Village CEO plots parks reopening

VILLAGE Roadshow wants Sea World and Movie World at “full capacity” for September school holidays if an earlier soft opening goes to plan.

Village CEO Clark Kirby met visiting Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday to make the case for reopening parks closed since late March.

It follows Mr Kirby criticising her for allowing shopping malls to take thousands of customers but limiting theme parks to 20 from June 12 or 100 from July.

“We went through all our COVID-safe plans and got a really good reception,” he said.

“There were certainly no promises but she is keen to get parks open as soon as possible.”

Mr Kirby said Village submitted a detailed COVID-safe proposal to State Government involving families being able to go on rides together while being spaced apart from other groups and ensuring social distancing was observed.

“They are doing everything they can to get the parks open as quickly as possible. We are working through some of the practicalities like social distancing and sanitising.”

Mr Kirby said he hoped to have Village parks undertake a “soft opening” in July for “very small numbers” and then gradually increase patrons to full capacity by September school holidays. He said “ideally” Movie World and Sea World would open at half capacity by July, meaning 3000 patrons at Sea World and 7000 at Movie World.

“The plan is to do a soft opening and make sure our processes are in place. We’d love to be open by July but there a whole lot of things we are working through”

Griffith University infectious disease expert Professor Nigel McMillian said it was up to each industry to make its best case for full reopening.

“If you look at the NRL, racing and AFL they are making their case around their unique circumstances. From an infectious disease point of view what is the difference between a shopping centre and a theme park? Each one will have its unique, particular issues (but) a ride (with people) sitting next to each other that does not happen in a shopping centre.”

Prof McMillian said parks would also need to limit the numbers passing through the gates “but that would obviously be more than 100”.