‘Critical’ need for Stage 3 upgrade
THE State Government is under pressure from tourism and council leaders to move quickly to upgrade the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
A special budget session at council yesterday was told any further delays would lead to a blowout in costs and more business being turned away.
As tourism leaders presented their budget requests in the chamber, several councillors asked about ongoing negotiations to start the third stage of the Broadbeach convention centre.
After councillors William Owen-Jones asked about the progress of talks and Glenn Tozer questioned what was the major obstacle stopping the upgrade, Mayor Tom Tate agreed to lobby behind the scenes for government funding.
The centre, owned by the State Government and managed by The Star Entertainment Group, opened in 2004 and was last extended in 2008.
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre general manager Adrienne Readings told the council it would cost $85 million for Stage 3, which would increase the size of the venue by 30 per cent.
The expansion would create a 1500sq m convention hall and areas which could provide the opportunity to host smaller meetings.
A meeting would be staged on June 8 where senior bureaucrats and representatives from Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni’s office would discuss conceptual plans.
“Various designs are being worked on by an architect at the moment,” Ms Readings told councillors.
When asked about a timeline for the project outside the meeting, Ms Readings remained confident that construction of the third stage would occur “in the next few years”.
Asked how important the expansion was for Coast tourism, she replied: “It really depends on the government decision. It’s critical. We would get national and international (visitors) for the Gold Coast.
“We are losing business because they’re outgrowing us. We have to retain those businesses we’ve worked hard to attract.”
But Ms Readings declined to quantify the losses.
“I do (know the amount) but that’s confidential,” she said.
Mayor Tom Tate said he would urge the government to move forward with the project.
“The timing is right to increase our convention centre a further 30 per cent. When you look at the demand and supply, I would say it’s a good investment for our city,” he said.
Cr Tate said convention delegates were big spenders, renowned for eating at restaurants and playing golf during the Coast visits.
“I would appeal to the State Government, look at the longterm investment. They will get that back in spades through tourism expenditure,” he said.
Councillors were briefed by Destination Gold Coast tourism leaders on potential game changer marketing plans to avoid a Commonwealth Games economic hangover.
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