In Osaka, Japan, a city council group made up of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members says residents should be able to vote on the region’s planned integrated resort (IR) bid, if only because it involves considerable cost to taxpayers.
According to Inside Asian Gaming, the city will have to pay JPY 79 billion (US$687 million) in expenses for measures against soil pollution and liquefaction.
Council’s majority Osaka Ishin party (Innovation Party) opposes a referendum, as does a Komeito council group.
At a special committee meeting on February 2, Chief Secretary Taeko Kitano asked, “What will the cost be for soil improvement in the event of developing the land on Yumeshima that is not planned for IR?”
In response, a city representative said the tentative estimate “would be a total of JPY 157.8 billion (US$1.37 billion), which includes the JPY 79 billion spent so far.”
The initial investment for an Osaka IR is estimated at JPY 1.08 trillion (US$9.4 billion), with a consortium led by MGM Resorts International and its local partner, Orix Corp. The partners were selected last year. Other consortium members include Kansai Electric Power, Panasonic, Kintetsu Group Holdings and NTT West.
The regional development plan for IR must be approved by both the Osaka prefectural assembly and city council in March. An application must be filed with the central government by April 28.
