Leisure sector investor, Macquarie Leisure Trust, today announced the
acquisition of Luna Park Sydney's rollercoaster icon 'The Big
Dipper'. The ride will move to a permanent home at the Trust's theme
park asset, Dreamworld.
Standing an impressive 13-storeys (40 metres) high and weighing
almost 1000 tonnes, the Big Dipper is the biggest high-speed gravity
rollercoaster of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dreamworld Chief Executive Officer Tony Braxton-Smith said purchasing
the Big Dipper was a win-win situation for all the parties involved -
but especially for the Coomera-based theme park.
"At Dreamworld - we're getting one of the best rollercoaster rides in
the country... and that can only be a good thing for the theme park
that has a reputation for the biggest and best thrill rides in
Australia" he said.
"In evaluating the ride, we needed to consider the 'whoosh' factor,
how the ride would fit in with existing attractions and whether the
coaster would enhance the experience for our traditional core market
who love the big white knuckle thrill rides."
"The ride definitely makes the grade. Not for the faint-hearted, it
reaches speeds of 85k/ph as it rockets along 900m of track... with a
360-degree loop and sidewinder thrown in for fun," he said.
Contractors are expected to be appointed within weeks, and work will
commence on the relocation soon after.
Ms Francina Kok, General Manager of the Trust's Manager, Macquarie
Leisure Management Limited, said "The re-branded ride is expected to
open at Dreamworld in time for the busy Christmas holiday period."
Dreamworld is centrally located just 40 minutes from Brisbane and 20
minutes north of Surfers Paradise and is open from l0am to 5pm every
day except Christmas Day.
Macquarie Leisure listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in July
1998 and is one of a number of sector specific listed property trusts
managed by Macquarie's Property Investment Management Division and
its associate.
The division and its associate manage over $3.0 billion in property
through four sector specific listed trusts and six property
syndications.
