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Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld and its co-located waterpark WhiteWater World have reopened for the first time since closing in March in response to COVID-19.

Having been closed for 177 days, the attractions will operate with a reduced capacity under a COVIDSafe plan, with enhanced health and safety measures, while WhiteWater World will now operate seasonally, open annually from early September to late January.

With owner Ardent Leisure having received $70 million in funding from the Queensland Government funding, the reopening comes ahead of the September holiday period.

The Queensland Government funding is also backing the construction of a new $30-million rollercoaster, aimed at revitalising Dreamworld in the wake of the permanent closure of rides including Wipeout, The Big Red Car and Flowrider.

As part of Dreamworld’s COVIDSafe Plan, to assist with contact tracing, visitors must provide a name, address and mobile number. Visitors must also remain 1.5 metres from others and follow floor indicators.

Hand washing facilities and hand sanitiser are available throughout the park, and high-touch surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected.

Guests are welcome to wear face coverings, and some seats on rides will be left vacant to separate rider groups. Character appearances will be contact free.

Commenting on the reopening, Dreamworld Chief Operating Officer, Greg Yong told the ABC “even when you go onto a ride the experience is a little bit different, so we are actually physically distancing people on rides and spreading them out.

"Given that we are opening mid-week, this is an opportunity to test those procedures out and get ready for the school holidays.

"We have got a lot of really passionate fans at the park and we expect a lot of those will be back today."

The reopening comes a fortnight before the resumption of Work Health and Safety court proceedings against Ardent Leisure.

In July, the company pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the deaths of four people on the Thunder River Rapids Ride in 2016.

Image courtesy of Ardent Leisure.

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