zordmaker

The old "Project boosts the economy" excuse is as tired as they come. Visitors to BOP are bussed in do their thing on site for about 6 hours (usually school or area competitions), and are then bussed straight back home befoire night falls. None of them ever visit anywhere else in the area let alone spend money there. BOP is miles from any commercial centre and even more remote now that the link between Eastern Rd and Phillip Parkway has been permanently severed. ZordMaker

Project approved. Should start construction October this year. By the way.. the Bush Beast article is in the Blacktown City Sun, if any of you want to catch a copy. ZordMaker

Hmm.. it seems the Blacktown Ratepayers do. They would rather see their hard earned rates spent on something they themselves use, it seems.. and (at least some of) the elected aldermen seem to agree.. ZordMaker

I guess you could only understand that if you were there everyday and knew what they did with it, and how bloody hard it is to get that site to comply with the thousands of safety regulations they have to comply with. Oh and yes, also.. how bloody bad the initial construction work was prior to the Olympics, much of which has had to be rebuilt to prevent it from being a hazard to the (few) users that actually visit the site. Oh yes, and did I mention.. over 70% of these (few) visitors.. are from outside BCC's area?. Hey you should know all this, because you should have been bussing them in and out of there... ZordMaker

Keep an eye on Blacktown local papers this week. Big story on Wonderland (maybe). ZordMaker.

Hmm. I still think you're chatting in the wrong forum then. But I gyess it's a free 'net. Vent your spleen as you will. They're your underpants, not mine. Hmm thats a funny one too. Have you ever tried to take photos of yourself when your hands are covered in mud? Moral of the question... I guess I wasn't alone after all. Unlike some people on this forum it seems, who can't even find a friend to go and ride roller coasters with them. I guess it's not much fun waiting in line or screaming by yourself.. ZordMaker

That was years ago. But that doesn't mean Ive stopped :-) Some of us have lives you know.. I mean... lives other than ones glued behind the keyboard of a computer. You can be jealous if you like, but I recommend rather than doing that, you get out there and live life for yourselves.. both on and off the coasters. ZordMaker ZordMaker

WELL SAID. The thing I like about the BB (and I guess other woodies) is that you can ride it all day long and never feel sick. It's justa relaxing and fun thrill ride that anyone can ride. The lap bars are heaps better than the more modern horse bar variety. With minimal clothing (The BB's proximity to the Beach meant I rarely wore anything more on it than swimmers, etc) it felt like you were going to get thrown out. The older and rougher, the better. ZordMaker

I have now looked at the complete proposal at BCC. A response has been drafted and can be found at: http://savewonderland.artelex.com if any of you are interested. Those not interesed need not bother. In fact those not interested need not even bother being here anymore, that is unless you feel that doing 90 down Raby Road in your Datsun is all the thrills that Western Sydney needs. ZordMaker

umm.. Hello... I WORKED there for 2 years you know... ZordMaker

1.) Ride it if its working again one day 2.) Enjoy looking at it as you drive west on the M4 3.) Enjoy watching it burn, if you're a member of rollercoaster.com.au (it seems) ZordMaker

Im sure it would be more viable than Blacktown Olympic park. ZordMaker

Luna Park.. Here we go again... ZordMaker

Development Application. ZordMaker

The NSW Heritage office did confirm in December that the owners ING have been informed that Bush Beast has been classified as an item of possible local heritage interest and that the matter is to be decided by Blacktown City Council. In the intervening time until BCC makes a final decision, no demolition permit is to be granted. It is however the only item under the order, all other structures can be removed or demolished. ZordMaker

http://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/planning-a...e-park-site.cfm Go look at it. Then send in a response. ALL OF YOU. It should at least say something like: "This is the only suitably zoned site in Western Sydney for a recreational theme park site. Rezoning should not be permitted without at least an equally sized suitable site elsewhere in Western Sydney being suitably rezoned and made available for similar purposes". You should also go on about how the new land use will not generate any more jobs than the old one did. ZordMaker

Whoops. I should have qualified that. Im not sure about Beastie or Bounty. ZordMaker

Every major ride except Demon, is still standing as of 9/2/05. The deal was due to be done by end January. The deal allowed for removal of the rides from the park by Sunway providing it was done before handover. All the remaining assets are now property of ING. Whoops. I should have qualified that. Im not sure about Beastie or Bounty. ZordMaker

NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ZordMaker

Maybe we already have one, with a good pair of existing slides, a cool rapids water ride nextdoor and a nice wooden sign support structure ready to woo the passers by. ZordMaker

Personally I think Featherdale is a disasterous embarrassment for Western Sydney, and most people who I have met from here (who have actually been there) agree. Featherdale is not a park, it doesnt even qualify as a backyard. Some of the incarcerations there are downright cruel, and RSPCA has been known to take an interes on more than one occasion. Of course those that have never been there (which would probably be the majority of Westies) think it's just fantastic. Even today BCC still argues over the fact that it simply shouldn't be there (in zoning terms) and (of course) every attempt to extend it by the tourist bleeding owners has been met with a flat "NO" from Council. Complaints from neighbouring residents present a constant stream in the BCC letterbox. The irony is that back in the 60s the site used to be much larger before the owners subdivided to create sections of Doonside. Those same residents are now their worst enemies. Another irony.. Ill bet the registers are ringing louder than ever with the AWP gone. ZordMaker

Yeah that may be true.. but have you actually been there yourself? Ive seen better in my brothers back yard. You better just hope that all the ourists arrive on weekends only.. That may be true but its nowhere near enough to turn the red ink into black, unfortunately.. "Fair enough".. Regatta is a downright white elephant. At least Whitewater is useful. No but they certainly aren't meant to lose $1.6m of ratepayers well earned funds either, especially when spent on a venue that doesnt even serve the people in the area at all let alone generate any employment or income for the surrounding area. 90% of visitors to BOC are bussed in and out daily from other areas. Personally I know of at least two aldermen on BCC who would have much rather had that money thrown into WL than BOC! Have you been up there? Asked anyone?? The slipway was completed in 2001 (4 years ago). The project to readmit the public to the site has been suspended due to inability of the State Govt to pay for the necessary security upgrades to meet the Fed's requirements for anti terrorism. There is currently a court action in progress between Wollondilly Shire Council and the State Govt because the act that allowed the valley to be flooded in the first place in 1960, specifically demands that public access to the site be retained (which is why it became a popular tourist spot in the first place). The story is regularly featured in local Penrith and Warragamba local rags. Zordmaker

Lets update that list a little bit shall we:

Wonderland's management under Galbraith are directly responsible for Wonderland's underperformance, which in turn led to it's owners deciding to cut it loose. Had the park been investing in the right places, advertising and operating in the right markets and operating seasonally as it was originally intended to do (aka the US theme parks) then it would have been turning a reasonable profit at least similar to other overseas parks, and the owners would have had no trouble keeping it or investing in further infrastructure, or seeking other buyers who wished to keep the park operational. ZordMaker