The Queensland government has approved Dreamworld’s ambitious expansion plan, paving the way for a massive transformation of the northern Gold Coast theme park precinct.
The operator has been given the green light to build on adjacent land, growing the area by another 30 hectares.
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The plans mean Dreamworld and Whitewater World will no longer operate as just theme parks; the bold vision includes developing a hotel, a retail and hospitality precinct, and residential homes. A nature tourism area is also planned for the site.
“This is a win for tourism,” deputy premier Jarrod Bleije said on Monday. “It’s a win for jobs. It’s a win for housing. It’s a win for retail and [the] hospitality industry.”
To address traffic concerns, Dreamworld has committed around $5 million to improving the local road network.
However, the expansion has sparked fears for the area’s dwindling koala population, with the site located in a known wildlife corridor.
“It’s a really sad situation that we’ll only be able to see koalas in the cages at Dreamworld and not in the bushland,” a concerned resident said.