Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre: $700m expansion back on the agenda
Labor and the LNP have revealed where both stand on the long-stalled upgrade of the Gold Coast Convention Centre and city leaders are not impressed. WHAT THEY SAID
Business
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Pressure from political and business figures to fast-track the Gold Coast Convention Centre upgrade has failed to move either the state government or LNP.
Neither Premier Steven Miles or Opposition Leader David Crisafulli have committed to the expansion of the complex, despite warnings the city is losing between $500m and $1.4bn annually because of inadequate facilities.
It has long reached capacity and with no upgrade on the horizon, the complex’s managers have been forced to turn away big-ticket events because it lacks the available space.
A Miles government spokesman said any upgrade would be nearly 15 years away at the earliest.
“We’ve invested more than $12.8M in the Gold Coast Convention Centre with another $4.8m in upgrades scheduled to make sure it can continue to host worldwide events and exhibitions,” he said.
“A comprehensive review last year found that our convention centres will meet demand until 2038.
“The Miles government’s focus remains on doing what matters for Queensland and the Gold Coast, including record investment in health, transport and education infrastructure.
“We are investing in cost of living relief through electricity rebates, 50 cent fares, 20 per cent off car registration, free kindy, free TAFE, and reducing costs for first home buyers."
The 2038 date has been revised down from the state’s previously announced 2043 target.
Meanwhile an LNP spokeswoman said: “The LNP has spoken about the importance of a 20-year tourism plan to benefit all Queenslanders and this will include official convention and events spaces, including for the Gold Coast. We look forward to seeing a business case from the Gold Coast City Council as part of their advocacy for this project.”
Mayor Tom Tate said he wanted both sides of politics to put forward their own plans.
“Give is a time-frame of doing a business case and an extension,” he said.
“I would like the alternative government, the conservative side, to have a look at that too.
“I say to both sides of government this – the investment of our convention centre would be sound because the return to you get in taxes, GST and beyond will make the case that you’d get a return on your dollars,”
Events kingpin Harvey Lister has also backed the upgrade and plans to revive a $700m proposal to redevelop the complex following the October state election.
Mr Lister first pitched his plan to redevelop the Gold Coast Convention Centre into a 12,000 seat stadium and events precinct in 2021 but received little support at the time.
But Mr Lister, who runs the Australian wing of AEG Global, the world’s largest manager of big stadiums and arenas, this week said a significant upgrade was needed urgently to prevent the city losing out on events to other cities.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said the venue was a cornerstone of the Gold Coast’s visitor economy, consistently hosting large-scale events, from concerts to sports matches and business conventions.
“We are working hard to drive the city’s business events pipeline over the next decade – and to bolster this, we need a world-class convention centre to match,” he said this week.
‘Size does matter': Why city urgently needs $700m project
Events kingpin Harvey Lister will revive a $700m proposal to redevelop the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition centre into a world-class entertainment precinct.
Pressure is building on both state Labor and the LNP to commit to a revamp of the centre, which this week marked its 20th anniversary while struggling against its limited capacity.
Mr Lister first pitched his plan to redevelop the Gold Coast Convention Centre into a 12,000 seat stadium and events precinct in 2021 but received little support at the time, as the state government claimed no upgrade would be needed until 2043.
But Mr Lister, who runs the Australian wing of AEG Global, the world’s largest manager of big stadiums and arenas, this week said a significant upgrade was needed urgently to prevent the city losing out on events to other cities.
“The convention centre was conceived in 1999 and was a terrific development for the Gold Coast at the time but the city has now grown to such a sizeable place that it has far more to offer for conferences and all manner of events,” he said.
“In our view, that justifies an upgrade to the current centre to make it more flexible, and both increasing its size and attendee capacity.
“We think that this invested would be repaid many times over, increasing the economic impact across the city, including more room nights and increased bookings in hospitality spaces.
“That’s more bread rolls for bakers and more eggs for chickens to hatch.”
Under the proposal which previously went to the government, the convention centre would double in size, with a giant 2000-seat ballroom,
Mr Lister said it was critical for the next state government to meet with both the council and federal governments and the private sector to find a way forward.
“I am hoping the next government will review the opportunity for expansion of the centre and what it offers for such a fast-growing region,” he said.
“Governments need to have a really good talk among themselves about what is the right for the coast for the next 50 years not jut for the next term of government.”
Mayor Tom Tate on Monday backed the revival of Mr Lister’s proposal, declaring that “size does matter”.
The mayor said it was possible to design and build an upgraded precinct in just three years, and argued the city needed the project fast-tracked.
“We are the largest regional city in Australia, the sixth largest city in the country and we need a bigger convention space,” he said.
“It is the tourism capital of Australia and it’s time. Let’s do it.
“Let’s not just do a Band-Aid (solution), let’s plan for a 30-year life cycle so I would like to see its size double at the very least.
“The goal is to attract the larger conventions and if you go to places like Vegas or Hong Kong, the big business there is the convention sector.”
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