Speculation and media beat ups - Thunder River Rapids incident

[Harold]

39 minutes ago, bladex said:

if you feel onto the mesh and the convener is still moving what do you think is going to happen?

Well by the looks of things, you'll end up deceased. 

I'm not defending the ride or whatever. Just saying that 'falling through' doesn't look likely for better or worse. 

At some point they've removed those slats. Parkz ran an article that suggests the slats were much closer together in 1993. I suppose I'd rather stay on top of the belt rather than wind up in the middle of it, but even with 3 times the number of slats, or the same slat spacing that wonderland had, or whatever slat spacing you like, being pushed onto the slats whilst the belt runs by a boat that size is vey likely going to cause critical injuries. 

Of more interest to me is why the underwater platform (on which the other boat sits in the photographs) is more than a foot from the return pulley  

It would not surprise me if they had reduced the number of slats to improve access to the internals of the belt mechanism. Like, maybe shit was getting stuck in there on a regular basis and they concluded that it was much quicker to get it out  with 75cm spacing v 25 cm spacing.  It's possible that they concluded that the boat went up the hill just as well on 75cm spaced slats as it did on 25 cm spaced slats. 

Edited October 31, 2016 by Harold

[bammrwolfe]

Craig just made an announcement outside Dreamworld. 

- No time frame currently on the reopening of the park, no decisions will be made or announced this week

- Over 200 staff showed up today out of their own will and are taking part in admin, cleaning, etc.

- Safety Audits have begun, he will keep the public advised over the next few days.

- He beat down the claims that HWSW was understaffed by saying that it was approved on 4 tiers and by WH&S QLD. 

- He believes every ride is sufficiently staffed.

 

Been trying not to read all of the media articles in between announcements but it is difficult when there is stuff everywhere.

[Santa07]

HWSW could benefit with an extra staff member, but with one-train operation two is probably adequate. However, it is important to note many of the ride at DW, and on the GC for that matter could do with a few more staff members during some times of the year - eg ToT could do with 3 or 4 staff members to reach full efficiency instead of the usual 2, and Superman Escape, while I'm pretty sure they're trying to increase the regularity of two-train operation, could do well to run it even more often.

[razza1987]

What's HWSW? Is it the ride I mentioned earlier that they said was "understaffed" but if I remember that ride was the cyclone 

[Redboost]

HWSW = Hot Wheels Side Winder

[bladex]

Edited October 31, 2016 by bladex

[razza1987]

2 minutes ago, Redboost said:

HWSW = Hot Wheels Side Winder

Thank you. They still referred to it as the cyclone in this mornings news report  

[JeffreyMoore]

31 minutes ago, razza1987 said:

Thank you. They still referred to it as the cyclone in this mornings news report  

was still called cyclone at the time of the incident - media whould just have not noticed the rides name has changed it seems

[razza1987]

15 minutes ago, JeffreyMoore said:

was still called cyclone at the time of the incident - media whould just have not noticed the rides name has changed it seems

When was it's name changed?

 

CEO media statement:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1053939408038080&id=840702249361798

Edited October 31, 2016 by razza1987

[bammrwolfe]

23 minutes ago, razza1987 said:

When was it's name changed?

Well "Cyclone" was closed on the 12th of October 2015 to be refurbished to match the new MSP which opened around the 26th of October 2015. Somewhere around that time it would have changed to match the new area.

[razza1987]

15 minutes ago, bammrwolfe said:

Well "Cyclone" was closed on the 12th of October 2015 to be refurbished to match the new MSP which opened around the 26th of October 2015. Somewhere around that time it would have changed to match the new area.

Thank you for answering my question

[Tim Dasco]

HWSW opened Boxing Day 2015:

[Gary86]

10 minutes ago, Tim Dasco said:

HWSW opened Boxing Day 2015:

True. My pass expired Christmas Eve 2015. I haven't rode HWSW.

38 minutes ago, bammrwolfe said:

Well "Cyclone" was closed on the 12th of October 2015 to be refurbished to match the new MSP which opened around the 26th of October 2015. Somewhere around that time it would have changed to match the new area.

It was in December NOT October.

[Santa07]

How does HWSW's operations even affect the TRRR incident? Plus, Arrow is defunct, why bother even referencing the 'manual' when the company doesn't even exist and it's obviously really old and safety standards have probably changed?

[themagician]

It's just the media trying to manipulate the true story

[Richard]

42 minutes ago, Santa07 said:

How does HWSW's operations even affect the TRRR incident?

If it is a situation where the ride's operations deviate significantly from the way it was designed, then the implication is that there are issues across the board and potentially a culture of ignoring best practice. I think this line of investigation/reporting from the media is more than fair in this situation.

[bammrwolfe]

2 hours ago, Gary86 said:

True. My pass expired Christmas Eve 2015. I haven't rode HWSW.

It was in December NOT October.

 

whoops, didn't even realise I made that mistake. I knew what I meant 

[Jamberoo Fan]

This news article from The Australian appeared on Saturday:

Quote

Dreamworld’s specialist crisis manager, Newgate Communications, threatened to dump its ­embattled client in the midst of the escalating disaster this week when Ardent Leisure chairman Neil Balnaves and chief executive Deborah Thomas made a series of decisions contrary to its advice.

While this article from Crikey appeared today (referring to article above):

Quote

This story by Sharri Markson in the Weekend Australian has certainly raised eyebrows in the PR and spinning industries with its claims there was a “crisis of confidence in Dreamworld board” in the wake of last week’s tragedy.

Here is a well known PR firm trying to limit the damage from being associated with Ardent and the Dreamworld disaster. Markson’s story appeared to be well-sourced but it was very pro-Newgate, leading some cynical types to wonder why. Former News Corp spinner Greg Baxteris is a Newgate partner, and his other gigs have included spinning Nine’s side in the great Beirut kidnapping adventure, plus being head spinner for Goodman Fielder and for James Hardie.

Whomever thought it up, Sharri Markson’s story certainly pushed the Newgate line. So the big question now is, is Ardent still a client of Newgate after Markson’s story, or was her story effectively a goodbye note from the PR firm?

Ardent Leisure's share price on the ASX also dropped by 1% today - not a significant drop but it doesn't help as it is still getting closer to being out of their 2 year trend again.

[Jamberoo Fan]

ABC's good old Media Watch, not surprisingly, did a story on the media coverage of the Thunder River Rapids incident. They mainly focused on the media coverage of Ardent Leisure's response as well as briefly on the media sensationalism. You can watch the approximately 6 minute segment or read the transcript by clicking here.

Edited October 31, 2016 by Jamberoo Fan

[Jamberoo Fan]

The Australian publishing some interesting speculation.

From this article of theirs:

Quote

Dreamworld has admitted that the water pump on its Thunder River Rapids Ride failed routinely before last week’s tragedy, as it emerged the ride had not been physically inspected by government safety officials in years.

The theme park’s operators have also privately flagged the possible demolition of the 30-year-old ride...

...it is understood police are ­focusing their attention on the water pump as a possible cause for Australia’s worst theme park tragedy in decades.

Police have called for a meeting with the water pump’s ­manufacturer tomorrow...

Dreamworld has defended its decision not to shut the ride last Tuesday, stating it was not ­infrequent for the pump to fail.

“It is not unusual in a water ride for there to be issues with the hydraulic pump — leaf litter, for example, can cause an issue. At the time of the incident, the ride was fully compliant with the regulator but, obviously, this will be an issue that is explored fully by the coroner” spokeswoman Miche Paterson said in response to questions from The Australian.

There have been reports that overseas visitors were stuck on the water ride the week before the accident, and reportedly were told that the delay was caused by pump failure.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland confirmed last night that the Thunder River Rapids Ride had not been physically ­inspected by any of its officers in years.

Instead, the safety regulator had conducted a “desktop review’’ of the paperwork from the annual inspection of the ride conducted by a private accredited engineer, employed by the theme park.

“WHSQ does not physically inspect rides on a regular basis — this task falls to the registered professional engineer as detailed above. This process is the same as in all Australian states, and in many other countries. In 2016, the Thunder River Rapids Ride was inspected by a registered professional engineer’’ the regulator said in a statement.

The ride was inspected by Dreamworld’s engineer and ­secured its WHSQ registration just a month before the tragedy.

Safety officials conducted six “random checks’’ of the park in the 2015-16 financial year, all sparked by complaints.

“In addition, the WHSQ chief safety engineer meets with major amusement device stakeholders, including theme park operators generally twice a year’’ the spokesman said.

It is understood that Dreamworld has told government officials that it is possible the ride will be demolished after the investigation. But in response to questions from The Australian, Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson said: “No decision has been made regarding the Thunder River Rapids Ride. No decision will be made without ­appropriate consultation.’’

And this article of theirs (I believe this is what they had planned for the site next to the Vintage Cars):

Quote

Embattled theme park operator Dreamworld considered developing a multi-million-dollar luxury resort, retail complex and time-share apartment precinct adjoining its Gold Coast site, according to confidential documents obtained by The Australian.

Dreamworld’s owner, Ardent Leisure, had talks with the American-owned Wyndham hotel company and time-share operator as well as high-profile Gold Coast developer Robert Badalotti about building the $100 million-plus property next to the theme park.

Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas travelled extensively to research theme park designs and opportunities in the wake of the negotiations.

Under the scheme, the Dreamworld site would be leased or purchased from Ardent Leisure, which is under market scrutiny following the deaths of four patrons on one of the theme park’s rides last week.

A proposed master plan for the development obtained by The Australian allows for 200 hotel rooms and 80 apartments, and up to 25 shops.

Dreamworld executives, including Ms Thomas, held initial meetings last year about the proposal.

A parcel known as “site 6” would have been developed into a resort, with access to the nearby Coomera Town Centre, where QIC Global Real Estate and Scentre Group are building a new Westfield shopping complex.

Ms Thomas did not return The Australian’s calls last night.

The estimated cost for development was $115m, with finance to come from a major bank.

Barry Robinson, president and managing director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific and Wyndham Hotel Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim, said the group had been looking at property at all the theme parks, “but nothing has ever been resolved”.

Mr Badalotti’s Azzura Corporation has previously developed hotels and apartments and is proposing Southport’s tallest tower, the 104-storey Imperial City.

The Ardent board appeared keen on the project. “(Ms Thomas) was impressed … the discussions have been active,” said one executive.

The Australian understands that private group Reynolds Private Wealth was working on the scheme.

A representative declined to comment further yesterday, saying only that a project “would provide tourist accommodation which would service the theme park and the city’s north”.

As we can see, future proposals are already under scrutiny even if they don't involve rides so it's very likely now that any future expansion announcements for all the Gold Coast theme parks are going to be postponed (unless of course, they are leaked to the media).

[razza1987]

Interesting. My mother and grandmother own shares in Wyndham. I've stayed at a number of their properties in my lifetime 

[razza1987]

11 hours ago, razza1987 said:

When was it's name changed?

 

CEO media statement:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1053939408038080&id=840702249361798

Better quality:

 

[Original]

11 hours ago, Santa07 said:

How does HWSW's operations even affect the TRRR incident? Plus, Arrow is defunct, why bother even referencing the 'manual' when the company doesn't even exist and it's obviously really old and safety standards have probably changed?

They'd be referring to S&S Rides which took over Arrow and these days currently supplies parts to old Arrow rides, which is based in Utah, which would be why some articles referred them having to go to the manufacturer in Utah.  

[JeffreyMoore]

7 hours ago, Jamberoo Fan said:

The Australian publishing some interesting speculation.

From this article of theirs:

And this article of theirs (I believe this is what they had planned for the site next to the Vintage Cars):

As we can see, future proposals are already under scrutiny even if they don't involve rides so it's very likely now that any future expansion announcements for all the Gold Coast theme parks are going to be postponed (unless of course, they are leaked to the media).

I think its very likely that both thunder river rapids and eureka mountain mine ride will both be knocked down shortly after the coronal inquiry is complete 

Edited October 31, 2016 by JeffreyMoore

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

9 hours ago, Jamberoo Fan said:

As we can see, future proposals are already under scrutiny even if they don't involve rides so it's very likely now that any future expansion announcements for all the Gold Coast theme parks are going to be postponed (unless of course, they are leaked to the media).

I don't take that conclusion from what you posted.