Expansions start at Jamberoo Action Park

[JackBenjaminBrissenden]

Media Release – June 2012 Expansions start at Jamberoo Action Park The first stage of Jamberoo Action Park’s long-awaited expansion plans have commenced, with preliminary site works underway. Full construction will start over the coming weeks to develop ‘Kangaroo Island’, which is set to become the location for the most exciting, high-thrill, water-based rides ever built in NSW. The $11.6 million project includes new rides, a 1,700 space carpark and road upgrades on Jamberoo Road to allow faster access into the park. Dax Eddy, General Manager of Jamberoo Action Park, commented: “It’s fantastic that construction has finally commenced and we are now in the process of building the most thrilling water ride experiences ever seen in NSW.” “In stage 1, we will build an Interactive Water Play Area, that will be the largest ever built in Australia, as well as a Tornado water slide – a raft based ride that loops and twists before dropping into a huge funnel then shooting out into a splash pool – there’s some incredibly exciting things ahead!” Jamberoo Action Park’s expansion program will create upwards of 80 local construction jobs with the Talon Construction Group awarded the contract to build stage 1

[Lukes.life]

Great to hear the work has finally started. Excited to see the changes

[POP]

So I just found out about this park (I live in QLD) but it seems to me like this is a big gamble for a smallish park considering W&WS has the potential to take away a BIG chunk of their clientele no?

[CruiseSF]

So I just found out about this park (I live in QLD) but it seems to me like this is a big gamble for a smallish park considering W&WS has the potential to take away a BIG chunk of their clientele no?

They need to do something to compete if they didn't they would lose out. Plus it is still a fair distance from where WNWS is going to be built.

[jjuttp]

So I just found out about this park (I live in QLD) but it seems to me like this is a big gamble for a smallish park considering W&WS has the potential to take away a BIG chunk of their clientele no?

Smallish my ass. It's a decently sized "action-turned-water-park" with the land that they actually own being significantly bigger than the actual park, this should fit in fine. next up they just need a bit of work done to the toboggans.... Ironically the beginners track where your meant to go slow is the same track where you actually stop because you didn't go full speed round the corner.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I think this is their next step in order to compete with W&WS. Jamberoo has a market - people know it's there. W&WS won't be offering the 'same' experience as Jamberoo is still anchored by their toboggans. The upgrades to the in-roads and such should make it less of a pain to travel to (that was sorely needed). Jamberoo are a destination in themselves, so they should be alright. At the very least - this will 'keep the bastards honest' in both parks and keep expansion coming consistently with both having succession plans, and expansion plans in place... unlike WWW that had plans, but no land to expand on.

[Jamberoo Fan]

To add to the media release, here is a newspaper article and accompanying picture on the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction commencement media release.

$11.6m Jamberoo Action Park upgrade By Greg Ellis of the 'Illawarra Mercury' 27 Jun, 2012 Jamberoo Action Park has placed an order for fine weather as work began this week on two new attractions. The first stage of Kangaroo Island has started, with earthmovers starting the eight-week process of removing 100,000 cubic tonnes of soil from the former kart track area, where a river will surround the new Kangaroo Island attraction. Much of that soil will be used as the base for a 1700-space car park expansion that will effectively double the size of parking, to be serviced by improved access from Jamberoo Rd. Park general manager Dax Eddy said preliminary site works started after approval was granted this month. Kangaroo Island will extend a little further west than the former kart track and will have a large rock face on one side. Mr Eddy said the $11.6 million project would deliver the most thrilling water ride experiences ever seen in NSW. The first stage involved the construction of a large interactive water play area as well as a raft-based Tornado water slide, he said. The Tornado would loop downhill before dropping its occupants into a funnel and shooting them into a splash pool on Kangaroo Island. Talon Construction Group managing director Rick Smith said he had already employed 20 people on preliminary work but that number was expected to grow to 80 during construction. "We are a local firm," Mr Smith said. "One of the big things Jim Eddy wanted was to use local firms. He wanted me to use local contractors and suppliers."Mr Eddy said Jamberoo Action Park would still open on weekends from early September but Kangaroo Island would be blocked off until work was completed. He said people riding the chairlift would still be able to get a great view. Mr Eddy said water used at Kangaroo Island would be recycled and no water would be drawn from the town supply. He said the Tornado would arrive from Canada and then be pieced together like a giant lego set after foundations were prepared in the next few months.

Picture: Jamberoo Action Park general manager Dax Eddy and Talon Construction Group managing director Rick Smith inspect the start of work on the new $11.6 million development at Jamberoo Action Park. Photographed by Greg Ellis. To remind everyone (like it says in the 'Illawarra Mercury' newspaper article), the 'Racing Cars' are now defunct as they have been made way for the expansion...

The 'Racing Cars' were built in 1986 and were renovated in 1988 adding 16 new cars and extending the track by 200 metres - Jamberoo Action Park

Picture: 'Racing Cars'. Photographed by Jamberoo Action Park. ...and that the Interactive Water Play Area will be called 'Kookaburra Cove' (as per the planning documents). The Interactive Water Play Area may also include (as per the planning documents) 'Koala Creek' which is a smaller Interactive Water Play Area designed for toddlers. The Tornado (as per the planning documents) is to be called 'Funnel Web Falls'. The names of these rides were not mentioned in the media release or newspaper article. Image: 'Kangaroo Island' Artistic Impression. Image by Jamberoo Action Park. Image: 'Funnel Web Falls' Artistic Impression. Image by Jamberoo Action Park. Image: 'Kookaburra Cove' and 'Koala Creek' Artistic Impression. Image by Jamberoo Action Park. Edited June 27, 2012 by Jamberoo Fan

[rappa]

This will be great for both parks. When WWW was built many people said it would be doomsday for WnW but it was just the opposite. Competition is great for businesses and this will be no different. I agree about the taboggans... Would be great to add a 3rd more extreme course as a lot of slow idiots get on the advanced course. If you're lucky enough to get clean brake free run on the advanced course it's still one of the best out there.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I've ridden the toboggans with film equipment - and had to control the lever on the toboggan with my foot... pretty well brake free to whole way down. Although I did have special permission to shoot in the park, the best way (if you don't have too much of a lineup behind you) is to wait at least 2 greens before commencing your run - usually you can't catch up to the slowies when you do that!

[alex_1]

Funnel Web Falls looks incredible, a huge step up from a standard funnel slide.

[Jamberoo Fan]

The commencement of construction on the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion just featured on WIN News. Footage from WIN News shows that the construction site is divided into two: one for the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion and the other for a 1700 spaced car park. Both construction sites are very large and the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site is cut well into the terrain. Dax Eddy of Jamberoo Action Park also noted that the 'Thunder Downunder' Water Coaster, 'Cockatoo Gorge' Behemoth Bowl and the 'Emu Mountain Rapids' Mammoth/Tantrum Alley won't be built until attendance figure are at a level suitable for the construction of these rides. Whether the 'Platypus River' lazy river (with action rapids) is to built now or later is still unsure. Here is some images from the WIN News footage of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction commencement: Panorama of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site (former 'Racing Cars' site) overlooking 'Outback Bay' and the Park entrance from the former entrance of the 'Racing Cars'. A truck taking away dirt from the construction sites. The 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site (former 'Racing Cars' site) from the 'Bombora Wharf' section of 'Outback Bay'.

[Jamberoo Fan]

Excerpt from a comment on Jamberoo Action Park's Facebook page:

NEW for this SUMMER, “Get Bitten by the Funnel Web”, the biggest and best water thrill ride built in the southern hemisphere! Dare to enter Funnel Web’s lair with 4 of your friends for an exhilarating ride in darkness before plunging into the “Funnel” ... watch out that you don’t “Get Bitten by the Funnel Web”! Also NEW for this Summer ... Banjo’s Billabong ... an Australiana themed 4 storey aqua play area with a huge tipping water bucket, slides, valves, cranks, water cannons, net climbs & spray features, great family fun for all ages where they control the action! ... bring on Summer 2012

This confirms that the Tornado will be themed to the Funnel Web Spider. Whilst we have known for a while from planning documents that the Tornado was to be named 'Funnel Web Falls' as the name of the ride, this comment also suggests "Get Bitten by the Funnel Web" and 'Funnel Web's Lair' as the name of the ride. "Get Bitten by the Funnel Web" though is too long for a ride name. The comment also states that 'Kookaburra Cove' will now be named 'Banjo's Billabong'. This new name is a bit unoriginal as 'Billabong Beach' already exists at Jamberoo Action Park. 'Kookaburra Cove' is more unique and fits with the theme of Australian animals for the rides of 'Kangaroo Island'. It's unsure whether 'Koala Creek' is a part of 'Banjo's Billabong'. Jamberoo Action Park also commented that the former 'Racing Cars' are now "enjoying themselves down the coast". This might mean that they are now at Merimbula's Magic Mountain as a part of their 'Mini Grand Prix' ride. Finally, here is a 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site photo from Jamberoo Action Park's Facebook page: Edited July 14, 2012 by Jamberoo Fan

[Jake69]

. Jamberoo Action Park also commented that the former 'Racing Cars' are now "enjoying themselves down the coast". This might mean that they are now at Merimbula's Magic Mountain as a part of their 'Mini Grand Prix' ride.

Thats great news for Magic Mountain I took a school excursion there last year and they only had four cars running, (three after someone crashed one). It was not easy keeping large groups of kids occupied while waiting for their ride. Edited July 15, 2012 by Jake69

[Jamberoo Fan]

Jamberoo Action Park has announced that they will reopen on the Saturday 15th September 2012 for the 2012/2013 season. The new 'Kangaroo Island' expansion is not expected though to be open until at least November 2012. The 'Racing Cars' won't be in operation this season and in the future as the ride no longer exists. 'Funnel Web' looks like to be the official name of the Tornado ride of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion after much uncertainty. Jamberoo Action Park have also said through their Facebook page that 'Banjo's Billabong' (and maybe 'Koala Creek') will be the biggest Interactive Water Play Area ever built in the Southern Hemisphere at 760 square metres big whilst they have also promoted on their Facebook page that 'Funnel Web' will be the longest, biggest and "most exhilarating" Tornado waterslide ever built in the world. Here are photos from Jamberoo Action Park's Facebook page of the latest in the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction: Roadworks have commenced to widen Jamberoo Road. The 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site. The terrain has been raised by 2 metres. This can be noticed as the old 'Racing Cars' track can be seen in the bottom-left corner. The view of the 'Outback Bay' wave pool and the Park Entrance from the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site. The 'Banjo's Billabong' (and maybe 'Koala Creek') Interactive Water Play Area construction site. The pathway to the start tower of the 'Funnel Web' Tornado waterslide. The start tower and pump house of the 'Funnel Web' Tornado waterslide. Sections of the 'Funnel Web' Tornado waterslide in the Jamberoo Action Park car park.

[Jamberoo Fan]

Jamberoo Action Park has launched the new rides on their website with ride descriptions, 3D computer models/artist impressions and the official logos. There are two rides in total in this first stage of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion. These rides are an Interactive Water Play Area and Tornado as previously posted. The ride names have been confirmed as 'Banjo's Billabong' for the Interactive Water Play Area and 'Funnel Web' for the Tornado after a bit of uncertainty. The artist impression of 'Banjo's Billabong' does not feature the 'Koala Creek' Interactive Water Play Area which is a separate Interactive Water Play Area on the original plans for the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion. 'Koala Creek' may be constructed and launched in future stages of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion. 'Funnel Web' is now 'the longest, biggest and most exciting new water thrill ride built in the southern hemisphere' unlike before when it was 'the longest, biggest and most exhilarating Tornado waterslide ever built in the world'. Below are the official logos, ride descriptions and 3D computer models/artist impressions of 'Banjo's Billabong' and 'Funnel Web': 'Banjo’s Billabong… is a spectacular four storey, 760sq metre Australiana themed interactive aqua play structure with over 198 different water features crowned by a huge water bucket, which tips 1200 litres of water over the structure every 10 minutes. Banjo’s Billabong is a ‘hands-on’ adventure for everyone containing multiple-level platforms, water slides, valves, cranks, water cannons, bridge climbs & spray features. It’s the greatest family fun for all ages where you control the action!' '“Get Bitten by the Funnel Web”, the Longest, Biggest and most exciting new water thrill ride built in the southern hemisphere! Dare to enter Funnel Web’s burrow with three of your friends for a heart stopping 30km an hour exhilarating ride, twisting and turning in darkness, before plunging into the “Funnel Web”… watch out that you don’t “Get Bitten by the Funnel Web”! You’ll experience multiple zero-gravity moments as your CLOVERleaf™ raft travels up and down the funnel, being sucked deep into the burrow, only to re-enter the darkness for one final twist and turn before splashing out “free at last” into the landing pool' All official logos, ride descriptions, 3D computer models, artist impressions and pageheads are sourced from Jamberoo Action Park's website. In other news, Jamberoo Action Park has announced that the supporting partners of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion are: AusIndustry, Trade & Investment NSW Government, BlueScope Steel and the National Australia Bank.

[strop]

Justed wanted to say, thanks Jamberoo Fan for all the updates and information. Even though it looks like you're talking to yourself in this thread, I have been reading with much interest and can't wait to see the finished additions. Thanks again!

[Lukes.life]

Thanks for all the info. Cant wait to get to Jamberoo again.

[Gazza]

Geez that Tornado layout looks fantastic!

[Jamberoo Fan]

Justed wanted to say, thanks Jamberoo Fan for all the updates and information. Even though it looks like you're talking to yourself in this thread, I have been reading with much interest. Thanks again!

Thanks for all the info.

Thanks. I know Jamberoo Action Park isn't as popular as the Gold Coast theme parks or the soon to be constructed Wet 'n' Wild Sydney will be but the quality of the rides being built at Jamberoo Action Park are way better than or just as good as the ones at the Gold Coast theme parks (and maybe Wet 'n' Wild Sydney) so I kept everyone informed regardless if no-one posted a reply. Anyway, Jamberoo Action Park have updated their website slightly. It features a temporary countdown to the opening of the 2012/2013 season of Jamberoo Action Park. Here's what the website looks like now: The Jamberoo Action Park website also now includes a full 7 day weather forecast: The Park Map of Jamberoo Action Park has been updated to include 'Banjo's Billabong' and 'Funnel Web': 'Funnel Web' has also slightly new promotions (changes only in layout and colour) which feature for now on Jamberoo Action Park's website home page: If you click on the promotion above on the official Jamberoo Action Park website home page, it leads you to a 3-image introduction to 'Funnel Web' before the main page of 'Funnel Web' appears: Lastly, the I-pod/I-pad/I-Phone Jamberoo Action Park application is also now available from Google Play and the 2012/2013 season of Jamberoo Action Park finishes on Sunday 28th April 2013. Edited August 31, 2012 by Jamberoo Fan

[Jamberoo Fan]

Here are some 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction images taken from videos on Jamberoo Action Park's Facebook page: Rocks from where Kangaroo Island is are being crushed into smaller pieces so they can form a base for the expanded car park. Digging trenches for the waterpipes for 'Banjo's Billabong'. Promotion of the 'Funnel Web' now includes a simple slogan 'Longest. Biggest. Greatest.': Jamberoo Action Park have also revealed their new televsion commerical which goes to air on the 9th September 2012:

From the television commerical, you can see they are again promoting 'Funnel Web' as the 'biggest, longest, most exhilarating Tornado water ride in the world!' as well as 'the longest, biggest and most exciting new water thrill ride built in the southern hemisphere' in other promotions. So whether or not 'Funnel Web' has a world record, it is at least 'big, long, exhilarating and exciting' and probably holds a Southern Hemisphere record too. Edited September 7, 2012 by Jamberoo Fan

[Gazza]

So whether or not 'Funnel Web' has a world record, it is at least 'big, long, exhilarating and exciting' and probably holds a Southern Hemisphere record too.

Well, you know, all those water parks in Mozambique, Bolivia, Lesotho, Chile etc all put up some tough competition that is a big achievement to beat

[Jamberoo Fan]

Well, you know, all those water parks in Mozambique, Bolivia, Lesotho, Chile etc all put up some tough competition that is a big achievement to beat

The only theme park knowledge I have is of Australian theme parks and a few American & South-East Asia theme parks so that's why I said 'probably' as I don't have much knowledge about Southern Hemisphere theme parks (excluding Australian and a few South-East Asia theme parks). Anyway, Jamberoo Action Park have said 'Banjo's Billabong' will be the biggest Rainforest Fortress ever built in the Southern Hemisphere and Jamberoo Action Park have posted on their Facebook page these new photos of some of the sections of 'Banjo's Billabong' which are sitting in the car park after arriving today: You can also see some shipping containers and some more sections of 'Funnel Web' in the background of some photos. Edited September 10, 2012 by Jamberoo Fan

[GoGoBoy]

Based on all the plans released so far, how do you guys think Jamberoo compares to Wet 'n' Wild Sydney? Which one do you think will be 'better'?

[Jamberoo Fan]

Based on all the plans released so far, how do you guys think Jamberoo compares to Wet 'n' Wild Sydney? Which one do you think will be 'better'?

Wet 'n' Wild Sydney will be more popular and have more waterslides than Jamberoo Action Park when Wet 'n' Wild Sydney opens but Jamberoo Action Park will have the better quality waterslides. Anyway, another update: Jamberoo Action Park's 2012/2013 season has commenced with their gates opening for the first time this season on Saturday the 15th of September 2012. Jamberoo Action Park has made an expansion of their 'Visitor Info' section of their website to include more information on accommodation, food outlets, retail shopping, their 'Kid's Club' and for their frequently asked questions. Height restrictions for 'Funnel Web' have been announced with guests having to be above 1.2 metres in height in order to ride without adult supervision. Guests between 1.0 m and 1.2 metres must be accompanied by an adult 16 years or older and guests under 1.0 m are not permitted to ride at all. Finally, here are some construction photos of 'Banjo's Billabong' and of some promotional signage for the overall 'Kangaroo Island' expansion. The construction photos are sourced from Jamberoo Action Park's Facebook page: Promotional signage of the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion on the 'Kangaroo Island' expansion construction site temporary fencing. This construction signage confirms that 'Koala Creek' is still to be constructed as the signage states a 'Mini Play Structure' will be built in the future as well as 'Banjo's Billabong'. The cement flooring of the 760 square metre construction site of 'Banjo's Billabong'. These pipe sections will rise to 4 storeys in height. This is 'Banjo'. Every 10 minutes, at a height of 4 storeys, this 1200 litre bucket will tip all its accumulated water out. Water cannons, cranks and sprays will be some of the over 200 water play activities at 'Banjo's Billabong'. This is 'Koala', 'Banjo''s friend, 'sitting in his tree'. There will more Australiana characters that will join 'Koala' as 'Banjo's Billabong' is constructed. Some sections of 'Funnel Web' can be seen in the background of some photos. Edited September 26, 2012 by Jamberoo Fan

[Jamberoo Fan]

Some construction photos of 'Funnel Web': The splash pool and funnel of 'Funnel Web' under construction. The funnel of 'Funnel Web' starting to take shape. The pipes which transfer the water from the splash pool of 'Funnel Web' to the start tower and pump house of 'Funnel Web'. The construction photos are sourced from Jamberoo Action Park's Facebook page.