African Safari World: New 2010 Australian Park

[Zen Coaster]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23493113-953,00.html

 

Victoria's African Safari World to pinch Qld theme park crown

Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

 

April 06, 2008 02:08pm

 

THE Gold Coast could lose its title as theme park Heaven when Village Roadshow builds a $220 million park with thrill rides and a zoo west of Melbourne.

 

Entertainment giant Village Roadshow has put forward the $220 million African theme park proposal to be located at the Werribee Open Range Zoo.

 

It is hoped construction will be completed by 2010.

 

African Safari World is being touted as the new star in Victoria's tourism sector, attracting up to 1.3 million visitors annually and generating an economic output of $864 million for the Victorian economy over a decade.

 

It is expected to create 6700 jobs during construction, with a further 500 jobs during operation.

 

Village chairman John Kirby today said the theme park would combine spectacle and education in a world-class theme park which would include:

 

- The biggest and best family and thrill-seeker rides, some never before seen in Australia;

- The widest range of interactive and education zoo attractions in Australia; and,

- Specially designed African and Australian habitat walking tours.

 

Village Roadshow has a strong track record in theme parks where animals are the stars.

 

The company includes Sea World, Australian Outback Spectacular, Sydney Wildlife World and Sydney Aquarium among its properties.

 

Victorian Tourism Minister Tim Holding today left no doubt the State Government supported the company's latest plans.

 

"From our perspective, this is a very exciting proposal," Mr Holding told reporters.

 

"It's one that we think can bring great benefits, not only to Victorian families who have to fly all the way to Queensland, all the way to the Gold Coast, to see world-class theme parks."

 

"We think it's a fantastic proposal, it's one that we want to give very serious consideration to."

 

Nonetheless, Mr Holding said the welfare of the resident lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras and other animals was paramount.

 

And he would not rule out the Victorian government kicking in cash for the park.

 

"We have been concerned for some time that without a theme park here in Victoria, we are losing visitors, potential visitors from interstate and overseas," he said.

 

"Whether a direct financial contribution is required from the state, obviously we need to work through that with Village Roadshow."

 

"Ultimately, we would make a judgment on those sort of questions based around the benefit to Victoria, the economic benefit, the jobs, the investment, the opportunity that can be created from what is a very exciting proposal."

 

He said Village Roadshow approached the government last year with the proposal.

 

Zoos Victoria had been briefed on the proposal, but was seeking more information, the minister said.

 

Village Roadshow International Theme Parks chief executive John Harnden said today the attraction would be comparable to the Disney Animal Kingdom in Florida.

 

Comment was not immediately available from Werribee Open Range Zoo.[/b]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Wow. Finally something Australians can be majorly proud of (though our existing parks do have great things). While I wish it had been on the Gold Coast where I live, it'll be great for the Victorian area as they only have Luna Park Melbourne.

 

Construction would begin next year with a view to opening in 2010.

 

Another article (@ http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23490947-661,00.html)

lists the following for the initial plans:

 

--------

AN African animal tour to be known as the Serengeti Safari;

A RANGE of rides including Australia's "greatest" roller-coaster and water rides;

INCREASED animal numbers and habitat improvements to the existing zoo;

A WILDLIFE education and conservation centre;

AN Australian animal experience;

A FOUR-dimensional theatre; and

MAN-MADE lakes and mountains."

---------------------------------------

 

While namedropping Animal Kingdom etc may be building the park up a bit much before the proposal has even gone through, it does sound like everyone is keen for it to go ahead.

 

But yeah... exciting news! I've organised staff of my site to take pics of it for me but will also be flying down there periodically for other reasons so will be able to keep TPR well updated.

[shadowshadi]

I wish it was going to be build in sydney, but still at new theme park for Australia can't wait!

[therooboy]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/06/2209007.htm?section=justin

 

Just announced today.

Werribee Zoo & Village Roadshow are to transform the open zoo into a theme park by 2010.

Could this finally be the happening to Melbourne.

The national news showed an advert for the park which showed several coasters. The fact they already made a proper advert is promising.

Personally i'll believe it when i see construction started though.

Melbourne was nationally advertised to get a Paramount Park in the news in 2000 (never to be heard again).

A couple years ago Lindsay Fox put in a bid for a Disney park for Avalon but that too failed eventuate as well.

My fingers are tightly crossed.

[SigENeaT]

Sadly not on the Gold Coast?

Geeze try living in Perth! ;D

 

 

NB; I _LOVE_ Perth.

[therooboy]

I wish it was going to be build in sydney, but still at new theme park for Australia can't wait!

 

No anywhere but Sydney, they've shut down 3 parks so far this decade and removed Luna Parks coaster.

RIP Sega World, Fox Studios & Wonderland. I miss you

 

Seriously though anywhere would be great.

[Zen Coaster]

^^^ From the sounds of it though, the Victorian government are now realising what they're missing out on.

 

^^ I can imagine and sympathise with you.

 

^ If done right, a location like Sydney would work well; I don't see that place not being feasible. Sega World was crap and mainly full of arcade games you could do anywhere; Fox Studios' backlot was too small and way too touristy to hold local appeal - and had stupid rules like only being able to do the major attractions just once. I don't see these two as counting because they aren't what you'd really call proper theme parks. Don't get me started on Wonderland though, never had the chance to go there.

[downunder]

^Wonderland, when your marquee ride is a 1st gen Vekoma Boomerang then you are not likely to have a park that will loan itself to repeated visits.

 

Now I might have reason to go to Melbourne other than for work.

 

We might even see our first B & M in oz...

[SigENeaT]

I wish i had have had money when Sega World was shut down; i would have LOVED to buy their Metal Slug units -.-

[mattnz]

Sadly not on the Gold Coast?

Geeze try living in Perth! ;D

 

NB; I _LOVE_ Perth.

 

Try living in New Zealand!

 

This is so cool though - 'Australia's greatest roller coaster'! I will be interested to see what happens.

[Mousenator]

Based on the park map from the Herald Sun, it looks like this 'great' rollercoaster they're talking about will be a B&M Dive Machine!

[JJboy100]

Based on the park map from the Herald Sun, it looks like this 'great' rollercoaster they're talking about will be a B&M Dive Machine!

 

Do you know the link for the park map or was it in the paper?

[Zen Coaster]

^ Here's the map. I'm getting a full high-res copy so will be able to post it here in better quality soon. It's only a preliminary one but looks pretty cool so far And if it's a B&M, I'll be moving to Victoria for awhile I think!!

Complete map in all its tablebreaking goodness.

Zoomed-In Section

[Hurricane]

Tony... shall we go for a road trip in 2 years

[therooboy]

i wouldnt go into thinking too much into the drawings for the coasters types, they are just a rough outline.

The advert shown on the news showed B&MS (several type) as well as Intamins so it could be anything.

The Paramount park we had advertised had the volcano ride from King Island splashed across all the papers

(including the exact same pics from the then current KI brochure)

and that meant little.

[Zen Coaster]

^ Oh true. But the fact they talk about 'Australia's greatest rollercoaster'

and that they're out to bring rides that aren't yet available here would

suggest a healthy chance of us getting something great like that. As

always, time will tell. But I'm sure it'll be fantastic no matter what type.

 

^^ Yeah and hit all the Six Flags on the way!

[therooboy]

It will be the awesome whatever they choose, i am very excited.

I live only 10 minutes away.

[the sound]

YES YES YES YES YES!

 

Finally, a proper theme park near Melbourne!!!

 

The map looks great, and it looks like there could be a dive-machine, like Tony said. The ad on the news showed Sheikra a few times as well, and from memory several other Busch Gardens Rides as well.

 

Although, it kind of disappoints me that it will be where Werribee Zoo is. It's a very good zoo, and they have had some fantastic breeding results between some of there really rare species, and i don't like the thought of a theme park so close to such a great open zoo.

 

But still...

 

 

[Zen Coaster]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23494433-661,00.html

_________________________________________________________

 

Super safari park in doubt

 

Ashley Gardiner

 

April 07, 2008 12:00am

 

ZOO management has said no to a $220 million plan for a large-scale

theme park at Werribee, despite support from key stakeholders.

 

Entertainment giant Village Roadshow yesterday announced plans for

the park, to be known as African Safari World, winning the support

of the State Government.

 

Village Roadshow theme parks chief executive John Harnden, who ran

the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, heads the proposal.

 

The prospect of taxpayers' money being used to bankroll part of the

project was not ruled out yesterday.

 

But Zoos Victoria chairman Andrew Fairley said the proposal did

not have his support.

 

"The proposal, as I understand it now, is not on," Mr Fairley said.

 

The zoo was informed of the plans last week, but secret talks

between Village Roadshow and the State Government have been

under way for some time.

 

Zoos Victoria is the government agency responsible for the

management of the Melbourne and Werribee zoos, and the

Healesville Sanctuary.

 

Mr Fairley said he was not opposed to a major theme park in

principle, but that the zoo wanted to maintain management

over the animals.

 

"If that doesn't affect the welfare of the animals, we would

certainly be prepared to consider that," he said.

 

"For us, it is a question of who manages the zoo and who

runs the zoo. "But in terms of the stewardship of our

animals . . . that's what Zoos Victoria does best."

 

Mr Fairley said he was concerned that development at

Werribee could draw patronage away from the other

zoos at Royal Park and Healesville.

 

"It's already tough enough to be able to run zoos profitably

now," he said.

 

Zoos Victoria was also concerned that entry to a theme park

would not be as cheap as to Werribee Open Range Zoo.

 

"I do have real concern about issues of access and equity

for people to continue to be able to come here and bring

their families," Mr Fairley said.

 

"They can come in for a very modest fee, and if you're

going to turn a zoo into something bigger than a zoo,

you would have to charge a lot more for it."

 

But Tourism Minister Tim Holding said the proposal

was good for families.

 

"(It) can bring great benefits not only to Victorian

families who have to fly all the way to Queensland

to see world-class theme parks," Mr Holding said.

 

"We've been concerned for some time that without

a theme park here in Victoria we are losing visitors,

potential visitors, from interstate and overseas.

 

"We think it will attract visitors from interstate and

from overseas, and we think that's great for our

tourism industry as well."

 

Mr Holding did not rule out the possibility of the

state making a financial contribution toward the project.

 

"Whether a direct financial contribution is required from

the state, obviously we need to work through that with

Village Roadshow," he said.

 

Mr Holding praised Village Roadshow's track record in the

management of animals.

 

"They have custody of something like 30,000 animals right

around the world, and they're a great partner for us to have

in any serious world-class theme park proposal," he said.

 

Mr Holding conceded there were still matters unresolved

with Zoos Victoria management.

 

"We obviously have to work through all the issues with

the zoo," he said.

 

"Maintaining the integrity of the open range zoo that exists

at Werribee is a vitally important part of this proposal.

There's a little way to go before we can actually say it's

a goer."

 

Mr Harnden said there had already been extensive talks

with the State Government.

 

He declined to say how much money he wanted the

Government to contribute.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Predictable stumbling block, really. I don't see it as something

to majorly worry about - how to deal with this scenario would

have been thought about before now. If the zoo managed the

animals while Village managed the thrills, it could be a happy

partnership.

 

If they're modelling the park on ones such as Animal Kingdom,

the integrity of the animal experience will inevitably be well

preserved. When I went to AK, it didn't feel like a theme

park to me. The rides didn't intrude on my enjoyment of

the animals at all & it just felt like there were two distinct

components.

 

I haven't been to Busch Gardens so can't comment on that.

However, it looks like there is enough space and enthusiasm

for the concept of the park by all parties for a solution to be

worked out.

[Noxegon]

Try living in New Zealand!

 

I dunno, the Gold Mine coaster at Rainbow's End has to be one of the best coasters on the planet for sheer enjoyment value, not to mention awesome theming.

[mattnz]

Try living in New Zealand!

 

I dunno, the Gold Mine coaster at Rainbow's End has to be one of the best coasters on the planet for sheer enjoyment value, not to mention awesome theming.

 

Well that's true. Also we have a pretty cool log flume as log flumes go. And a (smallish) Intamin drop tower and Arrow Loop & Corkscrew (as in my pic). I will have to do a New Zealand TR sometime.

[Zen Coaster]

So, what can you make out from that picture?

 

I see three coasters, some kind of water ride and a tower of some description.

[dougr]

Sadly not on the Gold Coast?

Geeze try living in Perth! ;D

 

 

NB; I _LOVE_ Perth.

 

I got a friend in Perth. Anytime I email him about some new coaster in Oz, he reminds me it's 2,000 %^^#%^ miles from Perth!

 

Checking google maps, I see it is almost 1000 km shorter.

[rosscoe]

Zen Coaster, also seems to be a Topple Tower in there as well.

[Rideslover]

Wow I don't believe the new theme park in Australia.

 

Yeah I seen the B&M roller coaster on the map.

 

I can't wait to come down under to see the new theme park as like one at the Hark Rock Park with B&M Sit down roller coaster.

 

-Larry

[downunder]

But damn, it's not in Sydney, I've got to go Melbourne - maybe I can stop Merimbula's Magic Mountain if I drove down, and there's a few credits at Luna Park Melbourne as well. Sydney and Melbourne don't like each other.

 

I just hope money talks in this deal and the zoo boss doesn't stop it going down.