Sydney Gets a Water Park!

[themeparkgc]

Jamberoo would have plenty of time, their plans have been drawn up for years, they just need to go and order the slides!

Just in case anyone is interested: Jamberoo unveils $20 million investment plan (2006)

[Stef]

WnWS (First use of abbreviation?)

Haha weird But yes I agree waterparks are the safe bet with all money considered. Im just glad Sydney gets a new ANYTHING!!! I'm already planning to be there on the opening day!

[mickey_079]

Just in case anyone is interested: Jamberoo unveils $20 million investment plan (2006)

That's what Gaz was getting at. I remember reading an interview in the paper last year and Jamberoo was actually supposed to have a new slide this year. I don't think the park proposal is about eliminating Jamberoo, Sydney just doesn't have anything anymore, and from personal experience Jamberoo is too far away for Hunter, Newcastle and Central Coast dwellers. N.S.W needs something like this and Sydney just seems to be central for everyone with easy access.

[jjuttp]

I was reading an article from the sunday paper a couple of weeks ago , and found these mistakes... (not direct quotes as i am currently in qld not syd): "village roadshow also own seaworld, DREAMWORLD and movieworld."-for how long has this been? and: "...will feature australias FIRST SURFABLE WAVE POOL." white water world anybody? and maybe an aquatic centre or two?

[keadz]

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/i...amp;job_id=4327 Here is the planning report on the Wet n Wild Sydney proposal, within it there is A LOT of juicy information, concept plans, designs etc etc. Pretty much all you need to know about the park can be found here. IMO, if this park comes to fruitionn, it will surpass its QLD cousin. Looks fantastic. Some of the more exciting rides can be found here. http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%201.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%202.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%203.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%204.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%205.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%206.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%208.pdf Lots of world firsts there (I pressume) Then ofcourse there is the render: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%203.pdf Larger version found here. Edited March 4, 2011 by keadz

[GoGoBoy]

Wow what a find! Thank you Keadz

[themeparkgc]

Just in case it isn't just me, I thought I'd re-post the link because none of them seem to work for me. Copy the following into the address bar and then go to Environmental Assessment > Appendices > Appendix V Building and Design Drawings.

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=4327

Thanks for the documents keadz and welcome to Parkz. Edit: I've just looked through those plans and they are planning a Skycoaster, double FlowRider as well as pretty much every type of WhiteWater West slide. They even seem to have something like the Wedgie/Proslide SuperLoop although it appears to be a WhiteWater one.

Edited March 4, 2011 by themeparkgc

[keadz]

oops, sorry I'll redo the links now. Just copied them from my post from another forum that I post on. Also here is a recent article: http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.a...nto-the-future/ THE Wet `n’ Wild amusement park slated for Prospect will be the largest of its kind in Australia - now the plans are out for how it could look when the doors are opened in time for summer next year. The vision for the $80 million water park was released last week and residents will now have one month to comment on the proposed plans. It will boast a number of exciting new rides including the Double Aqualoop, Freeloop and Freefall slides and become home to Australia’s largest man-made beach with a massive wave pool set to become the signature centrepiece of the park. Project director Chris Warhurst told the Advocate last week Wet `n’ Wild Prospect would become the benchmark for amusement parks both here and overseas. Opening day has also been brought one year ahead of schedule, signalling confidence the massive development will get the seal of approval in time from the State Government and residents living in the Blacktown City Council area. ``We have undertaken a significant amount of work to make sure we create a fantastic attraction for Sydney,’’ Mr Warhurst said. ``It won’t go down the same path Wonderland did - this is our business and we are supremely confident in its future here at Prospect.’‘ The enormous development will be constructed on a 25-hectare parcel of land, creating about 300 construction jobs and a further 278 permanent positions once operational. The park is tipped to spark a tourist boom for the area with an estimated $350 million cash injection into the local economy in the first ten years of trade. ============================================================= Opening date expected around September next year I think. The park will be seasonal so closed in the winter months.

Edited March 4, 2011 by keadz

[jjuttp]

The drawing looks different to the original CP...

[GoGoBoy]

The drawing looks different to the original CP...

Yeah it definitely does. Quite a few changes there. And they do mention in the report that this is not the absolute final version - there may still be some attraction changes etc. I'm pleased to see some of the best slides are still in this latest version such as the family boomerango and duelling master blasters. A few other interesting slides which we haven't seen before in Australia either. I was a bit disappointed that they have now put in a zip line and fly coaster. To me that's just tacky and reminds me of that temporary amusement park on the Gold Coast. I'd rather they stick to true water park rides, similar to Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix. I don't want to see them try to copy WnW Gold Coast with its weird mish mash of attractions Edited March 5, 2011 by GoGoBoy

[jjuttp]

Also is it just me or does it look like the master blasters AND the boomerango both end in a lazy river like thing? i also want to see some deep and immersive theming; WWW tried to immerse you in aussie surfing culture. WNWS looks like it has some mild theming like the shark at the top of the boomerango. And how you dont want the flycoaster down here GoGoBoy for starters we dont have one in NSW yet (as far as i know) and every great theme park needs a tower like object that can be see from the highway... TOT;GD ,SV ,SE ,BWS , FC , and the BRO.

[keadz]

I would refer to this link for the most accurate and up to date plans. According to that image all the rides have a designated pool, I guess, for each of the slides. The river towards the north of the park where the zip line finishes is referred to as a "extreme river", whilst the river towards the interactive kids area is a more traditional lazy river, incorporating waterfalls etc. What appears to be a river on the left side of the wave pool is actually refered to as a 'water walkway with interactive sprays'. http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%201.pdf

[Gazza]

i also want to see some deep and immersive theming; WWW tried to immerse you in aussie surfing culture.

Actually, the marketing for WWW says they immerse you in Aussie surfing culture, In reality, its not an immersivley themed park....Most of the place is still plain steel structures, concrete and rocks: http://www.parkz.com.au/photo/AU/Gold_Coas...le_of_Huey.html This is immersive theming: http://www.parkz.com.au/photo/AE/Jumeirah_...-Wadi_Leap.html And so is this: http://www.parkz.com.au/photo/US/Orlando/T...away_Creek.html But not this: http://www.parkz.com.au/photo/AU/Gold_Coas...80-The_Rip.html Just looking at the designs for some of the buildings, it looks like it is going to have that surfing "feel" anyway. http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...rawings%209.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...awings%2010.pdf http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/f...awings%2013.pdf

[Bmull19]

I agree. Whitewater World isn't that themed. Sure, it's colourful, and it has a few little touches here and there which Wet N Wild doesn't (I.e. the Aussie Thongs and Cave of Waves) but it doesn't compare to some of these international water parks. http://www.parkz.com.au/photo/AE/Jumeirah_...-Wadi_Leap.html I love that theming. This is in Dubai, isn't it? Since I've seen this, I'll never look at a water park the same.

[Gazza]

This is in Dubai, isn't it?

Says right at the top of the page.... http://www.parkz.com.au/parks/AE/Jumeirah_...Wadi_Waterpark/

[tolly1804]

Especially comparing to places like Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. They both have a storyline and the theming is impeccable, they also don't show their age like some Aussie parks do, Typhoon was also opened in 1989

[rappa]

And the above has one of the best wave pools I've ever seen!

[tolly1804]

And the above has one of the best wave pools I've ever seen!

Luckily for us the one thing that Disney (and a lot of other parks) lack, the new Wet n Wild will have heaps of - Rides. I can put up with steel structures if there is a decent ride up top!

[SeriouslyPunked]

we should organise a parkz meetup on opening day whenever this park opens

[jjuttp]

Ok, now the project is now under "proponent reviewing submissions" this is a stab in the dark but does this mean that they're counting the yes' and no's?

[keadz]

Just some concerns have been put forward by the council, which can have been described here: http://www.blacktownsun.com.au/news/local/news/general/city-seeks-park-detail/2117531.aspx I think members of the community have had the chance to put forward their objections, but there seems to be support for the project. Hopefully the issues with the council can be resolved (they should) and construction can start soon.

Edited April 13, 2011 by keadz

[Wazza1]

I am curious to know what has changed in the Sydney market (especially Western Sydney) that makes something like this viable. I really want to see their Sales & Marketing plan and where/how they are able to justify the visitor numbers and in park spend to make such a massive project viable. As a West Sydneysider myself I think it's fantastic that something like this is coming to town. But time and time again in Western Sydney we have seen things come and go. It will be 7 years next week since Wonderland (only 2 km down the road) shut it doors, which lets face it never attracted the numbers of guests that was envisioned. I read in the proposal for Wet & Wild they are expecting 10,000 guests per day in peak times and at least 1,500 in non peak times. If crowds at Wonderland were anything to go by they are well and truly going to have their work cut out for them. But I don't want to be too negative about it, Village are a big company, and no doubt have some very smart people on board and I am sure they have done their sums right to make something like this work.

[GoGoBoy]

I am curious to know what has changed in the Sydney market (especially Western Sydney) that makes something like this viable. As a West Sydneysider myself I think it's fantastic that something like this is coming to town. It will be 7 years next week since Wonderland (only 2 km down the road) shut it doors, which lets face it never attracted the numbers of guests that was envisioned.

I see you've been sucked in by the lies that were spun by the previous owners of Wonderland, as were many other people. Wonderland did not close down because it was not viable. This is what the last owners (Malaysian based Sunway Group) told the general public to make the closure more palatable and to stop people from being too angry about it. The reality was that they could make more money more quickly by selling the land for industrial purposes. The recent road changes out that way meant that the land became very lucrative for business park uses. Wonderland was still attracting almost 1 million visitors per year right up until the end. This almost matches the Queensland parks. They could have easily pushed this number up a bit with a little bit of re-investment into the park. But they hadn't built any new rides for years. They refused to invest more into the park as they probably knew they were just going to sell it. For a theme park to do well there must be a careful and constant re-investment program, as demonstrated by the successful QLD parks. Sunway were more interested in their properties and development in Malaysia and didn't want to put the time, energy and money into their Sydney park. There are massive amounts of young families in Western Sydney who are crying out for some entertainment, particularly now that Wonderland has gone. This park will be a huge drawcard for them and people all around Sydney and surrounding areas. The unofficial Wet 'n' Wild Sydney facebook page already has over 7000 fans. And that is without any marketing. Mark my words, this park will be very profitable and successful

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

It's always good to know the background of the person talking GoGoBoy. Wazza has extensive experience with wonderland. You may want to go back over some of his previous posts in wonderland based topics to get a feel for just how extensive. All of us know bits and pieces of the closure, and the reasons behind it. PART of those reasons was a struggle to pull numbers needed. Was the park viable? To an extent, yes... but the continued trading would see further decline of the theme park division without substantial investment which the owners were not prepared to do. VRTP on the otherhand will be able to keep interest in the park alive with ongoing attractions. An "attraction sharing" system would now be viable viz a viz Six Flags, where flagship attractions are installed in premier sites, and rotated around the other properties when they begin to lose their lustre. Second hand slides are as good as second hand rides - just take a look at the new home for twister.

[joz]

No theme park is viable without continued investment. It's a capital heavy industry, so to say it wasn't viable because the owner wasn't willing to invest in it is like saying my car is a lemon because I refuse to put oil in it. Incidently, I agree with Wazza, I don't think it'll pull in as many people as they are predicting, I think 900,000 isa bit high. I still think it'll be very successful and profitable, but I don't think it'll get the numbers they think it will.