ROLL ON THE GOOD TIMES
PARK’S SOARING AMBITION
MOVIE World’s sprawling new hyper-coaster represents a $30 million shot in the arm for Village Roadshow at a time when theme park fortunes have dipped and spiralled as much as the ride itself.
The investment – at roughly the cost of two Towers of Terror – has the potential to once again position the Gold Coast as an international theme park destination.
Ride forums and fan pages around the world are heralding the DC Rivals attraction as a game-changer for Australia, which is “punching above its weight” to secure a ride like this 115km/h screamer.
Construction of the coaster has topped-out at its maximum height of 61.6m ahead of its launch in October.
The 1.4km steel structure will be the longest, tallest and most expensive ride ever built in the Southern Hemisphere.
It’s a roller-coaster of the dice new Village Roadshow Theme Parks chairman and CEO Clark Kirby reckons will pay off.
“It’s going to be sensational, I’m hanging out for it,” he said.
“My favourite ride at the moment is Superman (Escape), but this one is going to be a substitute for my morning coffee.”
Mr Kirby has more than the average boss’s stake in whether DC Rivals delivers on its mission — Village Roadshow is his family business, started in 1954 by his grandfather Rock Kirby.
The company’s latest trading update said the parks had been cruelled by the Dreamworld tragedy, and that Cyclone Debbie in March and April had also hit attendance figures.
The “core local market” is deserting the parks more than tourists since the tragedy, with membership renewals down and attendance dipping 9.4 per cent in the nine months to March 31.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR MY MORNING COFFEE. — VILLAGE ROADSHOW THEME PARKS CHAIRMAN CLARK KIRBY
But Gold Coast Tourism chairman Paul Donovan said there was a turnaround ahead, with a key new attraction a strong catalyst.
“It’s part of the Gold Coast renewing itself – the theme parks are part of our DNA and I’m sure all the work that’s been done there will add huge value to the market,” he said.
Mr Kirby said the spend reflected the faith of the company in tourism and the Gold Coast.
“I don’t think there’s anything comparable, it’s such a large investment,” he said.
“We think it is going to elevate the status of Movie World and the Gold Coast as a theme park destination, right around the world.”