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Repercussions of Dreamworld tragedy: ride to permanently close

UPDATE: Ardent Leisure chief executive officer and managing director, Deborah Thomas made an announcement to 7 News Brisbane today that Dreamworld’s Thunder River Rapids ride will permanently close.

She said: “Out of respect for the memories of Cindy Low, Roozbeh Araghi, Kate Goodchild and Luke Dorsett, and their deeply affected families, the ride will be permanently decommissioned. The closure of the ride is the only respectful and appropriate course of action.”

Ms Thomas, previously admitted she hasn’t handled the crisis surrounding the deaths of four people “as well as I could have”, stating that as soon as appropriate the families affected by the tragedy will be invited to help create a fitting and permanent memorial to their loved ones.

Ms Thomas also announced that one of Australia’s leading engineering independent experts Pitt & Sherry, will lead an external review of all Dreamworld and Whitewater World rides and related operating systems.

Dreamworld is also continuing an internal review of every ride in the park, working closely with the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

“No ride in Dreamworld will operate until the Workplace Health and Safety Audit has been completed and unless it passes the multi-level internal and external review process,” Ms Thomas said.

When news spread of the terrible events that unfolded at Dreamworld on October 25, it shook Australia to its core.

Tragically, four people died and two children miraculously escaped the incident, and left everyone asking how could such a thing happen in a park built for family fun, a staple attraction for Gold Coast tourists.

Authorities said the accident occurred at the end of the Thunder River Rapids when two rafts hit one another, tipping one backwards. Two people were flung from the raft and two became trapped on the conveyor belt of the ride, that Dreamworld market as a family-friendly thrill.

For now, attention is (as it should be) firmly focused on the family and friends who have lost loved ones, locals and tourists have turned the entrance to Dreamworld into a floral monument to pay their respects and a massive outpouring of love for the families has flooded in from across the globe. Mayor Tom Tate said October 25 will be remembered as a very dark day for the Gold Coast.

It may be too early to be concerned about the long-term impact on Queensland’s tourism industry, but with more than 1.8 million people visiting Dreamworld every year, as part of the 4.7 million people who visit the Sunset Strip, including 3.7 million domestic visitors and 984,000 international visitors the industry may, rightly so, be feeling anxious.

Minister for trade, tourism and investment, Steven Ciobo noted: “My deepest sympathies go out to family and friends of those whose lives were tragically lost at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast. This event has shocked our city, our state and our country. The Gold Coast has long been a destination for families and thrill-seekers – we are, after all, ‘famous for fun.”

He called for collaboration: “The heartbreak of this incident will be felt for a long time, and it’s important now we come together as a city and support those in need.

The tragedy could have profound repercussions on Queensland’s multi-billion-dollar tourism industry at a time when Queensland’s economy is banking on a resurgent tourism sector.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has vowed the Gold Coast will recover from the devastating accident. “There will be a thorough investigation by the police and the coroner. We need to ensure that this never happens again,” she told the Seven Network.

But she affirmed the immediate priority was to ensure the children and family of the victims, staff at Dreamworld and emergency services who attended Tuesday’s horror accident are cared for.

“We will leave no stone unturned. There will be a thorough investigation by the police and the coroner. We need to ensure that this never happens again,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Visitors need to feel safe and so all will hinge on how this incident is investigated by police and handled by Ardent Leisure Group, the company that owns Dreamworld, which is currently closed for business.

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