Sunshine Coast Council has released the remaining documents Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace had requested in relation to council's interest in sourcing private investment in an International Resort Development (IRD) for a much needed convention and exhibition centre.
The remaining information released today (5 July) was requested under the Right to Information process.
"In late 2017 and again on 26 March 2018, the Queensland Government made it clear and unequivocal that there is no IRD licence available for any part of the Sunshine Coast," Mayor Jamieson said.
"Nothing has changed and council has not engaged with potential investors in an IRD since 2017, because there is no IRD licence available for the Sunshine Coast.
"As I have been saying for over a year, there is no casino proposed for the Sunshine Coast and council cannot establish or approve a casino in the Maroochydore City Centre – or anywhere else in the region."
Mayor Jamieson said that it was no secret and he had always made it clear that, prior to receiving the Queensland Government advice in late 2017, he had met with potential investors who might contemplate investing in an IRD in the Maroochydore City Centre as part of council's efforts to attract private sector investment into delivering a convention and exhibition centre.
"In fact, I have previously stated on ABC Sunshine Coast that prior to November 2017, I had met with a limited number of IRD operators, namely Star Entertainment Group, SkyCity Entertainment Group, Crown Resorts and NagaCorp," he said.
"The one meeting I attended with NagaCorp representatives for one hour on 14 June 2017 was to provide them with a briefing on the Sunshine Coast, when their representatives were brought to the region by the then Department of State Development.
"None of the meetings with any of the IRD operators resulted in any indications of strong interest or commitment and none of these entities have been followed up or made contact with council on matters relating to an IRD since November 2017.
"Council's efforts in advocating for an IRD have always been driven by one simple objective – to source private investment in a much needed and long overdue convention and exhibition centre, something the other tiers of government have seen fit to fund elsewhere, but not here on the Sunshine Coast."
Mayor Jamieson said council had since progressed the business case for the development of a convention and exhibition centre to be located in the Maroochydore City Centre.
"With the business case nearing completion, council is looking to the State and Federal Governments to invest $100m each in the delivery of this much needed infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast, given private sector investment is not an option," he said.
"I am sure our residents would welcome Mr Wallace's advocacy to the Federal Government on the region's behalf to secure this substantial contribution towards this important piece of economic and social infrastructure for our Sunshine Coast."
