Theme Parks in Sydney proposed

Wonders never cease as fun park plan emerges
By Bonnie Malkin
March 15, 2005

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Sydney could soon be home to its own Disneyland, Movie World or Dream World after an announcement by the State Government that 30 hectares has been earmarked for development as a large recreation park.

The land, within parklands near Blacktown, could house a zoo, amusement park, theme park or water park, the Minister for Western Sydney, Diane Beamer said yesterday, after inviting expressions of interest in the site.

Despite the failure of Australia's Wonderland in April last year and controversy over Luna Park, a major recreation centre is viable for Sydney, Ms Beamer said. Three companies had approached the Government about developing the site before yesterday's announcement, she said.

"We have had three so far who have come to us beforehand to talk about the kind of things we might be doing with the parcel of land but at this stage we're not going into any detail," she said.

One international and one Australian company informally expressed interest in developing the site after the announcement yesterday, Ms Beamer said.

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AdvertisementJamberoo Recreation Park general manager Dax Eddy yesterday ruled out making a play for the site in the short term: "We are developing our park now and we're focusing on that, so it's come at the wrong time."

A foreign company is most likely to take up the challenge, he said. "It would have to be a major investor because it would be $20 or $30 million before you could create something reasonable. I believe there is a market there for it because 79 per cent of our business comes from Sydney."

Sydney is large enough for another theme park, Luna Park managing director Peter Hearne said.

"I would think a city the size of Sydney could accommodate two parks," he said.

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Muse said:

Not that I would use it, but Sydney really does need one....and a full-on one. Not just poor ol' Luna Park.

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Luke~Elijah said:

This 'new theme park' will suck if its operated by the owners who destroyed Wonderland! When Wonderland first opened it was controlled and owned by Paramount which has parks across America and one in Canada and when they owned Wonderland they used install new attarctions and rides every year or so and as soon as the new owners took over they added nothing at all and thats why the park died. No one wanted to go to Wonderland when there was nothing new to see or do. They took rides away bit by bit, which made it even worse.

If they are going to build a new park, then it should be owned or operated by American theme park chains such as Cedar Fair or Six Flags!!! NOt a company that has has nothing to do with theme parks like the Wonderland owners!

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