Luna Park Sydney 'Gateway' Re-Installed

[Jamberoo Fan]

From the Mosman Daily:

Quote

Sign that excited generations of Luna Park thrillseekers back after more than a decade of ‘urgent repairs’

By Andrea McCullagh

MEMORIES of childhood visits to Sydney’s famous Luna Park will come flooding back thanks to the return of an iconic sign.

The Welcome to North Sydney sign is currently being installed in Milsons Point after an absence of more than a decade.

During that absence, a notice posted by the council near the old sign’s remaining stanchions informed visitors it had been taken down for “urgent repairs”.

“Many residents have told us the sign invokes happy memories of their visits to North Sydney Olympic Pool and Luna Park,” a council spokeswoman said.

“The columns and sign have been designed in the colourful art deco style of the original gateway, referencing the unique architectural finishes of Luna Park.”

The sign is costing about $450,000 to install.

 

It will be illuminated in the evenings and forms part of the North Sydney public art trail.

Its reinstatement was the cause of some angst among North Sydney councillors when it was debated earlier in the year.

“I really don’t approve of spending this money,” said Ms Veronique Marchandeau at the time. “I think it’s a waste of money.

“It’s a replacement of an outdated private signage to a parking lot many years ago.”

Councillors Jeff Morris and Stephen Barbour also disagreed with the plan and didn’t vote for it.

However, it had the support of most councillors including Mayor Jilly Gibson.

The sign was first installed in the 1930s and it had to be removed in 2004 for safety reasons.

Council’s engineers have worked closely with heritage experts to ensure the new sign is an exact recreation of the original.

The colour scheme reflects the paintwork at Luna Park.

Photographs:

1. 'The famous welcome to Luna Park sign was being reinstalled last week' (Photograph: Annika Enderborg)
2. 'Only the stanchions were left after the sign was removed in 2004'
3. 'The notice advising of the sign’s ‘urgent repairs’'
4. 'The original sign in all its glory'

Photograph descriptions from the Mosman Daily.

Edited November 28, 2016 by Jamberoo Fan

[TomiJ]

Great find @Jamberoo Fan I think it looks really good. 

[Jobe]

Great find!!! Was waiting for this to reappear!! A 10 year absence is way too long!!!

Cannot believe that certain councillors could not support this!! Thankfully cooler and wiser heads prevailed!!

This is an important heritage artifact in its own right and its connection to LPS and its opening in 1935 should assure its status for many generations to enjoy.

 

Love your work here @Jamberoo Fan in finding  this,but I have to say- did it really require another poll?

[Jamberoo Fan]

I know we had a sudden influx of polls a few weeks ago but when I start topics (which isn't that often), I always try & include a poll where possible. It's a feature of the forums so why not use it when starting new topics? It might be a while before I start another topic so don't worry about it.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

9 hours ago, Jobe said:

did it really require another poll?

No. No it didn't.

[XxMrYoshixX]

The restored sign looks great! I'm heading to LPS this week so I'll have to see what it looks like in real life!

[RossL]

Looks great on the train going over the bridge.  You see "Welcome to North Sydney".

[XxMrYoshixX]

Having just been to LPS today I thought I would update on the state of the park as of today, on this thread instead of bumping a dead one. There were notable things in the park such as:

• Hair Raiser has been repainted from white into an ugly blue colour, that looks like an eyesore compared to the rest of the park. This might have been done to camouflage the drop tower with the water for the neighbours, but I doubt this is the case and it looks hideous as it is now.
• Ranger was closed, however from what I saw it appears the ride might be closed for good as I noticed the restraints removed sitting on the ride platform. I am sad that this ride is gone, however I hope LPS will install something that is just as good in its place.
• The restored "Welcome" sign looks great, and it will look better with the lights on.
• LPS has a Power Surge for the holidays - great ride but the operations were laughably slow, I waited over an hour for a ride that should have taken ~15 mins.
• When will LPS fix the entrance walkway inside Coney Island (with the moving platforms and the wind blowing up on you), since it's been that way for years and it appears they have yet to fix it.
• It also appears that Mystic Manor Mansion is back for the holidays, I am unsure whether it has been there the whole year since the last time I went to LPS was this time last year. 
• The new Tango Train's cycle gimmick is great in theory but in practice it is awful, it switches cycle every time (ie Mild, Wild, then Mild again) unlike other rides I have been one with the 2 cycle gimmick (Pandamonium), and it basically doubles your wait time for a ride that is extremely popular. There isn't 2 queue lines either for each cycle (only 1 queue line) which makes it even more of a pain in terms of operations. 

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

Only thing I have to that is on Ranger - most travelling rangers - the ride gondola travels as-is - doesn't require removal of rider restraints - so if the restraints are of, that suggests to me that it's just under maintenance and the are not dismantling it.

[Jobe]

Quote

• Hair Raiser has been repainted from white into an ugly blue colour, that looks like an eyesore compared to the rest of the park. This might have been done to camouflage the drop tower with the water for the neighbours, but I doubt this is the case and it looks hideous as it is now.

Interesting. I will have to have a look and see for myself. Since I like the colour blue, I cannot imagine it is THAT hideous. Will visit in mid January- did you perchance take any pics?

Quote

• Ranger was closed, however from what I saw it appears the ride might be closed for good as I noticed the restraints removed sitting on the ride platform. I am sad that this ride is gone, however I hope LPS will install something that is just as good in its place.

Ranger is still up for sale but for the moment it is definitely not gone. It should be back up and running by mid January.

Quote

• The restored "Welcome" sign looks great, and it will look better with the lights on.

As it should.

Quote

PS has a Power Surge for the holidays - great ride but the operations were laughably slow, I waited over an hour for a ride that should have taken ~15 mins.

That's good to see. They will also have The Avenger returning for the Christmas break and another attraction that I cannot divulge at this time. It looks to be a good Summer for LPS

Quote

• When will LPS fix the entrance walkway inside Coney Island (with the moving platforms and the wind blowing up on you), since it's been that way for years and it appears they have yet to fix it.

Absolutely! This needs to be addressed badly and is quite frankly , an embarrasment. It is one of the points to mention that I intend to bring up with the park.

Quote

• It also appears that Mystic Manor Mansion is back for the holidays, I am unsure whether it has been there the whole year since the last time I went to LPS was this time last year. 

MYSTERY Manor has been operating all year and appears to be a permanent attraction at this stage. 

Quote

• The new Tango Train's cycle gimmick is great in theory but in practice it is awful, it switches cycle every time (ie Mild, Wild, then Mild again) unlike other rides I have been one with the 2 cycle gimmick (Pandamonium), and it basically doubles your wait time for a ride that is extremely popular. There isn't 2 queue lines either for each cycle (only 1 queue line) which makes it even more of a pain in terms of operations. 

Thats not good feedback. I will pass this on to Brad Loxley next time I am conversing with him. Although, this might reach his ears earlier than that, as LPS DOES read these forums.

How does the ride compare to the old Tango? I have yet to experience the new unit.

Quote

Only thing I have to that is on Ranger - most travelling rangers - the ride gondola travels as-is - doesn't require removal of rider restraints - so if the restraints are of, that suggests to me that it's just under maintenance and the are not dismantling it.

Spot on @AlexB. The ride is most definitely under maintenance and should be operational by mid January, fingers crossed.

[XxMrYoshixX]

@Jobe I have one of Hair Raiser, here (although it is crap and I have no idea how to rotate it to the correct position)

Also, Tango in the "Wild" cycle is actually a lot better than the original version, it feels a lot faster and a lot smoother to me than the old one, despite its operational flaws.

Sorry I got Mystery Manor's name mixed up with a Hong Kong Disneyland ride with a similar name.

 

Edited December 8, 2016 by XxMrYoshixX

[jjuttp]

3 hours ago, XxMrYoshixX said:

 

• When will LPS fix the entrance walkway inside Coney Island (with the moving platforms and the wind blowing up on you), since it's been that way for years and it appears they have yet to fix it.

I've had the swiping floors move last time i was there i believe, but that was 2 years ago almost to the day and was FNL. Perhaps that's when it's turned on? As for the air, you mean at the back? That's always working.

[XxMrYoshixX]

2 hours ago, jjuttp said:

I've had the swiping floors move last time i was there i believe, but that was 2 years ago almost to the day and was FNL. Perhaps that's when it's turned on? As for the air, you mean at the back? That's always working.

No, the air section after the swiping floors and before the downwards ramp. You know, the vents on the floor.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

^Back in the day they were a popular spot for guys to hang out - since ladies would walk past it and their skirts would fly up. If they didn't know to expect it, the guys would get a great show.

of course - that is back when ladies always wore skirts or dresses.

[New display name]

On 08/12/2016 at 3:59 PM, XxMrYoshixX said:

Having just been to LPS today I thought I would update on the state of the park as of today, on this thread instead of bumping a dead one. There were notable things in the park such as:

• Hair Raiser has been repainted from white into an ugly blue colour, that looks like an eyesore compared to the rest of the park. This might have been done to camouflage the drop tower with the water for the neighbours, but I doubt this is the case and it looks hideous as it is now.
• Ranger was closed, however from what I saw it appears the ride might be closed for good as I noticed the restraints removed sitting on the ride platform. I am sad that this ride is gone, however I hope LPS will install something that is just as good in its place.
• The restored "Welcome" sign looks great, and it will look better with the lights on.
• LPS has a Power Surge for the holidays - great ride but the operations were laughably slow, I waited over an hour for a ride that should have taken ~15 mins.
• When will LPS fix the entrance walkway inside Coney Island (with the moving platforms and the wind blowing up on you), since it's been that way for years and it appears they have yet to fix it.
• It also appears that Mystic Manor Mansion is back for the holidays, I am unsure whether it has been there the whole year since the last time I went to LPS was this time last year. 
• The new Tango Train's cycle gimmick is great in theory but in practice it is awful, it switches cycle every time (ie Mild, Wild, then Mild again) unlike other rides I have been one with the 2 cycle gimmick (Pandamonium), and it basically doubles your wait time for a ride that is extremely popular. There isn't 2 queue lines either for each cycle (only 1 queue line) which makes it even more of a pain in terms of operations. 

 

Had a look around LPS and for the people that go here often is this the normal crowds LPS gets?

 

Edited February 13, 2017 by YLFATEEKS

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

were these taken today?

Because I can imagine first thing on a monday morning it would be quiet - i'd expect it to get busier later in the day.

[New display name]

What I should have said is these photos are from Saturday.

[Wil_i_am_not]

Geez, that's very quite for a Saturday. It was very hot in Sydney on Saturday though, so I'm sure that visiting Luna Park wasn't on many people's agenda.

[Jobe]

Pretty sure that the record heatwave weather was a factor here. I could be wrong though.

[XxMrYoshixX]

Hmm, that's very quiet, especially for a Saturday. No doubt it would be something to do with the extreme heat we've had lately, in particular Friday and Saturday was like living in soup.

Edited February 14, 2017 by XxMrYoshixX

[Ranger Dude]

An entertaining read

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/luna-park-operator-multiplex-in-court-over-blinding-lights/news-story/898715139da99bd75fbd3eb5e201b80c

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

For those that can't get past a paywall, the article is dated January 26th, and says:

Quote

First it was the “Hair Raiser”, an allegedly unlawfully installed ride that elevates strong-hearted visitors to Sydney’s Luna Park alarmingly high up a column as they dangle in the air, before dropping them down screaming, their fall arrested just before hitting the ground.

Then it was the “Freak Out”, a ride brought in about a year ago where customers were hurled around a rotating pendulum as hundreds of strong strobe-like lights dazzled the local area.

The “Power Surge” followed, in which visitors with particularly strong stomachs paid good money to get twisted up, down, around and upside down, again with so many strong pulsing lights they could power several discotheques.

For Ireland-born construction company operator Jerry Ryan, who with wife Mary owns a house overlooking Lavender Bay and Luna Park, enough was enough — the lights from the rides were driving him and his neighbours mad at night.

“It got that bad that we couldn’t sit on our own veranda because of the intrusion of these lights across the water,” Mr Ryan told The Australian.

“You’ve got flashing strobe lights so strong that you can’t look at your wife or your sibling. You’d be blinded.”

Mr Ryan launched a legal and lobbying battle to — as he saw it — make the operator of Luna Park, Brookfield Multiplex, respect planning restrictions and lease agreements with the state government covering the prime 3ha harbourside crown land site.

Nearly a decade on from when it signed a long-term lease ­agreement with the government, Multiplex has still not met a clause requiring it to landscape a clifftop section into a public park.

Multiplex lodged a retrospective development application to build the Hair Raiser after locals complained; at one point authorities threatened to order it to be dismantled, but eventually gave it a reprieve.

Multiplex said the Hair Raiser was a ride, not a structure, and so did not need a DA.

A Multiplex spokeswoman would not comment on either of those disputes, but said the clifftop area would soon start being landscaped following a new deal with the state government.

The government has refused to make the deal public.

As to the lights, the government in the name of Planning Minister Rob Stokes decided to take a stand, issuing the company a compliance order claiming it may not be honouring its development consent restricting the amount of “light spill”.

Multiplex engaged a team of legal eagles to take Mr Stokes to the Land and Environment Court seeking orders that it be declared “void and of no effect”, and that the government pay Multiplex’s costs.

Former corporate lawyer Ian Mutton, who has led a series of resident group battles against Multiplex over Luna Park, says it is typical of the company. “Seems to me that any problem with the lights could be fixed with a screwdriver and a ladder,” Mr Mutton told The Australian.

“It’s insane — a simple request to check to see if there is a problem is met with a stampede to the courthouse.”

Multiplex’s spokeswoman said: “When the minister’s office informed us that some neighbours had complained about lighting (not all of which is from Luna Park), we consulted with an independent expert lighting specialist and we are now seeking an order from the NSW Land and Environment Court.”

The case is due to return to court next month, where it is ­shaping up as a ding-dong battle unless it can be solved through negotiation, with a meeting between the parties understood to be scheduled for tomorrow.

 

Edit: AUSTLII search hasn't revealed any decision published as yet

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/nsw/NSWLEC/2017/

Most recent case published (yesterday) had it's hearing on 1 February (which was for the construction of a carport - so fairly simplistic matter) - so i'd expect that the outcome of the above issue with LPS may take a little while longer to resolve.

[Jamberoo Fan]

...unless the supposed 27th of January meeting had a successful negotiation?:

Quote

....unless it can be solved through negotiation, with a meeting between the parties understood to be scheduled for tomorrow.

Edited February 17, 2017 by Jamberoo Fan