Staff shortages set to impact opening of Luna Park Sydney’s new rides

Set to unveil its largest refurbishment since 1935 in time for the upcoming school holidays, Luna Park Sydney is struggling to find staff who will operate the nine new rides.

Speaking to Sydney’s The Sunday Telegraph as construction of the new rides nears completion, with the additions to undergo extensive safety check with test dummies before the opening, Luna Park Managing Director, Peter Hearne advised “this will become the biggest refurbishment that Luna Park Sydney has ever done and it will be the largest number of new rides since it opened in 1935.

“What we’re doing now will put the park on the world stage.”

The new rides, including four rollercoasters, include a new Big Dipper, a family-friendly Little Nipper coaster and an adults-only ride known as the Sledgehammer.

However, in advance of the scheduled 26th June reopening of the Sydney harbourside icon, Hearne advised that COVID-19 and lack of backpackers had made it difficult to fill vacant positions.

As quoted by The Sunday Telegraph on 23rd May, Hearne stated “we had our first recruitment drive last week and invited 410 applicants for interviews - only 161 people turned up.

“We need a minimum of 275 casual employees to get the Park ready for opening these school holidays.”

Jobs available at the amusement park include ride attendants, cleaning stewards and food and beverage positions such as chefs, waiters, kitchen hands and baristas.

Hearne went on to note “it’s a common problem across our industry. Until we get a situation where the borders are reopened or we allow people back in the country, we’re going to continue to struggle

“The worst case scenario is that we won’t trade for two days but we’re certain that we can fill those roles.”

Hearne added the amusement park had also been caught up in the recent shipping traffic jam caused by the giant container vessel getting stuck in Egypt’s Suez Canal with some shipping containers which included their new ride structures delayed due to the incident.

About 220,000 overseas workers left Australia’s labour market between December 2019 and March this year.

Images show Luna Park Sydney's new rides under construction. Credit: Luna Park Sydney/Facebook.