Dreamworld Australia to reopen on Dec 10, rides pass safety review but Thunder River Rapids ride demolished

After being closed for more than one month, Dreamworld Australia would reopen on Dec 10, Ardent Leisure, the owner of the theme park on Gold Coast said on Wednesday. The reopening came after regulators finished a mechanical and operational safety review of the park and the rides.

However, the Thunder River Rapids ride which killed Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low on Oct 25 has been demolished. The Whitewater World slides, pools and cabanas would be available again for public use as well as several rides and attractions.

However, the availability of the rides in Dreamworld Australia would progressively open as soon as these attractions are signed off as part of the safety review process, AAP reports.

In a press conference on Tuesday outside the theme park, Craig Davidson, chief executive of Ardent Leisure, says he expects the public to return to Dreamworld despite the accident, ABC reports. He says the park will work hard with its staff to show visitors they would have a great time there.

“We have received tremendous support and feedback from the community and from our customer base around the park reopening and we are looking forward to seeing them all back next weekend,” Davidson says.

When Dreamworld reopens, on that weekend, Ardent Leisure would call it the “Open Hearts – Open Doors Charity Weekend” in which guests would pay a $25 entry fee that would be donated to the Red Cross. Dreamworld would be distributed to the families of the four victims coursed through the GIVIT Appeal independent distribution committee.