Hard Rock also wants in
The Queensland government has approved Star Entertainment Group’s revised master plan for the operator’s Gold Coast resort. The new master plan will add four towers of up to 74 stories and an eight-story podium to be developed on the site, reported Asia Gaming Brief. Construction has already begun on a 53-story Dorsett Hotel and apartment tower that were OK’d in December 2016.
“The approval of this master plan by the Queensland government is another significant milestone in the transformation of the Star Gold Coast as a world-class tourism asset,” Star CEO and Managing Director Matt Bekier said in a release to the Australian Stock Exchange. “We are great believers in the future of the Gold Coast and the significant tourism appeal of South East Queensland, both to domestic and international tourism.”
Star’s partners in the venture are Hong Kong’s Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium. The joint venture partners are also developing another IR on the Queen’s Wharf in central Brisbane. Inside Asian Gaming reports that Star will invest an additional AU$2 billion (US$1.45 billion) in the new “mega master plan” for the two IR projects.
The plan also includes multiple new bar and restaurant precincts, increased entertainment and retail options and extensive new resort facilities and would “see the Star Gold Coast boast more tourism accommodation than any other resort in Australia,” said Bekier. “The 3,000 hotel rooms and apartments would also exceed what the world-renowned Marina Bay Sands in Singapore offers and be on a scale to compare with the largest integrated resorts in Las Vegas.
“If the master plan is rolled out in full, we will have tourism assets across SEQ worth around AU$9 billion,” Bekier said. “This would be a project of incredible scale, delivering substantial economic benefit to the State from jobs and increased tourism visitation.”
Meanwhile, according to MyGC.com, a bid for a second casino license for the Gold Coast is “continuing to gather steam.” Hard Rock International is looking to develop a casino in the state, investing up to $2 billion in the project. It has eyed Evandale as a locale, but Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called that plan “unrealistic.”
In another location, such as Southport, he would be all in, Tate added. “News that such an iconic global casino operator like Hard Rock has its eyes set on our city is a huge vote of confidence in our future.”
