[COM] SkyCity Adelaide Casino Expansion | 55m | 12 Levels | Hotel

[bm7500]

Casino wants Railway Station extension

MEREDITH BOOTH From: The Advertiser August 17, 2010 7:54PM

ADELAIDE Casino wants to stay at the heart of the State Government's Riverside Precinct by extending the heritage-listed Railway Station.

Despite indicating almost 18 months ago an intention to relocate from its home of 25 years, Adelaide Casino general manager David Christian said the ideal would be to redevelop the North Tce site to tap into significant increased foot traffic from the riverside revamp.

"There's probably some opportunity to attach to (the Railway Station site) in some way so we keep the body of the current building," Mr Christian said yesterday.

"We do want to extend but we could attain grandeur of the old with the new. With the correct building, we wouldn't be inconsistent with the heritage view."

The casino's New Zealand-based parent, SkyCity Entertainment Group, has been in renewed talks with the State Government about "creating a larger, integrated gaming-based entertainment complex featuring a broader range of offerings", its chief executive Nigel Morrison said at the company's annual profit result yesterday.

In July, Treasurer Kevin Foley was reported to have confirmed the talks, saying management had some "exciting ideas".

The $535 million redevelopment of Adelaide Oval and Events Plaza due by 2014 to its north and the $495 million expansion of Adelaide Convention Centre to its west would be "potentially significant drivers of additional foot traffic" to the casino precinct, the company said.

Mr Christian said previous concerns about parking for casino visitors may be alleviated with carparks considered for the overall precincts.

The casino operator shelved a $30 million underground carpark plan in August 2008 despite gaining Adelaide City Council approval.

More bars and restaurants would be key to the casino's future redevelopment, Mr Christian said, following their strong contribution to a 7 per cent lift in Adelaide Casino's earnings of $31.5 million last financial year - a new record.

Mr Christian expected to "hear from the Government imminently", in weeks rather than months, on the outcome of talks but SkyCity would need to know "who's going to be doing the Convention Centre" before moving ahead with its plans.

Um..No...If the tacky interior of the Casino is anything to go by, 'attaching' a building is going to look like tumor on the side of the otherwise grand Adelaide Railway Station. Sky City should leave the ARS like it is and build a new purpose built Casino and Entertainment facility elsewhere on the Riverbank precinct.

[AtD]

I disagree! Without the casino, the station building would probably suffer the same fates as the Gawler Chambers, Gallarie Arcade, Colonial Mutual Life building and countless others - lie unused and slowly decaying.

[skyliner]

It's going to be hard to match the grand style of the station without huge expense so that it does not appear as some cancerous growth. The station upgrade and the rly developments by Webb almost sent the state bankrupt. Fabulous concourse - pity about the more recent addition along the tracks though. I am told that to some degree he was trying to emulate union stn in NY.

As Nathan said, where would you put such a proposal anyway?

ADELAIDE - TOWARDS A GREATER CITY SKYLINE

[Omicron]

Were it not heritage-listed, the Festival Plaza is probably the ideal location - excellent King William St access, opportunities to link with the existing Riverside walkway, proximity to the Festival Theatre, obvious distinction between the old and the new instead of an awkward mish-mash (and hence the chance to do something spectacular with the extension rather than sympathetic), and so on.

I must say, though, that the casino is a small-feeling big building, and I don't mean that in a special, intimate sort of way. Getting rid of a few walls here and there, reorganising the layout, and employing someone with a bit of style instead of the f'ing awful RSL-meets-cinema-megaplex interior scheme they have might go a long way, too.

[bm7500]

Channel 7 news are doing a story on the Brisbane Southbank precinct tomorrow night with the angle of showing us what could be for Adelaide...

[monotonehell]

We live in interesting times...

State Government and private sector to spend $1.1bn to make Adelaide's riverbank come alive
THE banks of the River Torrens will come to life in about five years as $1.1 billion is injected into the precinct from the State Government and private sector.

Infrastructure Minister Partrick Conlon said in addition to the money the government had committed for the Convention Centre and Adelaide Oval, the casino had $200 million for an upgrade and the Intercontinental was likely to invest $50 million in realigning the hotel to the river.

"We've never before had the opportunity to do it as one precinct, we've got every major player there, bar the Festival Centre, ready to invest," he said.

"At the end of the day we will not skimp in terms of dollars but what we will ask for is world class design.

"What we want is design in the precinct that will last 100 years with $1.1 billion to go in there why can't we achieve that?"...

Mr Conlon said he expected the time line for each of the projects to be completed would be between 2014 and 2016.

"The Oval is the one that's trickier than the rest," he said. "Everyone wants football to go there now.

"We'd be looking at having AFL football at the oval in 2014.

"The Convention Centre is 2015, so what we need to do is incorporate the casino and InterContinental."

A masterplan would be created for the precinct, however because the development included private parties Mr Conlon said it could not be too restrictive.

He said there were no specific plans to include smaller, new businesses at this stage.

"The precinct will open up through four major players and then will open up to other opportunities," Mr Conlon said.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/sout ... 5910998027

[AtD]

I wonder if the Intercontinental being out done by the new kid Crowne on Hindmarsh Sq?

[peas_and_corn]

I wonder if the Intercontinental being out done by the new kid Crowne on Hindmarsh Sq?

Well, they're owned by the same company, so they win no matter which one does better.

[shaun]

Infrastructure Minister Partrick Conlon said in addition to the money the government had committed for the Convention Centre and Adelaide Oval, the casino had $200 million for an upgrade and the Intercontinental was likely to invest $50 million in realigning the hotel to the river.

Wonder how they will do this, considering the Railway Station is heritage listed and the River Torrens is fair distance from the Intercontinental

"At the end of the day we will not skimp in terms of dollars but what we will ask for is world class design.

This is something we don't hear often in South Australia. Makes a nice change

[AtD]

Well, they're owned by the same company, so they win no matter which one does better.

You learn something new every day.

[SRW]

Adelaide Casino is pitching in $250 million now according to this article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... ion=justin

[peas_and_corn]

Well, they're owned by the same company, so they win no matter which one does better.

You learn something new every day.

Here's another fun fact, all the laundry for both hotels is being done at the intercontinental, so when the washing machines break down there will be chaos.

[dsriggs]

Is this in addition to the 1.1 billion already announced?

[Omicron]

Adelaide Casino is pitching in $250 million now according to this article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... ion=justin

Excellent!

[Norman]

Is this in addition to the 1.1 billion already announced?

AFAIK, the state government is only chipping in for the Riverbank redevelopment (~$400m) and Adelaide Oval (~$500m)