Australian theme park to stay shut after deaths
Print Edition
THE company that owns an Australian theme park where four people died on a river rapids ride defended its safety record yesterday as police vetoed plans to reopen to the public three days after the tragedy.
Dreamworld park on Queensland state’s Gold Coast has been closed as a crime scene since two men and two women died on Tuesday when their raft flipped on the 30-year-old Thunder River Rapids ride.
Neil Balnaves, chairman of Ardent Leisure Group that owns Dreamworld as well as bowling and billiards centers across Australia, the United States and New Zealand, told the company’s annual general meeting yesterday that the ride had passed its annual safety inspection a month ago.
“That’s what confounds the tragedy even more for us, because it is ... absolutely surprising that a ride could get through that process and everything up to date,” Balnaves said.
“The park does not take its safety as a casual issue.”
A union has accused management of ignoring safety concerns raised by staff over years.
Dreamworld announced on Wednesday that it plans to reopen with a memorial day and a service for the victims today. Profits would be donated to charity and activities limited to smaller rides, animal attractions, and the water park.
Balnaves told the meeting that operations would return to normal from tomorrow, although the Thunder River Rapids ride would remain closed until a coroner’s inquiry into the tragedy was concluded.
Dreamworld later said police had advised that the park could not reopen this week because it could hinder investigations. They have said the inquiry could end in criminal charges.
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