Gold Coast Convention Centre: Surprise location proposed for new $200m events complex
The fight to get a new convention centre on the Gold Coast hasn’t been easy. Here’s how the Gold Coast missed out on building an International Trade Centre at Southport. SEE THE PLANS
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THE Gold Coast needs more convention space.
The argument about how to boost the city’s once-booming events industry has burst back into the news this week in the wake of the fallout of the state government’s inquiry into Star Entertainment Group.
Built in 2004, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre has long struggled with its demand far in excess of its capacity.
In 2019 Star offered to spend up to a $100m to extend the centre in exchange for the state government knocking back a second casino on the Coast.
The government killed off that project in 2020 and talk of a convention centre upgrade stalled during the pandemic.
More than two years after plans to upgrade the complex at Broadbeach stalled, Mayor Tom Tate this week told the Bulletin he was tired of waiting while the Gold Coast’s events industry begins to boom again.
He proposed the HOTA project with a 50/50 funding split between Gold Coast City Council and the state.
“We have got space at Home of the Arts (HOTA) and we have redesigned it so we can have a convention facility, so I’m looking forward to doing a joint funding of $100m from the state, $100m from us,” he said.
“That’s $200m of convention space right in the heart of Surfers Paradise.”
It comes 25 years after the first serious push for the city to have its own purpose-built facility. The 1980s and 1990s saw a dramatic tourism boom which in-turn created a significant events industry as conferences organisers flocked to book the city’s limited facilities. By the late 1990s it was clear something needed to happen.
The Gold Coast had been set to get a convention centre built at Coomera as part of its plans to host Expo 2002.
But after the bid for the event fell apart the city was left looking for a new option.
Mayor Gary Baildon was highly critical of the lack of conference infrastructure the city had despite being the nation’s second-largest conference destination.
The state government announced in early 1999 that tenders would go out for private sector bidders to put forward proposals for a complex.
It was expected at the time to cost $60-100m, with the successful consortium named in mid-1999 before a 2001 opening.
In March 1999 the four finalists of more than 100 expressions of interest were named – Gold Coast 2001 Consortium, Jupiters, Leslie Corporation and Sundale Pty Ltd.
● The Gold Coast 2001 consortium proposed a centre at Surfers Paradise. The group includes the Macquarie Bank, Dreamworld operator Omni Leisure, Delaware North (Australia) and architects Woods Bagot/Skidmore Owings Merrill.
■ Jupiters Ltd proposed a centre near its casino at Broadbeach.
■ Gold Coast International Convention and Exhibition Centre Pty Ltd, including Leslie Corporation, Concrete Constructions, Spotless Services, Spectacor Management Group and Cox Rayner Architects. The company’s plan was built around a 42ha site at Mermaid Waters.
■ Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre Pty Ltd, which wanted a centre to be part of a redevelopment of Southport’s Sundale Shopping Centre. The company included Sundale Pty Ltd, Baulderstone Hornibrook, Ogden International Facilities Corporation and KPMG.
By July 1999 the Government eliminated all but Jupiters and Gold Coast International Convention and Exhibition Centre Pty Ltd, which were the two finalists.
The following month Jupiters upped its bid, vowing to extend its Broadbeach casino and hotel complex by 7000sq m if its bid was successful.
This was further bolstered by the Property Council of Australia throwing its weight behind Jupiters. It was finally announced as the winner of the bid at the tail end of November 1999, securing a deal with the state government.
Jupiters won the bid after promising a dazzling $150 million reinvention of the casino complex.
The Queensland Government confirmed it would fund the $145 million development of the new centre, while Jupiters would use additional debt to pay for the remodelling of its then-14-year-old Broadbeach complex.
Jupiters entered into a long-term management agreement and would receive a fee for operating the state government-owned centre based on operating surpluses, with a deferral of such fee if any operating losses were incurred.
An opening was scheduled for early 2002.
But the project hit snags – Jupiters slashed $66 million from the project in mid-2000 and announced a scaled-down project, on the back of shareholder concerns about overspending on the concept, while it took a significant period of time to get approval from the Gold Coast City Council.
The convention centre finally opened to the public with a gala event on June 30, 2004.
‘Open to it’: Surprise backing for new Coast convention centre
THE state government says it is “open” to Mayor Tom Tate’s pitch to build a $200m convention centre at the Home of the Arts (HOTA).
More than two years after plans to upgrade the complex at Broadbeach stalled, the Mayor this week told the Bulletin he was tired of waiting while the Gold Coast’s events industry begins to boom again.
He proposed the HOTA project with a 50/50 funding split between Gold Coast City Council and the state.
Mr Tate has made the case while pushing for the revival of a global tourism hub complex, which would have a second casino.
And in a boost for his HOTA concept, a spokeswoman for the state government said it would consider any proposal pitched by the council.
“We’re always open to considering infrastructure proposals from Gold Coast City Council, just as we are with all of Queensland’s 77 local governments,” she said.
While discussing the concept, Mr Tate said: “When the (global tourism hub) was cancelled the state government said we will extend the Convention Centre – well that hasn’t happened and my attitude is that I want to keep that promise good,” he said.
The state spokeswoman said the Queensland Government and the Star Entertainment Group mutually agreed to conclude the Global Tourism Hub negotiation process in 2020.
PITCH FOR NEW CONVENTION CENTRE
MAYOR Tom Tate has offered to build a new $200m convention centre – if the state government pays half.
More than two years after plans to upgrade the existing complex at Broadbeach stalled, the Mayor says he has had enough waiting while the Gold Coast’s events industry begins to boom again.
Mr Tate has made the case while pushing for the revival of a global tourism hub complex, which would have a second casino.
Earlier this week he called for a rethink about another casino on the Coast in the wake of the damning inquiring into Star Entertainment Group.
“When the (global tourism hub) was cancelled the state government said we will extend the Convention Centre – well that hasn’t happened and my attitude is that I want to keep that promise good,” he said.
“We have got space at Home of the Arts (HOTA) and we have redesigned it so we can have a convention facility, so I’m looking forward to doing a joint funding of $100m from the state, $100m from us.
“That’s $200m of convention space right in the heart of Surfers Paradise.”
Business and tourism leaders have been calling for the existing convention and exhibition centre to be upgraded for more than three years.
The business events industry was wroth $570m to the Gold Coast economy pre-Covid and has rapidly bounced back this year.
Destination Gold Coast CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said more convention space was critical.
“In recent times, the demand for hosting business events on the Gold Coast has increased significantly and so far, more than $170m in economic benefit has been confirmed from now through to 2030, and this continues to build by the day,” she said.
“Any investment into supporting facilities that can accommodate this growth would be welcome, and would pay dividends back to the Gold Coast and the state.”
Built in 2004, the complex has long struggled with its demand far in excess of its capacity.
The stage three upgrade, pitched in 2019 would have seen the Broadbeach complex’s size increase by 30 per cent.
This would have allowed for another 1500sq m convention hall and areas which could provide the opportunity to host smaller meetings.
In 2019 Star Entertainment Group offered to spend up to a $100m to extend the centre in exchange for the state government knocking back a second casino on the Coast.
The government killed off that project in 2020 and talk of a convention centre upgrade stalled during the pandemic.
Entertainment king Harvey Lister pitched a giant $750m upgrade of the centre in 2021 but it failed to attract any political backing.
The state government did not respond to the Bulletin’s request for comment by deadline.
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