Dreamworld reopens on the first day of Aussie summer school holidays

Dreamworld will opn on December 10. Photo / Getty Images

Dreamworld's quest to resurrect itself as Australia's playground begins next month.

The Gold Coast theme park will reopen on Saturday, December 10 - the first day of Queensland's summer school holidays.

The announcement comes six weeks after Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and New Zealander Cindy Low were killed when the popular Thunder River Rapids ride malfunctioned on October 25.

The park will initially only partially reopen, with several key attractions yet to complete a four-tier safety review ordered after the tragedy.

All slides and pools at neighbouring WhiteWater World will reopen, while Dreamworld facilities given the all-clear include its wildlife areas, entertainment and family attractions in DreamWorks Experience, Wiggles World, ABC Kids World and the Motorsports Experience.

Dreamworld says it has received clearance from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, which issued the park with seven improvement notices and three prohibition notices following an audit of the park's facilities.

Major thrill rides such as the Tower of Terror, Buzzsaw and the Claw will only be reopened after safety reviews are completed, a process Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson insists will not be rushed.

Dreamworld has already announced the Thunder River Rapids ride will be decommissioned.

Davidson said the decision to reopen had been signalled to the families of the victims, though he refused to elaborate on their response.

He said Dreamworld staff were eagerly anticipating welcoming guests back to the park after weeks of work under "difficult circumstances".

"We are looking forward to next weekend," he said.

"We have received tremendous support and feedback from the community and from our customer base around the park reopening and we are looking forward to seeing them all back next weekend."

The reopening will include a charity element, with Dreamworld to donate $25 for every guest and passholder through the door to the Australian Red Cross.

Funds raised will be distributed to the families and those most affected by the tragedy.

The park's parent company Ardent Leisure revealed the closure had cost Dreamworld millions of dollars.

In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, Ardent revealed Dreamworld generated $7.6 million in revenue in November last year.

As well as that lost revenue, the park has incurred operating costs of up to $4.2 million for the month while one-off costs associated with the tragedy are expected to tally about $1.6 million.

Queensland's Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace, who ordered the statewide audit of theme parks, welcomed the decision to reopen.

"They have been very co-operative with workplace health and safety inspectors. The time is perfect," Grace said.

"Hopefully they will have a very busy Christmas period."

Grace said audits of other Gold Coast theme parks - Movie World, Wet'n'Wild and Sea World - had been completed.

Special ticket prices will be in place for the summer, while season-pass holders will receive an extra six months entry.