Echo Entertainment has been selected as the developer for the multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf project, a scheme that is expected to support more than 10,000 jobs in Queensland.
The organisation headed the Destination Brisbane Consortium, which beat off competition from Crown Resorts’ James Packer. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk praised the company’s vision for the $2 billion Queen’s Wharf casino resort.
“This development over a nine-hectare site will provide massive economic development opportunities for Queensland, with the creation of up to 3,000 jobs during construction and 8,000 ongoing jobs,” she explained.
“What’s more, Echo Entertainment will be relocating their headquarters to Queensland, in a sign of their commitment to this project and the welcoming business environment in this state.”
The announcement could prove auspicious for people considering tourism and hospitality traineeships in Brisbane, with the project expected to provide significant employment opportunities in these sectors.
Key proposals for the Brisbane CBD initiative include:
- Five premium hotel brands, with three 6-star venues
- A signature ‘Arc’ building with a sky deck, restaurants and bars
- Three residential towers
- A new South Bank pedestrian bridge
- Approximately 50 food and drink outlets
- Moonlight cinema at the waterfront
Traineeships in Queensland
Part of Echo’s bid for the project included the construction of a Queensland Hotel and Hospitality School with TAFE Queensland. The company also confirmed it would train 8,000 employees if named the preferred tenderer.
Echo said the casino resort will provide a $1.69 billion annual boost to Queensland tourism, as well as adding $4 billion to the state’s GDP. An extra 1.39 million tourists a year are expected to visit Brisbane as a result of the development.
Echo Entertainment Group Chairman John O’Neill said the project could be “transformational” for his organisation and the Queensland capital.
“Our commitment to South East Queensland is evident in the scale and quality of what we’re proposing, including the relocation of our headquarters to Brisbane at the appropriate time,” he stated.
“This is also the most significant investment ever undertaken by an existing casino licence holder in Australia and follows major redevelopment programs announced and underway on the Gold Coast and completed in Sydney.”
State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Destination Brisbane was selected for the project because the Queensland government felt it was the most likely candidate to deliver the proposed vision. Work on the scheme is scheduled to start in 2017 and run through to 2022.
By Leanne Macnamara, Public Affairs Coordinator
