Developer Errol Stewart wants a $35 million convention centre he is building to be finished in time for the Tasmania Devils’ first roster game against Hawthorn at York Park in 2028.
He is hoping a $30 million, 120-room hotel adjacent to the convention centre will be finished about a year later.
Mr Stewart developed the adjacent $27 million Silos Hotel in 2013 and the $30 million Seaport hotel and marina between 2002 and 2004 in.
On Tuesday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff committed $10 million of State Government funds to the convention centre project despite a constrained State Budget.
“The state cannot afford to be insular in our thinking,” Mr Rockliff said.
“We must be open-minded and embrace opportunity and we must back in people that are backing on Tasmania with their own funds.
“Now is not the time to unroll the sleeves and take a couple of kips in the lounge chair.”
Mr Rockliff said the government was proud to be partnering with [Mr Stewart’s company] JMC and the City of Launceston to deliver a new convention centre for Northern Tasmania.
“It will generate tens of thousands of additional visitor nights, delivering significant flow on benefits for hotels, hospitality, retail and tourism operators,” he said.
He said the convention centre would bring people to Tasmania.
“Last year alone, 25,000 people attended business events in Tasmania — up 20 per cent on 2024,” he said.
“The industry supports about 1000 jobs statewide, and more than 90 per cent of attendees were from interstate or overseas and not only that they stay longer, they spend more and come back to have a bigger look.”
Mr Stewart, who will use his JMC Property Group for construction, said the convention centre would take two years and the hotel would take three years.
“I couldn’t have done it without the help of the city council who have committed to spending $5 million on the [Kings Wharf] boardwalk,” he said.
He said he was confident the centre, which would seat 1000 people, would bring 20,000 people to Tasmania each year.
Mr Rockliff said an investment in skills would have to be ongoing to provide enough staff to build the announced project as well as the Macquarie Point Stadium.
Mr Stewart said he would employ 100 people in building the facilities and would employ a further 100 people in the centre when it was finished.
Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the City of Launceston council’s $5 million would be used to redevelop the boardwalk along the banks of the Tamar River.
He said the project would add to the vision for the city and bring vibrancy to the north of the state.
The proposed hotel is in addition to a Fragrance Hotel project in the CBD which comprises 180 rooms.
Business Events Tasmania CEO Marnie Craig said business events resulted in $199 million expenditure into the economy every year.
“That is only 1 per cent of the national market so there is plenty of opportunity,” she said.
Visitors Northern Tasmania CEO Tracey Mallett said new investment at the Launceston Airport and the Fragrance hotel and Mr Stewarts development’s could result in an 85 per cent increase in business events.
Launceston Chamber of Commerce CEO Alina Bain said businesses needed to be ready for the increased demand for their services resulting from the developments.
Labor leader Josh Willie said: “Labor took the lead in backing a Launceston Convention Centre at the last election and it’s good to see the Government following suit”.
No comments:
Post a Comment