Gold Coast development: Calls to upgrade Gold Coast Convention Centre

The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is celebrating a major milestone but business bosses say something needs to change because it’s costing us millions of dollars.

BUSINESS and political leaders are demanding the State Government upgrade the ageing Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, warning the city is missing out on millions.

It has been 11 years since the centre, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this week, was last upgraded and tourism boffins say an expansion is a must. Longer delays, they warn, would put future events in doubt.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the expansion of the convention centre was critical to the city attracting major new events as well as retaining money-spinners such as last night’s Logies.

CRAMPED CONDITIONS AT CONVENTION CENTRE

The Gold Coast Convention Centre at Broadbeach

“What a success story this venue has been. Looking back I have to give full marks to the Beattie Government,” he said.

“But now It is time for the next chapter to be unveiled – I believe the expansion of the Gold Coast Convention Centre must be budgeted and planned for in the next financial year.

“As the cliche goes, if you build it they will come.

“Well the numbers show they are coming and in numbers greater than what our centre can take so we need to see it expanded.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Pic Tim Marsden

The proposed stage three upgrade would see the Broadbeach complex’s size increase by 30 per cent. This would allow for a 1500sq m convention hall and areas which could provide the opportunity to host smaller meetings.

It was tipped to cost $85 million according to figures released last year.

Early planning is understood to have taken place, with some conceptual plans drawn up by architects.

The project missed out on funding in this year’s State Budget to the disappointment of tourism bosses.

Aerial photo shoot of the Gold Coast - Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said “now was the time” for the convention centre to be expanded.

“We need this because in its current form we are actually losing out on some big opportunities which are bypassing us for Sydney and Melbourne,” he said.

“This project is a must-have going forward. We must have the size of the building and its floor space increased.

“It serves us well and the data shows the people who attend big conferences do spend more money per day on average than other punters.”

The centre is owned by the State Government and managed by The Star Entertainment Group.

In the 2018 financial year more than 150 events were hosted at the centre, including music concerts, sporting events, conferences, exhibitions and gala dinners, attracting more than 526,000 delegates and visitors.

In that same period it injected $360 million in economic growth to the city – an increase of 13.2 per cent on 2016-2017.

This trend is expected to continue this financial year.

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Star Qld Managing director Geoff Hogg. Picture Glenn Hampson

Star Queensland managing director Geoff Hogg said the growth trend was continuing.

“Operating at capacity on occasions, the venue’s popularity continues to increase post the successful hosting of events at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“There are expansion plans being discussed but that is a consideration for government.”

Tourism Minister Kate Jones, who was on the Gold Coast last night for the Logies, said: “The centre has been a big success for the Coast and what we are hearing is that it would be great to have a larger convention centre to host bigger events.”

Minister for Tourism Industry Development Kate Jones (AAP Image/Richard Waugh)

“We know having a world-class centre can bring major conventions and events to the city but that also fills hotel rooms as we saw with the recent Sports Accord when the IOC were impressed with the facilities,” she said.

“The challenge going forward is to ensure we have more convention space and we want those who contribute to the global tourism hub to put convention space in the development.”

A Gold Coast Bulletin survey conducted last year for the Golden Age campaign found 18 per cent of respondents named an expansion of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre as a “high” priority.

Peter Beattie Picture by Damian Shaw

Former premier Peter Beattie, who commissioned the convention centre in the early 2000s said he was “absolutely” supportive of seeing its upgrade.

“A key investment is having a good convention centre and the Gold Coast has got that. The expansion is important. It is a pivotal part of the beating heart of the Gold Coast.”

FLASHBACK: OPENING THE GOLD COAST CONVENTION CENTRE

Gold Coast Bulletin, Wednesday June 30, 2004: How we reported the opening of the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

THE Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre opened 15 years ago in an event when it was called the city’s most important landmark in 20 years.

First proposed in 1999, the $127 million took five years to come to fruition, including 66 months of design and construction.

A massive fireworks display kicked off the opening soiree, where 1200 revellers dined in elegance at a black-tie function.

Civic, tourism and business leaders hailed the new centre as the most significant piece of community infrastructure in 20 years, with the capability of generating $200 million a year extra for the local economy.

In its lifetime it has hosted the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the annual Supanova Pop Culture Expo and was the home grounds of the Gold Coast Blaze NBL team.