The Queensland (QLD) Government has shortlisted six proposals for an integrated resort development at Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane, including Australia’s Crown Resorts, Echo Entertainment Group and Lend Lease.
The other three shortlisted developers are Far East Consortium/Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd (joint venture), SKYCITY Entertainment Group Ltd, and Greenland Investment Pty Ltd.
Queen’s Wharf project, as it was affectionately renamed in November 2013, will be located between the Brisbane River and George Street in Brisbane. The brief details a mix of new uses such as six star hotels, retail, restaurant and entertainment zones, theatre and convention facilities and new open spaces to be included.
The announcement follows from QLD Premier Campbell Newman’s request for ‘expressions of interest’ from interested parties back in October 2013.
Newman gave developers an added incentive by offering the successful proponent a casino licence with the project contract.
Image: brisbanedevelopment
As a part of the government’s stimulus package, he also offered the floor to proposals for integrated resort developments in other regional areas of QLD.
On this end, the QLD Government has shortlisted another six potential project proposals.
“Twelve consortia have now officially submitted Expressions of Interest to develop up to three new Integrated Resorts across the State, one at Queen's Wharf in Brisbane’s CBD and up to two in regional centres of Queensland,” Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said in a statement.
The list of successful shortlisted development consortia will be further refined later this year when the process enters the Request for Detailed Proposals stage.
“Under the close eye of Probity Adviser Len Scanlan, my Department will now consider the EOI applicants announced today to prepare a final shortlist by the middle of this year,” Seeney added.
“That is when we will ask short-listed applicants to begin preparing fully-fledged proposals for submission by late 2014.
“The final stage of contract negotiations is expected to run into early next year with a decision on who will receive licences expected by mid-2015.”
The resort initiative forms part of greater plans to upgrade the Brisbane City CBD and Queen’s Wharf area which will also include a new underground bus and train station, a new government headquarters building and the Queens Wharf Heritage Street. (Image: brisbanedevelopment.com.au)
So far, details for the resort plans have been kept under wraps and will remain so until mid-2014, when detailed proposals from the shortlist will be requested.
Full list of successful shortlisted applicants, all of whom paid $100,000 just to be considered:
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane
1. Crown Resorts Ltd
2. Echo Entertainment Group Ltd
3. Far East Consortium/Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Ltd (joint venture)
4. Lend Lease
5. SKYCITY Entertainment Group Ltd
6. Greenland Investment Pty Ltd
Regional Queensland
1. Aquis at the Great Barrier Reef Pty Ltd - Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns
2. China-Australia Entrepreneurs Consortium Pty Ltd - Airlie Beach
3. Fullshare International (Australia) Pty Ltd - 26 kilometres south of Proserpine
4. GKI Resort Pty Ltd - Great Keppel Island
5. Eastern Success Group Pty Ltd – Nerang, Gold Coast
6. ASF Consortium Pty Ltd - Broadwater, Gold Coast
