For immediate use November 3 2010
VACC welcomes Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre expansion
VACC, joint owners of the Australian International Motor Show, has welcomed the
Brumby Governments announcement to expand the Melbourne Convention and
Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
Tourism and Major Events Minister, Tim Holding, recently confirmed the MCEC would
receive a $242 million, 12,000 square metre, extension, making the floor plan 40 per
cent bigger. The MCEC will be the largest centre of its kind in Australia and the
Southern Hemisphere, at a total of 42,000 square metres, when construction is
completed mid-2014.
The Ministers media conference was also attended by VACC Executive Director,
David Purchase. For many years, VACC, on behalf of the Motor Show, has called for
bigger and better facilities, most recently, in VACCs State Election Issues document.
VACC has repeatedly called for more space on the South Wharf Precinct because we
need to satisfy the demands of Motor Show crowds and international exhibitors. The
Brumby Governments announcement is good news for the Australian International
Motor Show and good news for all Victorians, VACC Executive Director, David
Purchase, said.
More international exhibitor participation and bigger crowds will create more jobs and
bring more business to the local economy.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is already a magnificent facility but
with this expansion, it will be without equal in Australia. It will also cement Victoria as
the business capital of Australia, in much the same way, as the sporting stadia make
Melbourne the nations sporting capital.
The Victorian Government deserves credit for taking this decisive action and credit
should also go to MCEC Chief Executive, Leigh Harry, and members of the MCEC
Trust for their commitment to the facility, Mr Purchase said.
Minister Holding confirmed that lobbying by VACC had played a part in the Victorian
Governments decision to expanding MCEC.
We very much thought of the Motor Show when we had these plans in mind, Minister
Holding said.
Ends
To view VACCs Issues for the Victorian Election, go to vacc.com.au