Attempt to avoid ride rego

DREAMWORLD executives tried to bypass ride registration regulations just months before the Thunder River Rapids tragedy, an inquest has been told.

Giving evidence at the inquest in to the deaths of Kate Goodchild, Roozi Araghi, Luke Dorsett and Cindy Low, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s chief safety engineer Michael Chan said he met with Dreamworld department heads in August 2016 where they proposed being made exempt from legal registration requirements because the park “has implemented an effective in-house maintenance and inspection system”.

Under existing laws, Dreamworld was required to “engage a registered professional engineer”, but by August 2016 the park was already seven months overdue on annual ride registration certificates.

Mr Chan refused the request, explaining it was a legal requirement to engage “a suitably qualified and experienced person” to perform an annual inspection.

They were granted two extensions to get their affairs in order, one just weeks before the tragedy.

“(It’s not the case that) just because you have a system in place you’re good to go,” Mr Chan said.

Changes to State legislation over registration and safety of amusement devices are expected to be introduced next year.

On another day of harrowing evidence, it was also revealed Dreamworld failed to notify industry regulators about any modifications made to the Thunder River Rapids ride since it was first approved more than 30 years ago. This was despite many modifications being made to the ride since its design was first registered in 1987, Coroner James McDougall was told.