Sydney getting on with business
Sydney is not standing still while it waits for its new events precinct at Darling Harbour, which is still more than three years away.
An interim facility – the Sydney Harbour Expo at Glebe Island – will launch next year with the 800-exhibitor Reed Gift Fair.
Joyce Di Mascio, general manager of the Exhibition and Events Association of Australia, said she was confident all events currently held at the soon-to-be-demolished Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre would switch to the interim Glebe Island facility.
"The infrastructure at Glebe Island is good enough to keep the major shows in Sydney," she said.
The new events precinct, which has the working title Darling Harbour Live, will incorporate the A$1.1bn International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), a new entertainment venue, two hotel towers of up to 900 rooms and an upgrade of the public domain.
Geoff Donaghy, group director of convention centres at AEG Ogden, the operators of ICC Sydney, said the new integrated Darling Harbour facilities would be the world’s best harbourside entertainment, conference and exhibition precinct.
AEG Ogden, together with Lend Lease, Capella Capital and Spotless Facilities Services were chosen by the New South Wales government to develop the Darling Harbour facility.
ICC Sydney will include a convention centre capable of holding four fully separated concurrent events of more than 1200 delegates, total exhibition capacity of 40,000 sqm and an external event deck of 5000 sqm.
There will also be a red carpet 8000-capacity theatre suitable for international entertainment acts, and a grand ballroom.
Donaghy said AEG Ogden would use the experience of opening 12 major venues around the world to ensure a smooth launch for ICC Sydney.
Lyn Lewis-Smith, chief executive of Business Events Sydney, said growth in the industry was in medium-sized events and the new venue would give Sydney the opportunity to hold several of these events concurrently. "This will help to build business for us," she said.
Ian Jarrett
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