Coronavirus Gold Coast: Theme parks make case for reopening earlier

Pressure is mounting on the state government to allow theme parks reopen earlier, with a key meeting on the issue taking place this afternoon.

PRESSURE is mounting on the State Government to consider allowing the Gold Coast’s theme parks to reopen ahead of Stage 3 of the easing of coronavirus restrictions, with Tourism Minister Kate Jones meeting with the bleeding operators this afternoon.

The Bulletin has previously reported that Village Roadshow is burning through $10 to $15 million in monthly costs net of government subsidies during the shutdown.

Ms Jones said Village Roadshow and Ardent Leisure had submitted COVID safe plans to the government detailing how they will safely reopen and the plans were currently being assessed by the Chief Health Officer.

The empty car park at Warner Bros. Movie World in Oxenford. Picture: Jerad Williams

She said the two big players had worked “collaboratively together” to come up with the “very detailed plans” and that she was meeting with the theme parks’ CEOs this afternoon to discuss them.

“They are being assessed, at this stage they are in Stage 3 of the road map but we’re working with them to see if we can open them up in a safe way,” Ms Jones said while visiting a Main Beach cafe this afternoon.

“They want to do it quickly but the road map says theme parks are clearly part of Stage 3.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones speaking in Main Beach. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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Destination Gold Coast chair Paul Donovan said the biggest market was the drive market and “we need the theme parks open”.

He said that the Gold Coast Convention Centre had also put forward a COVID safe reopening plan to the government and “we’re waiting for those to be approved”.

“I’m a strong advocate for Queensland’s borders to be reopened when safe and for the theme parks to come online as soon as possible,” he said.

Ardent Leisure’s Dreamworld and Village Roadshow’s Gold Coast theme parks, Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and Paradise Country, have been shut down since March 23.