The Star Entertainment Group CEO, Matt Bekier, today unveiled the proposal aimed at ensuring the Gold Coast can compete with Australia’s major capital cities to host top performers from Australia and around the world.

“We have spoken to a lot of people well-connected to the music industry,” Mr Bekier said. “An outdoor venue that can stage concerts of small and large scale would drive great cut-through and further enhance the Gold Coast as a music destination.

“Our plans include curating a calendar of events, from full-scale concerts by world-class bands and performers to family-friendly picnic events like Carols at Christmas, to smaller more intimate offerings like string quartets.

“A major part of this plan is to activate and further bring to life Gold Coast Bulletin Centenary Park, just across the canal from The Star Gold Coast. The way we intend to position the stage on our property will enable people in the park to be close to the action, have a great view and be part of the overall atmosphere.

“We want this to be an asset the local community will embrace as part of the fabric of the city. What a wonderful example of the Gold Coast lifestyle to be able to listen to concerts across the water, whether it’s rock, jazz, classical, or an event that appeals to all ages.”

Mr Bekier said the Gold Coast was becoming home to an increasing number of major events.

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The Star Entertainment Group CEO, Matt Bekier

“It shows how the city is maturing and evolving, and why it has the potential to be a long-term contributor to the Queensland economy through the tourism and hospitality sectors,” he said.

“The Star has been delighted in the past 12 months to partner with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions, and to host the TV WEEK Logies at our Broadbeach property.

“We have also supported the Blues on Broadbeach festival and hosted the Country Music Awards. Creating an opportunity to further elevate the Gold Coast as part of the Australian music landscape is exciting.

“The Star Gold Coast theatre is an established venue and has regular performances by leading musical acts. The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is also a venue we believe could be further enhanced and promoted. But this outdoor venue could provide a real point of difference for the coast.”

Mr Bekier said the outdoor concert venue proposal was still taking shape and The Star Entertainment Group would need to secure all necessary approvals.

However, community considerations were already front and centre in the planning process and had shaped the thinking on how the selected site should be established and positioned.

“We plan to develop an area that is currently vacant canal-front land which could accommodate a stage, portable food and beverage outlets and a crowd of 1000-1500 people,” Mr Bekier said. “The positioning of the stage will also be beneficial on two counts.

“First, the elevated stage will be in full view of Gold Coast Bulletin Centenary Park. The park could be activated for larger concerts and free family-friendly events, increasing the audience considerably and creating that unique waterside experience.

“Secondly, the stage will be positioned so the music is directed towards the park and the highway.”

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Artist Impression of Australia's first Dorsett Hotel at The Star Gold Coast

The Star Entertainment Group invested $1 million last year in Gold Coast Bulletin Centenary Park to transform a previously under-used and vacant patch of land in time for the Commonwealth Games.

The revitalised green space could now be further activated by the public as an audience area for The Star’s planned open-air concert venue.

Mr Bekier said The Star will approach a range of stakeholders including the City of Gold Coast Council, Broadbeach Alliance and a range of entertainment specialists to consider the best way forward for the open- air concert venue.

Unveiling of the plans follows just two months after the Queensland Government’s approval of a mega masterplan for The Star Gold Coast was announced.

The masterplan could see The Star Entertainment Group and its partners – Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium – inject more than $2 billion in additional tourism investment at the Gold Coast property.

An already committed $850 million redevelopment project has delivered for The Star Gold Coast:

• 596 refurbished rooms at the original hotel, The Star Grand
• A new luxury suite hotel, The Darling
• 12 food and beverage offerings including the celebrated Nineteen at The Star, Kiyomi and Cucina Vivo

The transformation also includes a new Dorsett hotel tower development, currently underway and planned to open in 2022. The tower will boast a collective 700 hotel rooms and apartments.

See also: $400 million Dorsett Hotel and Star Residences Gold Coast construction starts

The $2 billion-plus masterplan would allow for:

• Another four towers including more hotels
• Significant new restaurant and bar precincts
• Increased entertainment options including a nightclub
• Lush new resort facilities including a stunning recreational deck, water features and hero pools
• A quality day spa

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Concept Image only - What the Star Gold Coast could look like with its masterplan approved.

“The masterplan in its entirety would see The Star Gold Coast boast more tourism accommodation than any other resort in Australia,” Mr Bekier said.

“This masterplan would be a project of incredible scale, delivering substantial benefit to the State from jobs and increased tourism visitation.

“We are continually reviewing how we can develop our property at Broadbeach into one of the premier tourism and entertainment destinations in the world.

“Apart from the mega masterplan, we are exploring the potential for significant tourist attractions such as a zipline and now an open-air concert venue which would service both locals and visitors alike.

“These are exciting times and we’re prepared to invest at unprecedented levels to ensure the Gold Coast maximises those sustainable economic benefits that only world-class tourism offerings can deliver.”

Click here to view the Star Entertainment Group website.

See also:

New global luxury hotel brands to grow SEQ into a star-studded destination

Record tourism spend boosts Queensland’s market share

Hilton Surfers Paradise sold for $70m to Jerry Schwartz