Jobe

Intelligent. 👍

Hardly. You read the room completely wrong on that one.

Yeah not naive or a fool...... Ok let me edit that response. Surely there can be no complaints about this that will have any merit.

To be honest I didnt think it sounded that noisy which I guess is what they were hoping to achieve. The fact that this coaster doesnt need a clanky , high full lift hill is what sets this coaster apart from the previous Arrow Big Dipper. This will have minimum impact on residents the main launch is contained between the Office block and Coney Island- I am betting that virtually no one will hear this coaster apart from the screams of riders as they surmount the non inverting loop and the sidewinder. And having only 7 ( or 8?) people per train as opposed to the normal 16 or 24 this will also be kept to a minimum. From a noise point of view , and the placing of the ride , this is the perfect coaster for Luna Park and it apears it has been designed from a noise allowance and height restriction to be as non confronting for residents as much as possible. Surely there can be no complaints about this. The Sledgehammer would generate more noise than this just from number of ridership alone!

That was awesome thanks for sharing!

Sorry mate thats pretty much the extent of the info that i know. From what i have been told its being run by several showmen. apparently they have secured a Powersurge and a Topgun and an unidentified coaster. Whether or not that is Buzzsaw is open to extreme speculation. I do not even know site details/location yet. Sorry i cannot be more forthcoming.

I think it is the most likely of the parks in Victoria. IF it goes here this is going to be a huge gamechanger in the amusement park industry of the state. This will be the first large scale coaster in Victoria outside of Luna Park Melbourne ( which has admittedly had theirs for over 100+ years 😆) It will definitely be interesting to see EXACTLY where it ends up going. I have also heard reports that there is a new "amusement park" being set up in Perth WA and they have secured a coaster for it and that Buzzsaw could possibly be it. This could also be true but I feel its more of a long shot than te Victorian parks. If I was to scale my bets on where it will end up, it will look something like this: Gumbuya- to me the most logical destination, they have a need for another large scale thrill ride and Buzzsaw certainly fits the bill at a bargain basement price- its good bang for your buck. Adventure Park, Geelong-They are certainly expanding their dry attraction base and once again, Buzzsaw is quite an attractive option. No shortage of space for it to be installed. Luna Park Melbourne- This is a bit of a dark horse for mine. The park has desperately needed a 2nd full sized coaster ever since Metropolis closed and Buzzsaw would certainly fit into that footprint. The bargain price would definitely be quite attractive for the park here. My only concern would be if the height of the ride would be an issue. I am not sure on whether this would be approved by the council , however their last new ride was a Starflyer , which is a decent height in itself, so perhaps this may not be as much of an issue as i feared. Funfields- This is Victoria's best amusement park and is a good combination of dry and wet attractions. They have had experience with 2nd hand rides from Qld in the shape of the Stingray from Dreamworld and the Pirate Ship from Seaworld. Their last dry attraction was the 360 degree pendulum ride Voodoo and its a great ride that is fairly well themed. There last 2 overall attractions were a new slide and the wave pool so perhaps its time for another thrill attaction to throw into the mix? Who knows, price is good and available space is not a problem New Perth based amusement park- As I said this comes from a reputable source that this venture is off the ground and they have secured a coaster. Beyond that we know very little else. Thats pretty much my thoughts on where it could go. I just reiterate that even though the ride was a one trick pony, its great to see the ride saty in Australia. This coaster will add huge value and prestige to any of these parks.

Someone? Anyone can comment without it being factual. I have maintained that Gumbuya is the most likely park ( and I sincerely hope it is) but unless it has some substance to it let’s treat this with large amounts of salt until an official announcement is made.

Or even a rabbit 🐇……..

Time for Richard to open the purse strings and look into his bag of goodies for a Parkz prize!!

Hope there is a prize for the winner!!!! 🤣😆

Ground has broken on the new additions to the Big Banana’s waterpark expansion. It also appears that work has started on the Plantation Coaster - Australia’s first ever Alpine coaster installation. This is great news and it would not be unreasonable to see a late January opening for the new slide complex and kids play area at the water park. The Alpine Coaster is due sometime next year.

Friday 17th December for me thanks.

The park map that has been updated to show the new Velocity Falls precinct is now available on the Jamberoo website. Interestingly, the names of the individual 2 attractions have now been revealed- the Stinger, which is the trap door slides and the imaginatively named Octo, for the new 8 lane racing mat slides. Not yet sure of the timeline for the opening of these new attractions , but hopefully it is by early to mid January.

What? Forever? This doesn’t sound right!! I question this that a brand new ride will not be run to its full potential.

It’s very interesting. I think there is more interest in WHERE this ride will go than the actual ride itself! At the end of the day , we can only trust the info we have received. I have now heard it from 2 sources but until it’s announced officially, there is always going to be that sliver of doubt. Even though the ride is a massive one trick pony, I am glad that it appears to be staying in Australia and the positive implications this has for the industry as a whole. This means that some regional park will be gaining a quantum leap in ride offering. Be it Gumbuya, Funfields, Adventure Park or even LPM, this is a pretty savvy purchase and it’s mere presence at any of these parks will generate positive public perception.

I have just had it confirmed from another source that has always been reliable for me that Buzzsaw is indeed staying in Australia and that the park is not in QLD. I think Gumbuya is looking pretty good at this point!!

Yeah it was unfortunately. It was placed out the back with Space Probe and neither were ever seen again.

It’s not a Huss.

Interestingly, Jags Journeys’s on Facebook are suggesting that Buzzsaw has been bought by a park in Australia. If this is true and 100% legit, care to speculate on exactly where it will be heading? Who wants to lay some bets? If it’s true my money is on Gumbyah World. Dark horse? Luna Park Melbourne!! Bets are now OPEN!! 😂

They do. They have to. There are heritage orders on. It’s and the operators must maintain both rides.

Sorry Gazza I should have clarified. Bridges are the old school name for the theming or facade for a ride. In the above pictures that I posted, the large Tumblebug figure over the Traver ride and the extensive Ghost Train "theming" on top of the building itself are all considered classic bridges. They have nothing to do with actual bridges you cross however simply refer to the thematic elements that "bridge" the experience from the normal and the mundane to the beginning and end of the ride event. I guess this is where immersive theming began and rides such as these from where Walt Disney took his inspiration from ( such as Tivoli Gardens in Denmark) and then broadened and expanded the experience with the examples of the Disney like theming we have today.

The lack of theming and bridges and facades for the new generation of rides is certainly disappointing. Here are a few pictures of scenes from Luna Park highlighting the absolutely brilliant theming that was created circa 1935. No wonder the older generation of visitors always remark on how Luna Park had charm and evoked such strong memories. Below is excellent examples of the Ghost Train facade. If this was built today we would all be marvelling at it!! This provides such an evokative atmosphere and strong impression of the ride before you have even entered the queue area. The Goofy House, an opening day attraction , was transformed over the years into The Hall of Science and .... The Mystic East and was also briefly The Model Electric City before finally settling on its final transformation as Davy Jones Locker. Note that the same building was pretty utilisied for all these attractions over the years, with some additions. A simple windmill as shown here is one of the more remembered and effective pieces of theming to grace Luna Park- this was installed in 1935 and was finally removed in 1981- a testament to its build quality of the time. Several rare shots of the interior of the River Caves scenes!! It highlights the artistry of the day and how effective it was in creating the mood that has given so many people such strong and vivid memories of this ride. Even a simple game stand has been elevated with the use of theming as its backdrop for the Lets Duk Sweetie location. Everything was recycled or reused at Luna Park as the giant fish backdrop from the Lets Duk Sweetie stand also had another life as a photo location and band stop. An elaborate bridge such as this elevates a simple Octopus ride into the fearsome Spider - one of Luna Park's fondly remembered rides. One of my favourite pieces of theming- the original Tumblebug. This was recreated for the 1995 opening and the reimagining of the ride but was sadly removed for the 2004 reopening when the 'Bug was moved onto the Big Dipper site. A rare pic showing the intricate work that went into the Big Dipper and River Caves mountain. What did a giant pelican have to do with a ride called the U drive? Nothing but it sure made it memorable- the beak opened and closed as it sat there daring people to come and drive. And finally here is a picture of @joz and @rappa moaning about the galvanised fence on the new Big Dipper........ In all seriousness though, as can be seen by 6 or so pictures, there is a reason why the Luna Park of yesteryear had so much charm and evoked such strong memories in a generation of people who visited over the years. The park in all likelihood will never have the same level of immersiveness that the original park did, but it must make a far better effort to restore the charm that has been lost. The Volare and the Helter Skelter area are definitely a good start and are wonderful examples of what can be done if mind and method are one and the approach is focused. I am willing to give Luna Park some leeway in allowing them to grow the theming and allow them to finish the job before I pass judgement. Fingers crossed that the execution is far improved from what we have seen so far and that adequate gives way to amazing and brilliant and allows each ride to be remembered for its intial impression and aesthetic in each visitors memorybank. To do so would be the overarching win for the park. I live in hope that this occurs in some way.

I think its safe to say that what we are ending up with for the expansion insofar as theming can at best be described as barely adequate. What must be remembered here is that the main person for planning this expansion, Brad Loxely, left 12 months before the actual announcement and the final plans. I know for a fact that several designs that he chose , including names for rides had been changed after he left the business. This includes the selection of the Intamin Hot Racer, which i think we can all agree , is not a bad thing, considering that the option chosen was a custom layout Eurofighter. However, having been privy to some of the designs and names that were originally planned, it is frustrating to see a lack of sympathetic theming and nods to the past in what we have ended up with. I am willing to reserve judgment on the Big Dipper, queue, station and wall as it is obviously still being constructed and could well recieve painting or murals more sympathetic to the moorish theming of the entrance. I can add though, that the original planner Brad has expressed frustrations with the final execution and the loss of some of his thematic elements that had planned for each and every ride. The first lost opportunity for mine has been the generic naming for the majority of the rides - some of them are simply uninspiring! and the lack of bridges that hopefully can be added in the near future. We do have to celebrate the fine additions that have been added and the sense of joy and excitement for when they finally open. Fingers crossed that better thematic elements and better assimilation of queues into the Luna Park aesthetic can still occur.

Hmmmm Seaworld- Unfortunately we have had to suspend and significantly defer opening of the final 2 rides in our Atlantis precinct- specifically the Trident Starflyer and Leviathan wooden coaster. This is due to COVID related issues that have contributed to the delay. It has been completely unavoidable. Luna Park Sydney- Hang on. Hold my beer. Gears up to reopen an entirely new ,refurbished precint totalling 9 new rides, 3 new coasters, on time and on budget. 😆