Revealed: Gold Coast’s HOTA master plan to include lyric theatre and hotel

The Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts will boast a new world-class theatre venue along with a 4.5-star hotel and convention centre, under a new masterplan. SEE THE BLUEPRINTS

The Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts will boast a new world-class concert venue plus 4.5-star hotel and convention centre, under a new masterplan.

A business case for council predicts future development of the cultural precinct will “yield $2 in economic benefits for every $1 invested”.

The $240 million theatre, capable of hosting 1800, must be built to make a hotel and conference centre viable, the business case notes.

Early plans showing a Lyric theatre in the HOTA cultural precinct on the Gold Coast.

Investigations found “the hotel and conference centre need to be close together and that a conference centre would struggle without a hotel on site”.

A City Projects report, debated in private by city councillors, says: “If there was not a conference centre on site, the hotel would need to be scaled down to 80 rooms and a scaled-down hotel would only be viable if the Lyric Theatre was built.”

The Lyric theatre would ramp up options after four years, attracting musicals like Frozen along with plays like Harry Potter.

Entertainment promoters confirmed strong demand for a “rotation of complementary productions” through three lyric theatres in south-east Queensland.

Another feature would be a 300-to-400 seat Techno-box as part of the theatre building.

It would attract an estimated 260,000 people annually generating $35 million in accommodation and visitor spend.

Early designs show a sandstone building with a rippled pattern, showcasing Yugambeh culture.

Plans for the Lyric theatre proposed for HOTA on the Gold Coast.

Mayor Tom Tate in a letter seeking funding from Federal Government said ratepayers had spent $130 million to develop HOTA but a theatre was needed to service the city’s population as it increased to one million.

Council is talking with private tenders for a digital education and screen production facility

Mr Tate confirmed the City will go ahead and fund refurbishment of the existing buildings.

A graphic outlining the future stages of HOTA on the Gold Coast. The sections at the front show where a digital education facility could be built.

Mr Tate rates HOTA after light rail Stage Four to the Gold Coast Airport and Robina’s version of New York’s Central Park to be called Greenheart, as big projects to be delivered before the 2032 Olympics.

But he believes HOTA is separate to any Games legacy – and the state and federal governments must help fund future stages as recognition of the Gold Coast’s fast growth.

“We’re the largest regional city outside any capital city. We are nearly going to surpass Adelaide,” Mr Tate said.

“It’s time the Lyric Theatre is funded by all three tiers of government because it’s fair. If you have a look at the Geelong Centre, fully funded by the Victorian State government.

Designs showing potential Lyric theatre, big enough for 1800 fans at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

The City has put overall costings of the next stage of HOTA as high as $300m but the Mayor estimates a Lyric Theatre can be cheaper: “It’s going to be around $260 million – I’m saying on today’s money,” he said, adding it should be split three ways between council, state and federal.

Designs showing a new theatre as part of the next stage of HOTA.

The theatre could be part of Olympics festivals but was needed now, he said.

“They can (use it for the Olympics), but from an advocacy point of view, the federal and state government just need to see a cultural precinct is essential for a city that’s going to have a million people,” Mr Tate said.

Mr Tate added in the meantime a refurbishment could be done for $29 million

Councillors in November last year supported boosting allied industry uses on site known as Site “B” – the car parking and grassed areas on the western front side of the precinct facing Bundall Road.

Council decided to progress a Digital Education, Production and Screen Facility on some or all of the City-owned sites B1, B2, and B3.

A Market Sounding and Engagement Plan was launched, which a report confirms attracted 50 interested parties, most from Australia with others from the US, Canada, the UK and India.

Early designs showing a sandstone building which would be the new Lyric theatre planned for HOTA on the Gold Coast.

Officers said the City proposed to enter a lease with the successful respondent for the duration of the development of the site.

Once the development works are completed, the City will transition the leasing structure to become long-term.

“The final terms of the long-term lease will be negotiated with the successful respondent following the tender process,” officers said.

Councillors backed City officers launching stage two of the expression of interest.

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