the back end of the slab but it would mean that the Big Dipper facade would be put to far better use and for a coaster, as it was originally intended.

It was more directed at a post which has since been deleted /removed which obviously crossed a line. Whilst it’s intentions were an attempt at poor humour, there was certainly a nasty undercurrent contained within it that asked for another poster in no uncertain terms to remove themselves from the board,. It was directed and pointed. What does it matter if a select audience found the post amusing? The subject matter of the post deemed it offensive, I and obviously many others saw it for what it was as well and was uncomfortable with it. For mine, it’s only a joke when it’s good natured and all parties, including who it was directed at, deem it so. The minute that it becomes a joke for a select few at the expense of someone else that is constant you start to venture into the realms of bullying. Let’s call it for what it is. Constant needling. Sure sometimes things need to be called out and shot down. We all know that. This time , for mine, wasn’t one of them. I usually let them slide by and scroll on by but in this instance , I thought that a comment on the so called “comedic” post was required.. I love and participate in jokes on the board all the time,- it has nothing to do with not enjoying a joke. However, I have been on these boards for a very long time and have observed the interactions of many posters over the years. Some definitely cross the line and some are definitely allowed to stand because of who the poster is, which is at times , a position of inequality. The fact that the post in question has since been removed speaks volumes.

Sorry I think most of the members of this forum are better than that. Not really necessary in my opinion. Not judging , just like many, giving my opinion. I do not usually embroil myself in these sort of posts.