The Echo decided to move if Brisbane Casino gets the approval! Matt Bekier, chief executive officer of Australian gambling operator Echo Entertainment Group, shared with media that his company will probably move its headquarters to Brisbane, provided that it gets the nod from the government of Queensland to build a multimillion-dollar casino resort at Queen’s Wharf.
Currently, Echo’s headquarters are located in Sydney.
Mr. Bekier commented that if their project gets the necessary approval, more than 8,000 new jobs will be created in Queensland and the “bulk of [the company’s] economic activity” will move there. He called their decision the most sensible thing they could do.
Echo’s CEO also shared that they are looking forward to working in Brisbane. Yet, he pointed out that the details about the shift are yet to be settled. He explained that if the company gets the green light to build its casino resort at Queen’s Wharf, the actual construction will not start before 2017. In other words, Echo will have a few more years to determine where exactly in Brisbane it will locate its new headquarters.
As previously reported, Echo’s Destination Brisbane Consortium and Greenland Crown, a joint venture between Crown, headed by business magnate James Packer, and Chinese real estate developer Greenland, are currently competing for a license to build an integrated casino resort at Queen’s Wharf in Brisbane. The government of Queensland is expected to announce its decision about which one of the two bidders will be allowed to proceed with its plan sometime in 2015.
About a week ago, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there are certain issues that need to be investigated before officials have their final say on the project.
She admitted that the construction of an integrated casino resort at Queen’s Wharf will certainly contribute to the area’s long-awaited redevelopment as well as to the creation of thousands of new jobs. Yet, she refused to reveal more details about the above-mentioned issues.
Echo has teamed up with Hong Kong real estate developers Chow Tai Fook Enterprise and Far East Consortium to build its multimillion project. Back in December 22, 2014, the company revealed the design of its integrated resort.
According to the initial plan, Echo’s property in Brisbane is expected to feature five luxurious hotels, fifty restaurants, bars, and cafés, numerous attractions, a theater, and many more.
At present, the company is running the so-called Treasury Casino & Hotel in Brisbane. If Echo’s bid is approved by the local government, the aforementioned venue will be relocated to the new integrated resort at Queen’s Wharf.
Source: casinonewsdaily.com