Convention Centre Development Convention Centre Development

Three consortia will be invited to provide detailed plans for the development of Australia's largest convention centre, to be built on the south west bank of the Yarra by end 2008, the Minister for Major Projects, Peter Batchelor, announced.

FROM THE MINISTER FOR MAJOR PROJECTS, MINISTER FOR TOURISM

DATE: Friday, December 17, 2004

THREE CONSORTIA TO CONTEST FOR CONVENTION CENTRE DEVELOPMENT

Three consortia will be invited to provide detailed plans for the development of Australia's largest convention centre, to be built on the south west bank of the Yarra by end 2008, the Minister for Major Projects, Peter Batchelor, announced today.

Mr Batchelor said the expressions of interest received by the Government were competitive and of a high standard. He said the next step was for the three consortia to tender for the project. It is expected detailed tender documentation will be provided to the consortia in March 2005.

The three consortia are:
Convene - Bovis Lend Lease (Builder), Spotless (Services Provider) and ABN AMRO (Equity);
Melbourne Convention Centre Partnership ("MCCP") - Baulderstone (Builder and Services Provider) and Bilfinger Berger (Equity);
Multiplex/Plenary Consortia ("MPC") - Multiplex (Equity, Builder and Services Provider) and Plenary Group (Equity).

The Bracks Government has committed $367 million to construct the new convention centre, which will be built adjacent to, and integrated with, the existing Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The project also provides an exciting opportunity for consortia to submit ideas for the redevelopment of the surrounding Southbank precinct.

The City of Melbourne is contributing $43 million to develop the south-west precinct and link it to the northern side of the Yarra River and Docklands by way of a footbridge.

The Minister for Tourism, John Pandazopoulos, said that the Government's decision to invest in a new convention centre was already paying dividends, with Melbourne winning the right to host a major international medical conference that will generate more than $20 million for Victoria.

Mr Pandazopoulos said the Government's commitment to build the a 5000 seat convention centre had led to Melbourne's successful bid to host the 4000-delegate International Congress of Internal Medicine in March 2010.

"We anticipate that 14,000 room nights at city hotels will result from delegates attending the four-day event,"Mr Pandazopoulos said.

Mr Batchelor said the new convention centre would be delivered as a public-private partnership under the Partnerships Victoria policy.

"This is a high profile project which will attract both national and international attention and we will use this position to leverage maximum value from the $367 million State contribution,"Mr Batchelor said.

The new convention centre will include:
a 5,000-seat divisible plenary hall;
a ballroom;
meeting rooms;
pre-function spaces and assembly area, and
food and beverage facilities.

"Victoria's infrastructure will be a catalyst for economic growth across the whole of the State and the new convention centre is a key component of this Government's vision for Melbourne's major projects,"Mr Batchelor said.

"The Victorian Government is facilitating more than $12 billion worth of major projects investment that is currently in planning or delivery stage as part of the Government's Building One Victoria program."

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A consistent winner of many prestigious 'Awards for Excellence', the MECC is renowned for providing national and international convention and exhibition organisers with the highest standards of personal service and event facilities.

The Centre was the very first to earn the distinction of being named the World's 'Best Congress Centre' by the principal professional body for congress centre managers - the Association Internationale des Palais de Congres (AIPC). Domestically, the MECC has also been a recipient of the Meetings Industry of Australia's highest accolade many times over.

The MECC offers a level of Quality Controls and flexibility that has made it popular with exhibition organisers and meeting planners alike. Whether it is the ease of access and loading dock facilities or the state-of-the-art Theatres and meeting rooms, the Centre more than meets expectactions - it exceeds them.

Few venues are better equipped to cater for your event requirements than the MECC. Our rooms all offer the highest level of sound, video and staging technology as well as the latest Telecommunications.

Our commitment to excellence also extends to Food and Beverage, where our team of highly skilled chefs, led by Executive Chef Frank Burger prepare and serve meals that reflect the Centre's overall reputation for excellence.

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❊ Also See... ❊

➼ Plenary | Melbourne Convention Centre






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