Queensland Government explores regional resort interest

Preliminary research is underway to test resort and gaming industry and investor interest in another regional integrated resort development in Queensland.

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham told Parliament today that government officers were consulting casino and hotel operators, property developers, construction firms, and financiers to gauge interest.

“My Department of State Development has begun preliminary research to determine if there is genuine interest in the marketplace in another regional integrated resort development,” he said.

“They have prepared a participant’s package which provides an overview of the opportunity and Government parameters.

“The participants will include casino and hotel operators, property developers, construction firms, and financiers who have expressed interest in the past or who are major players in sectors relevant to IRD delivery and operation.

“As many as 12 different groups over the past 18 months have declared an interest.

“These organisations and additional stakeholders who can contribute to the process are being approached through a structured process.”

Dr Lynham told the House that an important part of the market sounding would be to understand current trends in the international resort and gaming industries.

“From this exercise, recommendations will be developed for government to consider in early 2017,” he said.

The latest step follows the Aquis’ withdrawal from the integrated resort development process at Cairns. This was one of two integrated resort development proposals underway, with the other continuing with ASF at the Gold Coast.

Dr Lynham emphasized that if government made a decision to seek expressions of interest, strict criteria would apply to ensure the development boosted international tourism.

“We are only interested in developments that will draw international tourists to Queensland and create jobs,” he said.

The criteria include that a project would need:

• to be in, or within close proximity to, a major population centre with a catchment of no fewer than 150,000 people within a 70 kilometre radius from the city centre.

• to be near an operational international airport, or an airport that is capable of being readily upgraded to international standard.

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Media inquiries:          Jan Martin 0439 341 314