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Shutdown impacts Dreamworld’s plans for construction of new rollercoaster

Shutdown impacts Dreamworld’s plans for construction of new rollercoaster
June 24, 2020

With reports that Dreamworld is losing up to $10 million a month during the Coronavirus shutdown, the Gold Coast theme park’s ability to complete the construction of its planned new $30 million rollercoaster is currently in doubt.

Announced in August 2019 and due to open this year as part of a major investment in the theme park by owners Ardent Leisure, the rollercoaster - supplied by German ride manufacturer Mack Rides - has apparently been paid for.

However, as reported by the Parkz website, while the parts for the new attraction are now on site, struggling with cashflow during the Coronavirus shutdown, Dreamworld is not able to proceed with the rides construction.

In a recent interview with the Gold Coast Bulletin, Dreamworld Chief Strategy Officer, Paul Callander said that revenue being lost as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown would have funded the construction.

Callander advised “it certainly requires funding. $10 million is being burnt each month so that money when we are talking, about $17 million of contractor works, would have gone back into our capital investment."

While Dreamworld is being severely impacted by the Coronavirus crisis, Parkz’s Richard Wilson has suggested that even a profitable year at the theme park would see it struggle to meet the $13 million construction of the new rollercoaster.

Wilson writes “(even) if we rewind to 2016 - prior to Dreamworld's tragic Thunder River Rapids accident that plunged the theme park into its current state of financial disarray - then even their operating revenue for these same months during a normal, profitable year wouldn't cover the required construction costs.

“Combined revenue for March through June of 2016 was $27.8 million, averaging less than $7 million a month. Revenue for these same months a year later plummeted to $17.9 million and is still yet to recover significantly.

“So we're led to believe that even if it was business as usual, (the) best case scenario is Dreamworld would be running at a bare profit or loss with a plan that involves paying for a rollercoaster to be built hand-to-mouth.

“Even in a scenario where Dreamworld had finally returned to modest profitability on an annual basis, it's likely they would currently be running at a loss through these typically quiet off-peak months, and funds for this roller coaster would be coming from elsewhere within Ardent Leisure.”

It has been reported that at the start of the year Dreamworld's owners had only $58 million in cash reserves across both Dreamworld and Main Event in the USA.

Images: The parts for Dreamworld's new rollercoaster on site (top, courtesy of Parkz) and an artist's impression of how it will look when complete (below).

Related Articles

18th June 2020 - Ardent Leisure shareholders launch class action over Dreamworld deaths

17th June 2020 - Village Roadshow announces reopening schedule for Gold Coast theme parks

5th June 2020 - Ardent and Village Roadshow look for early reopening of Gold Coast theme parks

27th May 2020 - AALARA releases guide for the reopening of Australia’s attractions industry

22nd May 2020 - Financial impact of Coronavirus puts new rides at Gold Coast theme parks on hold

19th May 2020 - Queensland Government provides emergency funding for theme parks and wildlife attractions

15th May 2020 - Industry considers economics of post-Coronavirus reopening with limited numbers

12th May 2020 - Village Roadshow Chief Executive calls for JobKeeper extension as Queensland Government’s Coronavirus easing roadmap suggests reopening of theme parks, entertainment venues and stadiums in June

24th March 2020 - Queensland Government says theme parks, indoor gyms, fitness centres and sports centres ‘must close’

24th March 2020 - Coronavirus Update: City of Melbourne ‘cleaning blitz’, Dreamworld food donations, Gumbuya World and MCA closures - 24th March 2019

25th February 2020 - Ardent Leisure shares fall after critical Coroner’s report into Dreamworld tragedy

25th February 2020 - Queensland Government announces acceptance of Coroner’s findings into 2016 Dreamworld ride deaths

24th February 2020 - Coroner’s report on Dreamworld fatalities exposes Ardent Leisure to prosecution for multiple safety breaches

8th February 2020 - Dreamworld permanently closes Rocky Hollow Log Ride

7th February 2020 - Dreamworld enjoys successful peak season

18th January 2020 - South east Queensland deluge closes Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet’n'Wild Gold Coast

21st December 2019 - New waterslides open at Dreamworld’s WhiteWater World

15th December 2019 - Dreamworld kicks off 38th anniversary celebrations

10th December 2019 - Dreamworld appointment to drive new entertainment activities

21st November 2019 - Plans move forward for three-tower hotel development next to Dreamworld

24th October 2019 - Dreamworld announces retirement of adrenalin favourite

23rd August 2019 - Dreamworld announces ‘new era’ with multi-million dollar investment in new rides


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