Coast lags as casino talk drags

BOTH The Star and State Government have declined to reveal when they hope to reach a deal, despite the Coast struggling with the impact of coronavirus and a severe downturn in construction.

The Star has promised $2 billion of investment into the Gold Coast, including $100 million to expand the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, if it can get certainty on its investment.

The Star is due to deliver its proposal to the State Government by the end of the month, with the crux of the negotiations understood to be Star’s wish for casino exclusivity for at least two decades.

The Bulletin yesterday asked both the Star and State Government if they believed the current challenges warranted an accelerated process.

Tourism and Innovation Minister Kate Jones said: “The

Star formally requested until the end of the month to finalise their submission.”

Ms Jones has previously said she wants a deal “as soon as possible”.

A Star spokesman reiterated that it would submit its “detailed proposal” to the State Government by Friday next week.

The casino company refused to comment further, stating it “would be inappropriate to comment on that process or the status of that process”.

Neither party would outline what the “three stage” proposal process to be submitted by the Star involved.

The Bulletin revealed this week that 18,000 of the Coast’s 35,000 tradies were forced to find work elsewhere last year, with many taking jobs in Brisbane and Victoria.

It has been estimated coronavirus and its impacts on travel have already cost the Gold Coast more than $500 million.