Speculation and media beat ups - Thunder River Rapids incident

[MickeyD]

Wow! I have some vague memories of this story. Was the Cottage in question approximately where Buzzsaw sits today?

I remember seeing the mentioned Cottage when I was a young lad. It sat somewhere between the Park Main Street and Blue Lagoon. It could be seen from the Car Park.

[razza1987]

Ahh so him walking through the grass was when he first bought the Dreamworld property and not now. Thanks for answering guys

[Slick]

I always thought the house in question was the one on the left as you walk into Gold Rush that they subsequently themed.

[Jamberoo Fan]

Things just got a bit more complex for DW (new information 4th paragraph onwards):

Quote

Australian Workers Union general secretary Ben Swann told Fairfax Media last Friday he had provided police with 2 emails from 2015 in which senior Dreamworld staff defended having 1 staff member to operate the ride when the manufacturer's guidelines specify 2, "preferably 3 staff".

Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson announced on Monday staff operating procedures of the 1-car Cyclone ride, now called Hot Wheels SideWinder, were approved through "4 separate tiers".

Mr Davidson said the procedures were subject to an internal safety and risk assessment and approved by the manufacturer, an independent ride safety expert and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ).

On late Tuesday afternoon, a WHSQ spokesperson rejected Mr Davidson's claim the safety regulator had approved of staffing levels.

"Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland does not approve staffing levels for theme park rides," the spokesperson said.

"Because of the range of factors that must be taken into account such as number of patrons and competence of staff, the duty is on the person conducting a business or undertaking to assess the risks and put in place appropriate controls to ensure any risks to health and safety are minimised.

"This would include the number of staff required to operate a ride safely."

In addition, WHSQ has demanded Dreamworld hand over all documentation relating to the ride.

"WHSQ is aware this statement differs to information released by Dreamworld and so today has issued a Requirement to produce documents under s.171 of the WHS Act requiring Dreamworld to produce all documentation relating to the Hot Wheels SideWinder ride, formerly known as the Cyclone," the spokesperson said.

A Dreamworld spokesperson said Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors had inspected the Hot Wheels SideWinder ride and its operating procedures on-site on multiple occasions.

"Dreamworld is working openly and transparently with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on their review of all rides at Dreamworld," the spokesperson said.

"Dreamworld fully supports the current Workplace Health and Safety review underway and this includes any further review of the Hot Wheels SideWinder ride and its operations (formerly Cyclone ride)."

Edited November 3, 2016 by Jamberoo Fan

[New display name]

As far as I know the sign it still above the door.   All these theme park enthusiasts and nobody has spotted the sign.   There is a photo somewhere in the forums that shows the cottage.   Free positive feedback for the person that finds it.   

[Theme Park Girl]

I posted a photo on the previous page of the cottage located on the rim of the TRR reservoir, next to Blue Lagoon. Still waiting for someone to confirm if it's the cottage in question or not. 

[Brad2912]

1 hour ago, Tim Dasco said:

@razza1987 the article states that Longhurst has only visited the park once since he sold it and that was 6 months after he told it.

He must really like staying in his house then...

[Brad2912]

27 minutes ago, Theme Park Girl said:

I posted a photo on the previous page of the cottage located on the rim of the TRR reservoir, next to Blue Lagoon. Still waiting for someone to confirm if it's the cottage in question or not. 

Well if the sign is still above the door as @YLFATEEKS says I'd imagine it's accessible or at least used to be.

are you referring to this 'shack' TPG?

 

 

[razza1987]

44 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

He must really like staying in his house then...

In his house?

[joz]

Judging from Ben's comments I'd have thought it was kind of behind the fairytale shop, or even be the fairytale shop itself?  There's a little building there that looks like it could've been a house

[Brad2912]

13 minutes ago, razza1987 said:

In his house?

Go back to sleep razz. Come back tomorrow, you're losing it..

[Theme Park Girl]

24 minutes ago, joz said:

Judging from Ben's comments I'd have thought it was kind of behind the fairytale shop, or even be the fairytale shop itself?  There's a little building there that looks like it could've been a house

Toilet block lol. 

[joz]

See I thought it might've been the house looking thing next to it lol

[Theme Park Girl]

56 minutes ago, joz said:

See I thought it might've been the house looking thing next to it lol 

Ahh, ok. I guess it's possible? Although I've seen mechanics go through the little doors on either side under the Gold Rush arch into that building, so I assumed it was just a maintenance or staff area of some sort. Tbh I have no idea. It could have been a house at one state? 

I just found a pic of the fairy shop, but doesn't seem to have say signs above the door other than the fairy shop one lol.

Geez @YLFATEEKS, you've got us on a wild goose chase now ?

[Theme Park Girl]

1 hour ago, Brad2912 said:

Well if the sign is still above the door as @YLFATEEKS says I'd imagine it's accessible or at least used to be. 

are you referring to this 'shack' TPG?

Yep, that's the one! Would love to know the story behind it. Looks like it has been there for a long long time ??

 

Edited November 3, 2016 by Theme Park Girl

[Ratbag93]

Eyewitness Account - Gold Coast Bulletin

 

Hi Guys I came across this and thought I'd share it.

Again been a looker not a sharer for a while.

 

 

[Brad2912]

9 minutes ago, Ratbag93 said:

 

Again been a looker not a sharer for a while.

 

 

Creep.

i did post some excerpts from that article back when it was first posted.

Edited November 4, 2016 by Brad2912

[Ratbag93]

Just now, Brad2912 said:

Creep.

Or Ninja......

[Brad2912]

1 minute ago, Ratbag93 said:

Or Ninja......

We already have a Ninja here, sorry. Creep it is. 

[Jay Jay The Jet Plane]

and that Ninja would be me  

 

[Ninja]

Haven't been on this site for about 8 years but have come back to give my 2c

I'm still stunned at the combine harvester a.k.a the conveyor. Im amazed riders were exposed to such a savage machinery.

"What ifs" should have been discussed during the hazard identifying process. Did they even have hazard identifying/control measure inspections like at any other workplace?

What if a rider hopped out onto the conveyor? What if a raft flipped on the conveyor? What if any person or anything got caught in the conveyor? Due to the lack of restraints and easy access to the conveyor these situations should have been identified as possible and a risk. I find it hard to believe none of these questions were even asked or if they were no control measures put in place 

[Theme Park Girl]

7 hours ago, Ninja said:

Haven't been on this site for about 8 years but have come back to give my 2c

And just when the topic of resident Ninjas on Parkz is being discussed.... what a coincidence ?

Nice to meet the original one! Welcome back ??

[Santa07]

@Theme Park Ninja You've been replaced

Welcome back original Ninja!

[Brad2912]

Too many ninjas spoil the thread...

[Ashley]

On 03/11/2016 at 8:14 PM, Theme Park Girl said:

Is this the house you're referring to? 

Yes, indeed it was.