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New rollercoaster for Gold Coast’s Dreamworld languishes in carpark as Ardent Leisure waits on Government funds A new $32 million rollercoaster tipped to lure millions of visitors as part of the city’s post-coronavirus recovery has been delivered. But construction won’t start anytime soon. A NEW $32 million rollercoaster tipped to lure millions of visitors as part of the city’s post-coronavirus recovery is languishing in a carpark because the State Government won’t cough up tens of millions of dollars promised in rescue packages. Dreamworld had planned to start construction this month of its unnamed rollercoaster manufactured by MACK Rides. It was pitched last August as a key plank in the iconic park’s turnaround strategy. It will be the first multi-launch rollercoaster in the southern hemisphere with a top speed of 105km/h. Instead of being built, 30 freight boxes of rollercoaster track are sitting in the Dreamworld carpark. They will be sent back to the freight company in Brisbane and stored. Another 60 boxes are still to be delivered. The delay comes as pressure mounts on the State Government to release part of a $50 million package for animal and theme park operators promised last month. The Bulletin also revealed yesterday that the parks were waiting for a slice of the $2.5 billion jobs and business rescue package promised in March. Village Roadshow, which owns Movie World and Sea World, and rival Ardent Leisure, which runs Dreamworld, are burning through up to $15 million and $10 million respectively each month, even after Federal Government subsidies are taken into account. The Bulletin reported yesterday the situation was becoming desperate with sources saying the money “could not come soon enough”. The State Government yesterday said talks were being finalised with the park operators. A decision is expected this week. Dreamworld chief strategy officer Paul Callender did not directly link the State ­Government funding to construction of the rollercoaster. He said the $10 million the park was losing each month from the Government-­mandated theme park closure would have been used to build the rollercoaster. “It certainly requires funding. Ten million dollars is being burnt each month so that money when we are talking, about $17 million of contractor works, would have gone back into our capital investment. “Certainly if we were trading that would have more than helped but funding is ­incredibly important at the moment.” Construction for the rollercoaster, when it starts, is expected to take up to nine months and employ more than 200 people. Dreamworld owner Ardent Leisure froze capital expenditure, including work for the rollercoaster, in March after it was forced to close the park over coronavirus health concerns. Since then it has been burning through $5 to $10 million cash each month. Dreamworld CEO John Osborne said it was disappointing to put the project on hold, however he remained confident it would be ready next year. “It is shovel ready and will be a real boost to local construction jobs and the tourism industry. We remain optimistic that we will be able to complete this world-class attraction in 2021 and continue to work with government to achieve a realistic opening date and funding.” Both Village Roadshow and Ardent have submitted COVID-safe plans to the State Government. They are being assessed. These plans would mean parks would be exempt from future limitations, including this week’s 20-person limit and 100-person limit in July. Village said it was in the process of finishing its Vortex rollercoaster, part of The New Atlantis Precinct at Sea World. Village COO Bikash Randhawa said the rollercoaster was 80 per cent finished with state certification to come and final work from ­engineers travelling from Germany. Mr Randhawa said those engineers needed special permission to enter the country. ————————————————— 2 points 1. why would they unload the track from the containers if they are going back to the freight company in Brisbane for storage? 2. Since when is Vortex a rollercoaster?

I personally think the Rainbow Serpent archway looks pretty cool... to each their own I guess

I am referring of the “per area of a venue” - not just total venue which was the initial plan for stage 2. So a pub or a cinema that has separate rooms, can have 20 per room now which was an amendment to the original plan.

Stage 2 was brought forward to today. 20 per area is only for pubs, clubs and entertainment venues such as cinemas. It isn’t extended to amusement parks.

Great to see the operators are working together to get plans in place - they may be competitors but inevitably people who visit one visit the other so it’s in both operators best interests to see them all re-open Coronavirus Gold Coast: Theme parks make case for reopening earlier Pressure is mounting on the state government to allow theme parks reopen earlier, with a key meeting on the issue taking place this afternoon. PRESSURE is mounting on the State Government to consider allowing the Gold Coast’s theme parks to reopen ahead of Stage 3 of the easing of coronavirus restrictions, with Tourism Minister Kate Jones meeting with the bleeding operators this afternoon. The Bulletin has previously reported that Village Roadshow is burning through $10 to $15 million in monthly costs net of government subsidies during the shutdown. Ms Jones said Village Roadshow and Ardent Leisure had submitted COVID safe plans to the government detailing how they will safely reopen and the plans were currently being assessed by the Chief Health Officer. She said the two big players had worked “collaboratively together” to come up with the “very detailed plans” and that she was meeting with the theme parks’ CEOs this afternoon to discuss them. “They are being assessed, at this stage they are in Stage 3 of the road map but we’re working with them to see if we can open them up in a safe way,” Ms Jones said while visiting a Main Beach cafe this afternoon. “They want to do it quickly but the road map says theme parks are clearly part of Stage 3.” Destination Gold Coast chair Paul Donovan said the biggest market was the drive market and “we need the theme parks open”. He said that the Gold Coast Convention Centre had also put forward a COVID safe reopening plan to the government and “we’re waiting for those to be approved”. “I’m a strong advocate for Queensland’s borders to be reopened when safe and for the theme parks to come online as soon as possible,” he said. Ardent Leisure’s Dreamworld and Village Roadshow’s Gold Coast theme parks, Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and Paradise Country, have been shut down since March 23. https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/coronavirus-gold-coast-theme-parks-make-case-for-reopening-earlier/news-story/c57eb2cce108d2993fb0aa66f2d3030b

How do you know that not much is happening? just assuming because a contractor hasn’t posted their jobs on social media? i imagine there would be stuff happening in the park, we just can’t see what it is

Thunderbolt, my bad I was typing from memory and buggered it up

GCB published an article today on the “Top 10 Theme Park attractions we miss” https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/gold-coast-130/top-10-gold-coast-theme-park-rides-we-miss-from-dreamworld-magic-mountain-and-sea-world/news-story/6c853ea28f2ebc6896990c322b4df1ca 10 - Young Einstein’s Gravity Homestead 9 - Blue Lagoon 8 - Gremlins Ride 7 - Magic Mountain Chairlift 6 - Vikings Revenge 5 - Speed Slides/Twister 4 - Bermuda Triangle 3 - Corkscrew 2 - Double Screamer 1 - Thunderbolt

Pretty sure when they were planning the area 12+ months ago they were not factoring in months of zero revenues and operating at a loss for half a year.. we’ll never know if had covid-19 not hit we would have had exactly as originally planned (unlikely) but it’s fair to say some of the additional elements that would have added to the immersion have no doubt has to be cut, and that’s understandable.

Ahh but you see... perspective is what’s it’s all about. that guy crossed the road in front of me after he clocked off...

He wouldn’t be the first guy to make something appear bigger than it really is...

Well we have theming! Also guessing he meant “Atlantis”

Long way off that happening at the moment... but maybe for a future whole of GC promo for summer months

Nice aerial view of the pad for Leviathan credit to @Bikash Randhawa for the photo on insta

You can’t just “move” a film studio. They are multimillion dollar custom built buildings, some with water tanks inside, waterfall features, rigging, climate controls etc. “Moving” would equal demolition and rebuild.

The latter was my take on it. similar to how the Trident concept shows fountains coming out of what would be the loading area once the ride is in the air.

The media will be there Day 1 regardless. Every person with a phone is “the media” these days. An hiccups, breaches in social distancing etc will be filmed and shared on social media immediately and picked up by wide-stream media. there is no “practice” days. They have to get it right from Day 1.

Which raises the question is the effort worth it? With the Exception of membership holders who pay monthly, passholders have already paid up so the only revenue coming in will be from f&b spend and merch.

Village Roadshow boss Clark Kirby met with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday to make the case for reopening. VILLAGE boss Clark Kirby is aiming to have Sea World and Movie World at full capacity in time for the September school holidays if a soft opening the previous month goes to plan. Mr Kirby met with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday to make the case for reopening the theme parks, which have been closed since late-March. It follows criticism from Mr Kirby last week over the State Government allowing shopping centres to take in thousands of customers, but limiting theme parks to 20 people from June and 100 from July. “We went through all our COVID-safe plans with her and it got a really good reception,” he said. “There were certainly no promises (from the Premier), but I think she is keen to get the parks open as soon as possible too.” Mr Kirby said Village submitted a detailed COVID-safe proposal to the State Government, involving families being able to go on rides together while spaced apart from other groups, ensuring social distancing was observed. “We are just working through some of the practicalities like social distancing and sanitising,” he said. Mr Kirby said he hoped to have ­Village parks undertake a soft opening in July for “very small numbers” and then gradually increase the number of customers to reach full capacity by the September school holidays. He said he hoped “in ideal circumstances” to have Movie World and Sea World at half capacity by July – meaning 3000 patrons at Sea World and 7000 at Movie World. Another option being considered is to reopen one park to test the COVID processes first before opening others. Griffith University health and infectious disease expert Professor Nigel McMillian said it was up to each industry to make its best case for reopening to large numbers of customers. “If you look at the NRL and racing and AFL et cetera, they are making their case around their unique circumstances,” Prof McMillian said. “From an infectious disease point of view, what is the difference between a shopping centre and a theme park? Each one will have its unique, particular issues, (but) a ride (where people are) sitting next to each other – that does not happen in a shopping centre.” https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/coronavirus-village-roadshow-ceo-clark-kirby-aiming-to-have-sea-world-and-movie-world-at-full-capacity-by-september-holidays/news-story/35389f0cff972d651eff59f6791ab8a0 ————————————————————————— my 2 cents... there is no way in hell, mid-winter, that theme parks will be allowed capacities in the 3000+ mark. Can you even imagine 7000 social distancing in queues? The DCR queue would run the whole way down Main Street, likely intersecting with the queue for SE...

From my perception those were a theming element as opposed to a ride feature designed to wet riders

I don’t believe there was any mention or design showing water spraying on riders...

@Coasterlife care to elaborate on the random nauseous vote? Are you @Taj O'Neill’s recess buddy?

Having a plan is one thing That plan being accepted by state medical officer and being approved to put into action is a whole different thing...

To be fair @Taj O'Neill the only reason you would post that picture would be to create conversation or discussion. Forums (also known “discussion forums”) are not the place to just post things and not expect commentary or reactions.. so therefore, if you don’t want commentary or reactions - be it positive or negative - then don’t post things. Just like in real life, some people will agree with you, some people won’t.

Regional parks cannot sustain the attendance required to operate a full scale park, especially with the type of attractions Six Flags are known for, and if you are going to do a half-assed version why bother.