$500 million China theme park in Australia, NSW

[MickeyD]

Wow ! 500 million bucks is more than 5 times the original building cost of any one of our big GC parks?!?! Seriously what a ludicrously shit idea and how very Clive Palmer

Edited December 21, 2012 by MickeyD

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Well for once they actually already own the land they're planning to develop. For instance the last two serious proposals for my state, Paramount Docklands(1999) and African Safari World(2008) were proposals that were put forward for public land or land that was not owned by the company proposing the park, AFTER planning had begun. Both proposals hinged on land negotiations with other investors and with the State Government. Not sure about NSW's new park, was that also originally public land? I seem to recall the land negotiations proceeding smoothly, which obviously didn't occur in Victoria as WVTP asked for too much. Perhaps they used their lessons from that, and proposed a more cost effective water theme park to NSW?

Well - for starters, i'm pretty sure they did own the land, so your recollection of the negotiations going smoothly is right off the charts... The land is adjacent (and I believe owned by) the subsidiary that operates their cinema chain - being that it is right by the blacktown 'greater union' drive in, which i'm assuming is part of the village group?

[rappa]

Greater union is a subsidiary of the AHL group and not owned by Village or Village Roadshow.

[rappa]

Wrong RWC, do we have to have a wiki debate again? It's not a 50 50 joint venture. Trust me AHL own and operate the Event Cinemas chain. My best friend is in Cinemas management so I'm not just talking out of my ass. But I'm not going to argue this here because I just don't care that much.

[CruiseSF]

Can we get the talk off cinemas and the Victoria planned park. There is enough arguing already. This park has nothing to do with any of it.

[Bussy]

Holy Crap! Bussy - where have you been?

Where have I been? I have a 14 month old son so have little time to come on here, that's where I've been. "The Bus is now leaving for Sons of Gwalia Mine, Western Australia"

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Ahhhhh.... I wasn't aware... Congratulations! On another note - Wyncenurous has a 3 month old - and we can't get him off the forums! (just kidding Wyn)

[colliric_855]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2013-06/19/content_16636397.htm Still on the cards.

[Jobe]

Still a stupid idea and development. In my humble opinion.

[colliric_855]

Still a stupid idea and development. In my humble opinion.

Probably I agree. Still any development in this country is better than nothing... Just not necessarily this particular idea, or for that matter, Palmer Jurassic Park as well.

[colliric_855]

Are you sure?

Any development that will bring jobs is a good development.... Whether or not it can sustain those jobs is where the "possibly a silly idea" comes into it. There is certainly interest for a "Chinaland" rather than the usual "Chinatown" development, but area choosen doesn't seem quite right to me(could be proven wrong though). Perhaps in Canberra(seems right for this sort of thing... don't know why though), or my own City, or Bendigo, at maybe $100 to $150 million. Established Chinese communities in these areas could support a bigger tourism development in my view. But $500 million in a NSW town no one has heard of does sound a bit too much of a business risk, even to me. Our Chinatown communities use to be a magnet for Asian migration and tourism, but they've lost alot of that special historical appeal as suburban communities have grown, and in my city, since the Casino opened up. I think a "new magnet" is needed, but not in country NSW.

I guess, however, that the company has already bought the land, so unless they're a fake-company(planning to sit on it for years, as the value rises), something is probably going to be built there soon.

Also:

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/earlier-start-likely-on-warnervale-chinese-cultural-theme-park/story-fngr8h0p-1226665388574

I guess that's the company logo in the background.

Edited June 24, 2013 by colliric_855

[jjuttp]

Warnervale is used as kind of a detour or highway for in the northern F3 towns like Newcastle for trips to either the hospital or to the Entrance. I know this because i've used it as both. and there is quite a lot of traffic through there, and its also a good way to drag the tourists further than Gosford.

[CruiseSF]

Warnervale is used as kind of a detour or highway for in the northern F3 towns like Newcastle for trips to either the hospital or to the Entrance. I know this because i've used it as both. and there is quite a lot of traffic through there, and its also a good way to drag the tourists further than Gosford.

Honestly, I don't know when you have been through Warnervale but there is rarely large amounts of traffic. The only time you get average traffic, is when it's peak hour, with people using the F3 (Now called the M1) to get to work, or Uni, in Newcastle and Sydney. The only people going through Warnervale to get to The Entrance are those coming from the north, with the majority of traffic coming from Sydney and using the Wyong exit or sometimes even further south. You are correct about the hospital, which Toukley exit (aka the Warnervale exit) from the M1 is the closest to Wyong Hospital. In fact there is very little traffic on Sparks Rd (the road that leads through Warnervale and the one that allows you to actually see and visit this planed park), and when the park is build would need a major renovation, it is currently only one lane and the only spots where you get traffic is near the two private schools at about 3:20 on school day.

If you are talking about F3/M1 traffic, there is a fair bit there but majority of it is people going to work, Uni, transport which would not really be interested in the park, to the level they are hoping. Also the F3/M1 has enough issues as it is, let alone with the extra traffic they want. If the slightest thing goes wrong there are major delays.

If I miss read your post, I am sorry. It wasn't that easy to read.

Edited June 24, 2013 by Cruiseshipfan

[jjuttp]

If I miss read your post, I am sorry. It wasn't that easy to read.

It's fine, you read it fine and i have trouble making anything longer than this post make sense to others.

[CruiseSF]

It appears that the governments want to turn the area into a huge draw for Asians. Along with the Chinese park they now are planning to build a decent size university campus aimed at Asian students. This is all very strange considering the area they are trying to build this in is not very diverse in terms of cultures, almost everyone in the area is what some would call "white Australians". So it just seems very strange that they are trying to start up tourism and an education precinct that is aimed at people who have very little current presence in the area.

[rappa]

Well I like that. Personally I'm against just congregating one race in a particular area. To me that just isn't multicultural, so I like the idea of introducing other culture into a 'white Australian' area

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I think its a good idea too... problem is you'll end up with them segregating themselves into the new living quarters that will inevitably spring up, and it will get a place known as 'little asia' in the town.

It's kind of what happened in Coffs Harbour - Woolgoolga is well known for it's ethnic background.

[colliric_855]

I think its a good idea too... problem is you'll end up with them segregating themselves into the new living quarters that will inevitably spring up, and it will get a place known as 'little asia' in the town. It's kind of what happened in Coffs Harbour - Woolgoolga is well known for it's ethnic background.

Isn't that how most Chinatowns started in the first place?

[CruiseSF]

It would be fine, except the people in this area live here because they don't want to be in those type of areas. Many people in the area do not like foreigners (not tourists or those who want to live and share their culture, but people who try and enter the country then turn areas into their own, which at the level they are trying to do with this area will cause it to happen, aka a Chinatown, or as seen in many place some Arabs force their culture onto everyone else). Many people moved here to get away from it in Sydney. From someone in the area, it really shouldn't be here. It doesn't fit in to the area, both with the culture of the area and location. Also add that the people will hate it if it gets so many tourist and people moving in and most likely forcing their culture. Also lets just say (being kind using these words), many of the people in the area are not very smart. A prime example of this is when a resident started complaining about the few people complaining about the planned airport. He lives right under the proposed flight path, he he actually said "we already have the noise from the train, how much worse can a few planes be."

The University of Newcastle has had this issue in the past. They attempted to bring in students from Asia. They got more then they bargained for. This caused issues in the area, as they caused disturbances in the surround area and on the campus. They have now taken steps to reverse it and get more local students. So lets just say it has happened before in the near by area before and it didn't work well at all.

Some areas it would be ok, but in an area like this, they are just attempting to take over the area. This is mostly due to the council, they are very deceitful and the mayor only works to help himself. For starters they proposed a small regional airport in Warnervale. Fears were raised that it would be used as Sydney's second airport. Council turned it down for a month. It was later revealed that the airport was never planned to be regional but to be a full on Airport that would act as Sydney's second airport. The major has constantly been spending money to help himself. He wanted to buy some Gold major chains for his trip to China, since the council has never had them before. Turns out he actually gets to keep them when he leaves office. He also owns a local Mitre 10 store. For years it was basically in the middle of nowhere and was only passed when traveling, not long after he got into office the area surrounding the store, turned into housing and has now become overcrowded. This is when other areas had been promised to have work and new land build up on for years but he decided to populate the area around his store where no one wanted.

Sorry if there are mistakes in there, it is late, and I needed to keep going back and changing sections.

[colliric_855]

Hmmm... Not sure that post was successful at achieving what he was aiming to say. Is Wyong "Bogan Central" of NSW? Sounded like it from that post...

[Brad2912]

Cruiseshipfan - what a load a dribble. If the people from Wyong left Sydney to avoid having to assimilate with other nationalities as they migrated to our country - maybe they should keep moving, maybe in the middle of the country - not to much ethnic diversity out near Ayers Rock. If you and your locals cannot understand the value of diversity in any community then somewhere you've all skipped a stage of community development that the rest of the country has been going through since the 50s!

[colliric_855]

Making the Bogans unhappy is always a great idea. Cruiseshipfan's post, it could be argued, is it's own roundabout unintentional arguement FOR the development.

Edited July 15, 2013 by colliric_855

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

In summary.... 'NIMBY'

[CruiseSF]

Cruiseshipfan - what a load a dribble. If the people from Wyong left Sydney to avoid having to assimilate with other nationalities as they migrated to our country - maybe they should keep moving, maybe in the middle of the country - not to much ethnic diversity out near Ayers Rock. If you and your locals cannot understand the value of diversity in any community then somewhere you've all skipped a stage of community development that the rest of the country has been going through since the 50s!

Shut your mouth, I think I know more about the area then you do. They left Sydney to get away from other cultures trying to shove their culture down people throats, which happens in much of Sydney. Also why should people keep moving, when their is an area right here where culture is not shoved down your throat. Its not diversity that's the issue is cultures forcing their way in and controlling. It happens time after time. Its fine if they can live by our ways, or live with their culture while also embracing ours, but when they come in large numbers that never happens, as they no longer need to live with the culture but can form their own area, exactly how a Chinatown type area starts. There are plenty of people in the area that are from other cultures but have lived our culture as well as their own, which everyone is ok with. I will leave out your insult.

Not all of the area is bogan territory. The closer you get to the coast the higher class it gets. It basically goes from lower class to higher class in the space of 14km. The freeway is basically the central of the lower class area. I live 14 KM away right on the coast.

[colliric_855]

Yet Chinatowns are proven asian tourism drawcards, and pump cash into the economy. Even in country locations like Bendigo. Traditional "cultural boundaries" change over time... YOU have to deal with it. If Wyong starts drawing Asian tourists, migrants, etc... GOOD, They bring their wallets with them... And Jobs too.

Edited July 16, 2013 by colliric_855