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I got some exclusive backstage access to the testing and managed to snap a picture of the world class camera system used: (For the avoidance of doubt, this is a joke, and I didn't get access to anything, duh.)

@DaptoFunlandGuy SW should have sent @Slickfor a lap.😁

#WhatsInTheShed

Now, about that shed...

Yeah, apart from trades needing access during daylight for ongoing works, testing at night means fewer people notice it happening, so they can iron out any early issues without giving too much away (and keeping it secret until the video is ready to release). In the big parks in the US, enthusiasts will camp out outside the park regularly at times when they think it might begin testing so they can be the first to film its first test run. I thought this was known?

It is if they have workers working during the day to finish the theming.

Yeah night is definitely the norm for this sort of thing.

If public sentiment is the right thing to do, apparently 'build a koala research facility'. Job done.

You are of course entirely correct - my bad, i'm currently in "Financial Year 2023" and didn't convert to calendar. Pedantic. Technicality - call this whatever you like - but that isn't how grants work. The government said "we want to encourage more Asian tourists. we will give you money if you can bring more tourists - just tell us how!" Dreamworld said "we will.... something something koalas! Yes! Koalas will bring asian tourists in! Umm... we already have koalas... so we'll.... build a better koala facility, and in doing so this will increase asian tourism!" Government "sounds great! Here's some tourism grant money to build your koala thingy!" It was certainly put on hold prior to covid. then covid happened and they said 'hey, uh, not sure asian tourism should be our priority now - can we spend this on local tourism instead?' and the project was cancelled... after covid. You're entirely correct. Dude, you LITERALLY said in your last sentence that the park should wait 2-3 years when the park is revenue positive, and now you want to claim they "have the cash" ? Just because they've discharged existing debt, it doesn't mean they're well positioned to build white elephants. No. DWF, SW Trust and other similar animal conservation endeavours are great for the brand. Anytime a whale is caught in a net, Sea World gets its brand in prime time news. Its image positive and it gives people warm and fuzzy feelings. This goodwill towards your brand is measurable and tangible and most people don't create these sorts of foundations unless it's doing their image or their bottom line good (and if it's image, that usually flows onto the bottom line as well). By all accounts, Dreamworld has not returned to a pre-2016 situation. While they may have divested themselves of numerous assets, and in doing so, have rid themselves of much of their ongoing debt facilities, they still have a ways to go to get back to those historic levels. As Parkz News said when Steel Taipan was announced: A koala research facility isn't going to change their sinking narrative. When they don't need to borrow money from the government to build a ride, when Parkz articles are shouting "Dreamworld has returned to prosperity!"... THAT is the time when a charitable endeavour to save the koalas would be worth doing for brand goodwill. Right now they just need to make sure they don't kill anybody and can keep the rides running long enough to make it to that point.