Gold Coast development: Demands for resolution to Star-State global tourism hub talks
Frustrated business leaders say they have had enough of the uncertainty over the future of a potential global tourism hub as the Gold Coast’s economy struggles
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FRUSTRATED business leaders say they have had enough of the uncertainty over the future of a potential global tourism hub as the Gold Coast’s economy struggles.
Despite promising a speedy resolution four months ago, The Bulletin understands there is no agreement on the horizon between the Star Entertainment Group and the State Government over its proposed multi-billion expansion and revamp of the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
A decision had been expected by the end of last year.
But now one of the city’s leading business figures says the time for sabre rattling is over with the Gold Coast’s two biggest industries suffering.
The coronavirus crisis has caused a significant downturn in the Coast’s tourism industry and cost businesses more than $500 million in the past three weeks while the development industry has seen a slowdown in recent months.”
“At some point the sabre rattling must stop and we need to get down to focusing on how to improve our economy,” Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said.
“While not having a position on the politics of having a second casino, we area aware of the needs of tourism and what an expansion of the convention centre would mean.
“We do not want to find ourselves in a long stalemate as we did with the ASF development with months of speculation when we could be doing something.”
SOUTHPORT PREFERRED CASINO LOCATION AS STATE CRUNCHES NUMBERS
Star last October offered to pay up to $100 million for much-needed expansion of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, upgrade Sheraton Mirage and contractually commit to the rest of its $2 billion Star Gold Coast masterplan.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones last night told the Bulletin she wanted a deal done “as soon as possible’.
“We are continuing our good faith negotiations with the Star,” she said.
“Not only do we want to deliver world class facilities for the Gold Coast, we need to ensure we drive value for taxpayers.”
COAST CANDIDATE CALLS FOR TOURISM ‘WAR CHEST’
Star declined to comment while it remained in negotiations with the State.
It comes as Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt used a speech to the Senate to plead the Coast’s case for more tourism funding to fight the economic fallout of Coronavirus.
“It’s really crucial that we see the Federal Government actually step up, recognise the risk
that this crisis provides to the Gold Coast economy and the tourist economy and actually starts doing something,” he said.
His comments came after Gold Coast-based Ministers vowed they were working on a long-term fix for the industry.
First look: Coast’s new elite sports training facility unveiled
The Gold Coast will be rebranded as a hub geared for high performance sport, with the first images of a planned elite sports training centre unveiled. FIND OUT MORE
Burleigh ‘cannot become a southern Surfers Paradise’
Labor and the LNP have been warned against snap decisions to make Burleigh a safe night precinct, with fears it would open the door into transforming it into a nightclub hub.