Luna Park Set To Put On A Happy New Face In Revamp
The Age
Tuesday January 17, 1995
Luna Park is set for a multi-million-dollar revamp, with new rides including a high-speed corkscrew roller-coaster, under draft plans unveiled by its operators yesterday.
Under the plans the St Kilda landmark will also get a new cafeteria, cafe, and facilities for live entertainment, including bands, jugglers, acrobats and magicians.
The Scenic Railway once the longest and highest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere will be renovated and its tunnels restored.
New ``thrill" rides , complementing the Scenic Railway and Enterprise ride, will be built along the eastern edge of the park.
Extra family and children's rides, including Indian River Boats and a Luna Lander, will be added.
The new-look park will feature live entertainment, with an all- weather centre stage and games stalls near the entrance to the Scenic Railway. It also will be landscaped with trees, garden beds, shrubs, seats and themed street furniture.
The park's lessee, Luna Park Ltd, said yesterday that the refurbishment would cost more than $7 million and it expected the work to be completed in five years. The plans were submitted yesterday to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
The park will lose none of its existing features, although some may be shifted to new locations on the site.
Luna Park Ltd claims refurbishment would be in accordance with the requirements of the Historic Buildings Council. Areas of the park, such as the towers and open-mouthed face at the entrance, the Scenic Railway and the carousel cannot be altered, removed or destroyed without Historic Buildings Council permission.
The chairman of Luna Park Ltd, Mr Dennis Marks, said the changes would not radically transform the park, which opened in 1912.
``We're not doing anything different to what's already there; all we're doing is upgrading the place. It's business as usual, but we're smartening it up," Mr Marks said.
Luna Park Ltd lodged the concept plan with the State Government as part of its new lease.
The park's future was in doubt last year when the Sungieway Group, a Malaysian consortium, was reported as planning to buy the lease and demolish most of the buildings in favor of a multi-million-dollar, high-tech theme park with ``virtual-reality" rides.
The proposals were met with protests from groups seeking to preserve the park's features. The consortium subsequently withdrew its offer.
© 1995 The Age
