AWESOME OR NOT AT ALL

CITY leaders are right to highlight the need for any new international casino resort on the Gold Coast to be something that is of world-class standing.

Anything less is not going to cut it – and is also going to potentially jeopardise the so far impressive ongoing development of The Star Gold Coast’s site at Broadbeach.

As revealed in the Bulletin on Saturday, favoured sites for a new global tourism hub have emerged in Southport.

If it is to go ahead it, there is a real need to guard against something that is merely going to be a glorified version of an RSL being built.

No one will win if the resulting “asset” is a cheap one. There should be little change out of several billion dollars when it comes to the investment.

That is the benchmark set by Star Entertainment Group’s Queens Wharf development in Brisbane. Ditto for it’s long-term plan on Broadbeach island.

A key point is the pipeline of investment that Star has mapped out.

It has made no secret that their impressive $2-billion masterplan for their Broadbeach hinges on the “competitive environment” staying the same.

In other words, not another giant casino hub just a couple of suburbs away.

It is something very much worth serious consideration.

The Star has so far put its money where its mouth is and just last month began construction on its third tower, which will become the country’s first Dorsett hotel.

It comes after the second tower, The Darling, was fast-tracked so it could be ready for the Commonwealth Games back in April.

Four more towers, all with further quality dining and bar offerings plus “hero pools” are earmarked on the plans.

It would be a sad day indeed for the city if the ongoing evolution of that site into what is now a truly world-class international resort hub was jeopardised by some halfbaked competitor.