Major Theme Park for S/W Sydney

[bren]

Hi All, I am a new member to the forums. This was on the front page of the latest Camden Advertiser today. I thought it would have been mentioned here already but it appears not. I think it is worthy of mention on your front page news section. Lets hope this gets the go ahead "THE developers of a huge indoor and outdoor water park with attached 400-room hotel and themed restaurants are searching Camden's northern suburbs for a place to set up. The developers, JVPlay, said the 24-hectare park development would be ``unlike anything seen in Australia'' and would save NSW tourists from having to visit attractions in Queensland. The Prestons company acts as an agent for international companies specialising in amusements. Directors Julianne and Vincent Cusumano said they were looking at sites around Leppington or Bringelly. Stage one of the concept the Great Reef Resort would include indoor and outdoor water parks, a 200-room hotel and conference facilities. Stage two includes extensive parklands and a theme park with rides ``never before been seen in Australia'', Ms Cusumano said. ``It will generate a minimum of 450,000 visitors to the area [a year] where they will spend additional dollars on restaurants, transportation, retail and merchandise.'' During construction the project would create around 200 jobs. Once it's up and running, the proponents believe about 500 permanent and casual positions would be created. International companies have visited Sydney to talk about the proposal, with JVPlay representatives also touring the US to look at indoor and outdoor water park ideas. Ms Cusumano and her sales manager met Western Sydney Minister David Borger and State Development Minister Ian Macdonald to share their plans, as well as Opposition Leader and western Sydney spokesman Barry O'Farrell. A spokeswoman for Mr Borger said he was interested in the idea. Mr O'Farrell said the proposal was ``impressive''. ``There is no reason why the Gold Coast should have all the theme parks in Australia,'' Mr O'Farrell said. ``Sydney is the real capital of Australia and should have a world-class theme park. I hope the Rees Government gives serious consideration to the proposal.'' Camden Mayor Chris Patterson also met the proponents. He said they discussed potential sites and zoning, but said as the proposal was a large one, the ultimate planning approval may come down to the Planning Minister. ``Something of that magnitude in our backyard in principle has the ability to be a fantastic idea,'' he said. ``But they would have a lot of things to work through.'' Camden state MP Geoff Corrigan said he had fond memories of going to Australia's Wonderland. ``I'd be happy to welcome anything that brought 500 jobs to the area as well as recreation.'' The developers are still looking for investors. Details: www.jvplay.com.au/indoorwaterpark

[little lefty legend]

Just found this video off a link off the companies website as well about the resort. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU42jXwPPco also the link to JVplay's News section for more info: http://www.jvplay.com.au/news.htm

[Gazza]

As with any announced park project these days "Ill believe it when I see it"....Though considering the track record of Indoor water parks, (And indeed the success of water parks in general here) it does seem like a safe option. I'd imagine the stage 2 theme park is a long way off though. The only thing that is concerning is that the website of JVplay is slightly 'dodgy'....They appear to be a ride broker of some sort, but if you look at the Roller Coasters page ( http://www.jvplay.com.au/_product_29188/Rollercoasters ) you can see that they are advertising B&Ms product line for sale, and hillariously the Mountain Glider, a coaster that existed at Walibi Belgium for a short period, but what closed and removed because of constant technical problems (Dunno why you'd want to associate yourself with that lemon) I kinda do hope all these associations they have are for real though.

Edited June 18, 2009 by Gazza

[paauly101]

I guess we will just see what happens. I dont really care much for the indoor waterpark and hotel, but if it does open, I'll just hope for the best with stage two. *B&M, B&M*

[Stef]

I highly doubt it will go ahead. I live in the area and there is really not much land for a hotel and water park and its a pretty stupid place to put a theme park considering it will be in the middle of nowhere in relation to tourist trap type attractions etc Also, the only main road in prestons/leppington is a disgusting 2 lane pot hole road into camden and macarthur locals would know what road im talking about, And is usually packed with cars at peak hour, the main shopping centre is about 30 mins drive and the area is mainly rural properties. Unless they somehow manage to purchase the old elcaballo blanco land I highly doubt this idea will go ahead. Bearing in mind that there was 100 hectares of basically THE ONLY VACANT LAND LEFT on camden valley way that just went for over 10 million dollars. So good luck to them, competing with jamberoo and wvtp's etc and finding the land.

[T-bone]

``There is no reason why the Gold Coast should have all the theme parks in Australia,'' Mr O'Farrell said. ``Sydney is the real capital of Australia and should have a world-class theme park. I hope the Rees Government gives serious consideration to the proposal.''

I agree Barry, but you'd think the Leader of a major political party would know that the Capital of Australia is NOT Sydney, but infact Canberra. What a tool. Anyway, as with Gazza, i'll believe it when I see it.

[cadboy]

you can see that they are advertising B&Ms product line for sale,

Yeah half the pictures on that page are directly from the B&M website which looks really dodgy.

[BNErider]

Are these guys like Australian distributor of B&M?

[GoGoBoy]

Those of us that have been around the forums for a while have seen this type of thing come up many times in the past. They always announce these grand plans for a new theme park but they rarely end up happening. We have even seen plans made by reputable theme park companies fall through. Some look more realistic than others but this one looks very unlikely. The video was so bad. And their location choice is a very strange one. I'm betting it won't happen

[Gazza]

^It appears to be just one from the Kalahari resort in Wisconsin Dells, lifted as is. For a company distributing such a wide range of products and design as one of their services, you'd think they'd have the tools to do more of a serious proposal, not simply a few images of indoor water parks from google and a quick list of features...Jamberoo seem to be doing better in terms of showing what is planned for them for instance.

And their location choice is a very strange one.

Well, this is Sydney, so you have to build miles away from anywhere to have enough land at a reasonable price.

[Stef]

If they were smart they would have bought land 10 years ago and sat on it until enough people were in the area etc. Now the property value in the area is ridiculous I'm sure there are better places to build a park in sydney. You dont really have to build "miles away from anywhere" just think ahead what the area will be like and put it next to a freeway. lol Its sad to see that this was on the front page of the local paper, we're so desperate for a DECENT theme park. Seriously australia is a joke, we're so behind the times, our population is tiny which makes for small quantities of everything including our beloved theme parks.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I agree Barry, but you'd think the Leader of a major political party would know that the Capital of Australia is NOT Sydney, but infact Canberra. What a tool. Anyway, as with Gazza, i'll believe it when I see it.

I am quite sure he would know this Paul, I think his comment is moreso referring to the fact that Sydney is the prime destination of most tourists, at least as a first stop. Sydneysiders like to believe that they are the centre of the universe, and I can safely say that because I used to be one. If tourism Australia starts a campaign encouraging people to come to canberra with promises of tall towers, odd buildings, getting dizzy on roundabouts and museums, museums, museums, i'll shoot them. And if you couldn't understand exactly what he meant by that comment, then I should say that it is YOU who are the tool. I'm with Gazza. Believe it when I see it.

[T-bone]

All politicians (and wanna-be politicians) are tools in my opinion. And for the record, I am not a personal fan of Canberra myself (the place certainly ain't a tourism capital, or an exciting sydney, unlike Melbourne, Brisbane or any of city) but it does have some pluses when compared to the "bigger" city's. End of discussion.

[GoGoBoy]

Well, this is Sydney, so you have to build miles away from anywhere to have enough land at a reasonable price.

True but a major component of this development is the resort. It won't work if they build it somewhere people don't want to stay. There would be some people who stay there just for the waterpark but it would not be appealing for people (particularly foreign and domestic tourists) who are looking for local activities and want to enjoy what Sydney has to offer

[cadboy]

Are these guys like Australian distributor of B&M?

Yep, and to this day they still haven't sold one

[BNErider]

Of course I know that, for future purchases I am speaking about. I am trying to figure out why a company would post random pictures of roller coasters on their site. They're either completely random or they are the distributor for Australia.

[jjuttp]

Are these guys like Australian distributor of B&M?

If so that guy on TPR wont probally be too happy now, will he?

If tourism Australia starts a campaign encouraging people to come to canberra with promises of tall towers, odd buildings, getting dizzy on roundabouts and museums, museums, museums,

And another perfect description of canberra.

You dont really have to build "miles away from anywhere" just think ahead what the area will be like and put it next to a freeway. lol

Hmmmmmmmmm, im finding it really really hard to work out what your talking about, but if its any concellation i do like about 20 mins,- half an hour away from the recently deceased wonderland though. Edited June 19, 2009 by jjuttp

[Stef]

Hmmmmmmmmm, im finding it really really hard to work out what your talking about, but if its any concellation i do like about 20 mins,- half an hour away from the recently deceased wonderland though.

Yeah sorry I dont really know how to explain it lol. And I dont understand the above quote. haha My Idea that I think is pretty good, the only real space left close to a train line and very close to sydney cbd is the sydney olympic park, I used to have my school carnivals there and the place is a ghost town, I think they should build a dam good theme park there, and make people pay at the front gate, and replace the rides at the easter show with a permenant theme park. I just think its going to waste "irony" it used to be a rubbish tip. lol But yes I think we all have better ideas then these jvplay people or whatever.

[S.W24]

Reading though The Sydney Sunday Herald this morning and this Subject just happen to be on discussion. SUBURBAN PLEASURE DOME FORGET the ill-fated Islamic school: at last there is a development planned for Camden that residents might approve of. A joint Australian-American enterprise is looking for 25 to 30 hectares to build an indoor-outdoor water park with a 250-room hotel, 5000 square metres of conference facilities and themed restaurants. And despite the closure of Australia's Wonderland in Sydney's west five years ago, as well as the demise of Old Sydney Town, Sega World and Fox Studio's Backlot, the group believes there is a market for a pleasure dome in the south-west. The Australian half of the venture, JVPlay, based at Prestons, believes Sydneysiders deserve their own theme park instead of having to travel to Brisbane. "It's got everything that Sydney's calling out for," said JVPlay director Julianne Cusumano, who runs an entertainment centre in Liverpool that includes glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. She said the concept of indoor-outdoor water parks was booming in the US. "They slap them in the middle of nowhere and cities get built up around them." Ms Cusumano said sites at Leppington, Bringelly and Prospect were being investigated but the project needed private investment. She hopes the Government will help "with tax benefits, land or putting a little bit in towards it so it would be attractive to investors". The mayor of Camden, Chris Patterson, said council supported the proposal. He said if an appropriate site was found in the area, council had offered to help "where possible by arranging pre-development application meetings, giving advice on land and environment plans and explaining the pros and cons of the site, specific to its development application". Camden Council approved a McDonald's restaurant this month after the fast-food chain previously failed in its bid to open in the area. The council rejected an application for an Islamic school in the town last year on planning grounds. At a subsequent appeal in April, church leaders said the Quranic Society espoused views that were "incompatible with the Australian way of life".

[Stef]

There is an islamic school I think going in now.. She called my area "the middle of nowhere" lol. "It's got everything that Sydney's calling out for," I think there are better things we are calling out for at the moment..

[Gazza]

The council rejected an application for an Islamic school in the town last year on planning grounds. At a subsequent appeal in April, church leaders said the Quranic Society espoused views that were "incompatible with the Australian way of life".

To piss the residents off they should theme the water park like Wild Wadi; Edited June 21, 2009 by Gazza

[Stef]

Most of the residents are middle eastern..

[Wazza1]

This looks superficially not too bad, at a very quick glance. Looking at it deeper, I am trying to work out exactly how this will all come about. 1) I am trying to work out exactly what it is that this JVplay company actually do. It looks like they (own?) some kiddies indoor playland somewhere in Liverpool? And according to their web-site have facilitated in someway the construction of three similar small kids play environments around Aus, and are the local distributors for a host of 'structures' aimed at children aged 0 - 8, as well as some other attractions. Do they have the expertise to pull off something like this? 2) I myself have been struggling a bit recently to make some money out of the share market, I don't know who in their right mind would think that in the current environment it is a wise decision to invest (as a guess from looking at their little proposal) $100 Million dollars into an industry that has never faired well in Sydney. (Look at all of the failures in the industry over the last 30 years) But good good luck to them, I hope it comes about, but it sounds very very pie in the sky at the moment. Oh yeah one other thing is this "Proposal" actually a proper proposal, like a business plan or is it just a media release at the moment?

Edited June 25, 2009 by Wazza1

[Stef]

"An indoor water park is like an outdoor water park, except all the fun is packed into a cube" - JV Play website Hahaha just thought that was funny.

[T-Rex]

A future theme park for Southwest Sydney? Hmmm, that sounds like a swell idea (considering that I live close to Camden ). Sydney truly deserves an amusement park that isn't as big as Wonderland Sydney, but at least bigger than Luna Park Sydney. I do like LPS, but it doesn't have as much rides as it used to back in 1995, which is a pity, really. If I can, I do have some suggestions: A themed water park sounds fabulous, but maybe we could have some diversity. How about that one area has water rides, while the other is your basic carnival-styled park filled with rides (rollercoasters, flat rides, etc.) The Waterpark area could have those well-known rides (log-flumes, river caves, etc), including a swimming pool, and a themed cafe. The carnival will have let's say at least two rollercoasters manufactured by either Intamin or B&M. There must be variety of the steel coasters and the woodies. It should have some flat rides we never had, and at least a couple of our favourites. I would highly recommend the rides manufactured by Huss and KMG. A brief layout of rides from these manufacturers. Huss: Enterprise, Top Spin, Breakdance, Frisbee, and Rainbow (perhaps one that is on sale, maybe?) KMG: Dominator, Freak Out, and maybe a couple more rides from them (anybody know some?) The carnival will also have the traditional rides, which includes dodgems, a Ferris Wheel, and kiddie rides. Maybe we could also throw in a themed ride too. That's as much as I could think of (hope it sounds feasible). BTW, I also forgot to say that it should have all the stuff anyone would find in a carnival like game, food stands, and all that stuff. That's about it, I gues...