AUSTRALASIA – The Premier of Australian state New South Wales Barry O'Farrell has announced the tender for the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP).
The tender confirms the functional brief and development timelines for the new precinct, which will see the existing Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre close in late 2013 and new facilities open in late 2016.
The proposed facilities include 40,000sqm in exhibition space, flexible plenary spaces with a combined capacity of at least 10,000 delegates and banqueting facilities for a minimum of 4,000 people. Facilities would also cater to sporting, musical and theatrical events for at least 12,000 people and a new hotel and public retail, food and beverage outlets are also expected to be provided.
“Premier O’Farrell’s announcement clearly demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to essential improvements to Sydney’s convention and exhibition facilities and understanding of the valuable legacies, both economic and social, that business events deliver to the state,” said CEO of city-wide convention bureau Business Events Sydney, Lyn Lewis-Smith.
“The closure of the existing Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is an end to a stellar 25-year innings for these facilities, but the decision gives the industry welcome certainty about timelines and the Government’s intention to fast track the project,” she added.
Lewis-Smith says Business Events Sydney will continue to work closely with clients and industry to ensure that it is well-known that Sydney is open for business. “Change presents great opportunity,” she adds. “When you look back at the 93rd Lions Clubs International Convention in 2010, the 2010 Forbes Global CEO Conference, 2008 World Youth Day, the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games you’ll see it was not just one or two venues in the harbour city that made these events spectacular, but a raft of venues and a ‘whole-of-city’ approach.”
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