African Safari World: New 2010 Australian Park

[the sound]

So, what can you make out from that picture?

 

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

 

I am almost certain that there will be a Dive Machine. Saw a drawing in the paper the other day from inside the park (ground level), there was definitely a coaster with a vertical drop, as well as a log flume. I would scan it, but my scanner is being a real pain at the moment.

 

I see a lot of trees from the map, also a topple tower. That's pretty unique and strange to just randomly draw IMO, i think that will probably be in the park.

 

BTW, i see two coaster, where's the third?

[Noxegon]

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.

 

I've got a truckload of photos to post at some stage when I have time.

[therooboy]

The negative press today from the zoo is nothing to be concerned about.

They are just outlaying their initial concerns which is to be fully expected.

 

With the Victorian Government already building the Melbourne Wheel (our London Eye) for $100 million and rising (originally said to cost $40 million).

I can't see them skimping on the price for the theme park. The tourism minister makes it sound like the government really want this to happen.

[therooboy]

oh wow my letter to the age melbourne made it to print

 

http://www.theage.com.au/letters/?page=3

 

Wasted opportunity

THE negativity towards the Werribee Zoo expansion astounds me. Nearly every major city has a world-class theme park. But not Melbourne (or Sydney). The theme park business is a booming trade and we continue to send those wanting this experience directly to Queensland. Melbourne needs to catch up with the world and improve on the great assets it has. A safari mixed theme park is ideal as it suits all age groups. Two of the biggest attended parks in the world are Busch Gardens Africa and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Both blend the zoo aspect and theme park brilliantly.

 

If it was a $220 million upgrade and not called a theme park, would the outcry be the same? Zoo staff are rightly expected to question many aspects of this proposal, but to dismiss this fantastic opportunity for Melbourne simply because one dislikes theme parks is lunacy.

 

Note: i only used the word luncay as 2 previous letters to the paper used it as a reason to not have a theme park....short sighted would have been better

[downunder]

What I find more disturbing is they are spending $100 million on a glorified ferris wheel in Melbourne, they could use that money to put El Toro, Ride of Steel, X, Top Thrill Dragster, and Maverick at Weribee Zoo - damn I'd move to Melbourne if that happened, and I detest AFL.

[therooboy]

What I find more disturbing is they are spending $100 million on a glorified ferris wheel in Melbourne, they could use that money to put El Toro, Ride of Steel, X, Top Thrill Dragster, and Maverick at Weribee Zoo - damn I'd move to Melbourne if that happened, and I detest AFL.

 

Don't get me started on that wheel, that was originally the paramount parks plan for the docklands park with "worldclass rollercoasters"

Somehow they changed their minds (or had them changed for them)

and instead the Big wheel was announced.

It was supposed to be completed for the 2006 Commonwealth games !!

I love Melbourne, but i don't see the wheel being a winner at all.

[deano]

I wonder if there's an opportunity for them to manage this park similar to SFGA with the 'Zoo/ Wildlife' area separate to the theme park. This way, the zoo could still manage and maintain the animals and thier welfare, and the theme park could be managed separately.

 

Either way, ANY new coaster in Oz is very good news to me, I can only dream of a 200 ft + Intamin or B&M.

 

p.s. The 'Big Wheel' in Melbourne is not enough to attract my hard earnt dollars for a trip to Vic, but a B&M dive coaster, book me in.

[therooboy]

I wonder if there's an opportunity for them to manage this park similar to SFGA with the 'Zoo/ Wildlife' area separate to the theme park. This way, the zoo could still manage and maintain the animals and thier welfare, and the theme park could be managed separately.

 

Either way, ANY new coaster in Oz is very good news to me, I can only dream of a 200 ft + Intamin or B&M.

 

p.s. The 'Big Wheel' in Melbourne is not enough to attract my hard earnt dollars for a trip to Vic, but a B&M dive coaster, book me in.

 

The Werribee Zoo have said they would have no problems at all with an adjacent theme park (like SFGadv). The Zoo prefer to keep the safari a seperate entity for those who don't want the theme park experience,

but the initial plans shown at the press conference show a blend similar to Busch Gardens.

 

& i'm dreaming of an Intamin & a B&M

[the sound]

What I find more disturbing is they are spending $100 million on a glorified ferris wheel in Melbourne, they could use that money to put El Toro, Ride of Steel, X, Top Thrill Dragster, and Maverick at Weribee Zoo - damn I'd move to Melbourne if that happened, and I detest AFL.

 

Don't get me started on that wheel, that was originally the paramount parks plan for the docklands park with "worldclass rollercoasters"

Somehow they changed their minds (or had them changed for them)

and instead the Big wheel was announced.

It was supposed to be completed for the 2006 Commonwealth games !!

I love Melbourne, but i don't see the wheel being a winner at all.

 

I think the wheel isn't that bad of an idea. It should produce some great views of the city, and it will be a pretty good tourist trap. But then again, we do have the Eureka Tower for great views, plus it has that weird box thing...

[rosscoe]

oh wow my letter to the age melbourne made it to print

 

 

 

 

THE negativity towards the Werribee Zoo expansion astounds me. Nearly every major city has a world-class theme park. But not Melbourne (or Sydney). The theme park business is a booming trade and we continue to send those wanting this experience directly to Queensland. Melbourne needs to catch up with the world and improve on the great assets it has. A safari mixed theme park is ideal as it suits all age groups. Two of the biggest attended parks in the world are Busch Gardens Africa and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Both blend the zoo aspect and theme park brilliantly.

 

If it was a $220 million upgrade and not called a theme park, would the outcry be the same? Zoo staff are rightly expected to question many aspects of this proposal, but to dismiss this fantastic opportunity for Melbourne simply because one dislikes theme parks is lunacy.

 

Note: i only used the word luncay as 2 previous letters to the paper used it as a reason to not have a theme park....short sighted would have been better

 

 

Rooboy, your letter got this reply...

 

World-class? Not for that money "nearly every major city has a world-class theme park". This is not even close to being true.

The few world-class theme parks that do exist are in regions with high year-round flows of international tourists. In any case, there is no way that a $220 million theme park could hope to reach world-class standards. Disney's Animal Kingdom, for example, cost about $US1.5 billion more than a decade ago.

 

David Hancocks, former director, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Carlton

Edited January 27, 2012 by rosscoe

[Gav]

With the Victorian Government already building the Melbourne Wheel (our London Eye) for $100 million

ING was building that, not the government.

BTW, i see two coaster, where's the third?

Its up the back, Look to the left of the beehive thing in the corner of the park. It about halfway between the Beehive, and the white circus tent thing.

 

Also The Sound, Can you take a digital photo of the pictures (just make sure you do it in a well lit room) as an alternative to scanning, I'm desperate to see the concpet artwork for this place.

 

And Rooboy, good work at getting your letter in the paper.

I guess it really comes down to what your definition of a world class park is....Its a bit stupid to compare with Animal Kingdom IMO since Disney manage to spend massive amounts Imagineering and getting everything perfect...On the other hand normal parks just get manufacturers to build fairly standard rides. I would imagine the park would really just be the standard of Movie World or Sea World, which is fine by me.

 

I dont think people complaining is enough to derail this...WVTP wouldn't care about those people because its not as if they would visit any theme park anyway, so its not like they are in WVTPs market. It's much easier for people to write a letter to the editor whingeing about something then to positive. I think this is a case where the 'silent majority' will be happy with the park and make it a success.

[therooboy]

oh wow my letter to the age melbourne made it to print

 

http://www.theage.com.au/letters/?page=3

 

Wasted opportunity

THE negativity towards the Werribee Zoo expansion astounds me. Nearly every major city has a world-class theme park. But not Melbourne (or Sydney). The theme park business is a booming trade and we continue to send those wanting this experience directly to Queensland. Melbourne needs to catch up with the world and improve on the great assets it has. A safari mixed theme park is ideal as it suits all age groups. Two of the biggest attended parks in the world are Busch Gardens Africa and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Both blend the zoo aspect and theme park brilliantly.

 

If it was a $220 million upgrade and not called a theme park, would the outcry be the same? Zoo staff are rightly expected to question many aspects of this proposal, but to dismiss this fantastic opportunity for Melbourne simply because one dislikes theme parks is lunacy.

 

Note: i only used the word luncay as 2 previous letters to the paper used it as a reason to not have a theme park....short sighted would have been better

 

 

Rooboy, your letter got this reply...

 

World-class? Not for that money

(Letters, 11/4) says "nearly every major city has a world-class theme park". This is not even close to being true.

The few world-class theme parks that do exist are in regions with high year-round flows of international tourists. In any case, there is no way that a $220 million theme park could hope to reach world-class standards. Disney's Animal Kingdom, for example, cost about $US1.5 billion more than a decade ago.

 

David Hancocks, former director, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Carlton

 

wow i missed that letter. Thanks for putting it up. I disagree with him saying only a few world class parks are close to cities.

[the sound]

Rooboy, your letter got this reply...

 

World-class? Not for that money

(Letters, 11/4) says "nearly every major city has a world-class theme park". This is not even close to being true.

The few world-class theme parks that do exist are in regions with high year-round flows of international tourists. In any case, there is no way that a $220 million theme park could hope to reach world-class standards. Disney's Animal Kingdom, for example, cost about $US1.5 billion more than a decade ago.

 

David Hancocks, former director, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Carlton

 

It isn't fair for anyone to compare prices with a disney park, especially Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom has an extreme amount of scenery, not to mention the costs for the animal enclosures.

Edited July 22, 2013 by the sound

[brilinjo]

This seems to have gone very quiet. Can our Victorian friends enlighten us if there has been any progress, did the protesters get their way, or has the world's financial problems killed it?