Star’s Queen’s Wharf opens with promise of more to come

The gaming group has opened its $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane for the first time but a swag of retail outlets and restaurants are yet to open.

Star Entertainment has opened its $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf resort in Brisbane two years behind schedule, but has not committed to exact launch dates for a swag of retail outlets, restaurants and other attractions at the property.

Embroiled in a costly regulatory inquiry over the future of its Sydney casino licence, Star is banking on the success of the property in the heart of the Queensland capital to help extract it from an increasingly deep financial hole.

Queen’s Wharf, which takes up 10 per cent of Brisbane’s CBD, has had a rocky road to completion, with lengthy construction delays, legal battles and a bruising casino inquiry.

The project faced cost overruns of at least $260m.

A threatened lawsuit from builder Multiplex was narrowly averted last year.

Star stressed that Thursday marked the start of the first phase of the opening of the property, with some minor completion tasks being undertaken on the day, including work on the SkyDeck above the casino, which is accessible to the public.

Only seven of the 50-plus restaurants, bars and cafes were open to visitors on Thursday.

Among projects promised by the end of the year but not yet open are restaurants on level four, three hotel pools including two infinity edged pools and pool bar, a leisure deck and 7.5 hectares of public space along the riverline.

Star said that the Dorsett and Rosewood hotel tower, retail and additional food and beverage outlets would progressively open over the next two years.

The opening of luxury brand outlets would be delayed after failing to reach agreement with DFS Group.

DFS, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, had planned a shopping area spanning more than 6000 square meters at Queen’s Wharf.

Star Brisbane chief executive Daniel Finch said the company had received its long-term ­operating lease from the ­Queensland government on Wednesday night, just ahead of the opening of the project on Thursday morning.

Opening of The Star Grand and Queen's Wharf precinct in Brisbane.

Opening of The Star Grand and Queen's Wharf precinct in Brisbane.

The company said it was happy with remediation plans in place at the casino resort project, which include a heightened focus on safe gambling and harm minimisation.

The lease operates under a conditional casino licence from Queensland regulators issued to the Destination Brisbane Consortium, the developer of the project, of which Star is a party.

Star is awaiting a NSW Independent Casino Commission decision on its suitability to retain its Sydney casino licence, a decision that will influence Queensland regulators.

Star, which will report its annual results on Friday, said the luxury Star Grand hotel that forms the heart of the delayed Queen’s Wharf project had been fully booked for the first four days, with the casino floors set to open on Thursday afternoon.

“We are working closely and continuously with the regulator and in a transparent and productive way,” said Mr Finch.

“We are a long way along to the completion of our remediation plan and have a heightened focus on policies around safe gambling and harm minimisation.”

Mr Finch said Star was extremely happy that the operating lease had been granted ahead of the opening this week.

“We are not popping champagne corks, and we realise we have a hard job ahead of us, but we are pleased that the work we have put into our reputation and protocols has been recognised,” said Mr Finch.

“There were lots of challenges, but we always put our focus on the challenges that we could control or influence.

“Some of those included finding the nearly 1800 people needed – everything from the plumber and electrician to front of office, card dealers and hospitality ­workers.”

View from the Sky Deck at Queen’s Wharf.

Finishing touches to Sky Deck at the opening of The Star Grand and Queen's Wharf precinct in Brisbane on Thursday.