AusLeisure

Just months before its anticipated reopening, the troubled Melbourne Star observation wheel has been sold to the Sanoyas Rides Corporation, the Japanese group that designed and built the attraction.

Constructed by the Sanoyas Group between 2006 and 2008, the wheel closed in January 2009 after only 40 days of operation because of structural defects, including buckling and cracks.

The defects required a complete reconstruction of the wheel, a process that has taken over four years.

With its 21 cabins currently being reinstalled, the attraction is now expected to reopen early in 2013.

With the rebuilding being undertaken under the Sanoyas Group's warranty, the construction firm has purchased the attraction from ING Real Estate Development for an undisclosed amount.

It is believed that the original development cost $100 million, with the giant wheel having been planned to attract 1.5 million visitors a year

Melbourne Star Management Group Chief Executive Chris Kelly told Melbourne newspaper The Age that the wheel had been bought by Sanoyas Group's wholly owned subsidiary Sanoyas Rides Corporation.

Kelly stated "it is a great coup for Melbourne and the city's tourism industry.

"Having a leading international attractions operator investing directly in Docklands is a strong vote of confidence, and Sanoyas are strongly committed to the positioning of the Star as a major tourist attraction on its opening."

Melbourne Star Management Group has apparently been retained by Sanoyas to continue managing the wheel, with a statement from the Sanoyas Group explaining future management of the attraction would be undertaken by a "local team of dedicated staff highly experienced in the operation of tourism and leisure facilities."

Staff are currently being recruited to operate the attraction when it reopens.

For more information go to www.melbournestar.com/

30th August 2013 - FIRST CABIN RE-ATTACHED MELBOURNE’S STAR OBSERVATION WHEEL

29th August 2012 - NO OPENING IN SIGHT FOR MELBOURNE’S SOUTHERN STAR OBSERVATION WHEEL

11th December 2011 - DELAYS TO SOUTHERN CROSS OBSERVATION WHEEL REBUILD

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