Queen’s Wharf completion further delayed until April 2024

The opening of the multibillion-dollar Queen’s Wharf development has been delayed by another four months. Here’s why

Constructions crane working above the Queens Wharf Casino project and 1 William Street tower (left). Picture: David Clark

The opening of the multibillion-dollar Queen’s Wharf development has been delayed by another four months.

Star Entertainment had previously flagged the $3.6 billion project would open at the end of this year, but this has now been pushed back to next April, according to an update to the ASX.

The publicly listed gaming company released a statement on Monday, it had been advised by the contracted developer, Destination Brisbane Consortium, about the delay following a review of the current construction progress.

“The revised opening date follows careful consideration of current progress by our builder,” Star’s chief executive Robbie Cooke said in a statement released to the share market.

“Queen’s Wharf has not been immune from the types of pressures that other major infrastructure projects across Australia have encountered.”

Mr Cooke admitted the company was disappointed by the delay but insisted the “transformational development” will be worth the wait.

“Queen’s Wharf will be a game-changer for a city that continues to attract the eyes of the world as we charge towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.

The company said a number of dining, entertainment and gaming areas at the development had already been completed on the fifth and sixth floor of the resort but they won’t be opened for trading until the complex’s precinct-wide launch next year.

The delay is the latest hurdle for the casino giant after a bombshell independent report last year found Star was unsuited to hold a gambling licence.

Former Justice Robert Gotterson KC said, in his report, Star had a “poor corporate culture” and those in-charge of preventing and mitigating money laundering had failed in their responsibility.

He said the findings revealed Star was “indifferent” towards its dealings with the gambling regulator, who he described as “vigilant” in its commitment to pursue the casino giant’s conduct.

“This all placed the Star Gold Coast and Treasury Brisbane casinos at real jeopardy of infiltration by persons about whom The Star had reason to suspect were likely to have been involved in criminality,” he said.

The state government slapped Star with a $100 million fine but permitted the company to continue operating its venues at Treasury in Brisbane as well as the Gold Coast.