Dreamworld theme park on Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia reopened its doors to public on Saturday, December 10. This popular attraction has been on a hiatus for six weeks after the Thunder River Rapids fluctuated, the malfunction accidentally killed four people riding in the rapids. On October, one of the raft flipped leading two people to come out from the carriage and the others were caught inside.
The park has gone through a detailed series of safety checks overseen by the state government. Since the accident happened, some of the rides that seems dangerous are still close and waiting for approval to operate while the Thunder River Rapids ride is shut off and is ready to be demolished. Dreamworld Express, Shockwave, Rocky Hollow Log Ride and the park's rollercoasters are still under review. Chief Executive Craig Davidson said in a report of The Guardian, "Safety had always been Dreamworld's number one priority and safety inspections and testing by the company, the state regulator and two external consultants to clear the reopening of each ride were ongoing and will not be rushed." He added, "Today the smiles of Dreamworld staff sit atop heavy hearts."
The theme park enthusiasts are all smiles while entering and reminiscing the good vibes of the place before the tragic event happened. One of the local pass holder said in 9News, "We've been respectful about why it's been closed, we're here to support the families as well as Dreamworld." The company will donate to the Australian Red Cross. Twenty-five dollars will be contributed from every ticket sale over the weekend. The amount raised will be disseminated to the families that were affected by the misfortune.
The reopening of Dreamworld was attended by a number of politicians including Federal Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo, Labor Senator Murray Watt and Queensland Minister for Education and Tourism Kate Jones. They attended with their families. "Today is a day of hope and moving forward," Jones commented. More than 1,000 team members are still in support of the company.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
