UDIA slams delay on Region’s Conference centre

The UDIA Sunshine Coast has questioned the delivery timeline of a convention centre on the Sunshine Coast following Council’s announcement today that it would not be constructed until 2018-20.

UDIA Sunshine Coast President Frazer Dean said it is unacceptable that the Region has to wait up to eight years for a convention centre which will ultimately provide millions of extra dollars into the local community.

“It’s frustrating enough that we have to wait three years to access Horton Park to build the  Maroochy PAC and another five years on top of that to complete a convention centre is  ludicrous.
 
“Cr Blumel said she would do everything in her power to fast track the convention centre and we fully  endorse this thinking.   An injection of $500 m into our local economy and the creation of up to 2,000 new jobs is just the tonic we need in the current economic climate and this should be a major priority for our current and future local Council.  
 
“The push to fast track the construction of the $150M Cairns Entertainment Precinct, bearing in mind Cairns already have a Convention Centre, is a great example for our local elected members and Council employees.   The UDIA believes Council should be using the next three years to secure funding to build the convention centre as well as finalise approvals and designs so we are ready to hit the ground running and turn the first sod in three years time.

“This is certainly a matter which we will be asking each of the candidates at our Mayoral Forum on February 24,” Mr Dean said.

Annette Lasek from Business Conferences Sunshine Coast said the absence of a local convention centre was costing the region millions of dollars each year.

“Our business receives many enquiries from across Australia and Internationally from organisation who want to hold a conference locally but we are unable to because we simply cannot cater for more than 600 people in the one venue.

“Business events and conferences are expected to grow from 8.5 Billion to 16 Billion in Australia by 2020, and the Sunshine Coast wants its share of that pie. Every day we are losing out to places like Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast and that is costing our local economy millions of dollars each year.  

“There is a strong trend for conferences to be held in boutique locations like the Sunshine Coast rather than a big capital city.  We have so many attractions to offer conference attendees such as our theme parks and lifestyle experiences and a convention centre would have a massive and positive impact on our local economy,” she said.

Urban Development Institute of Australia
31 January 2012
UDIA slams delay on Region’s Conference centre

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Publish Date: 01 Feb 12

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