Infrastructure NSW announced today that the interim exhibition facility on Glebe Island will be bigger than planned and has been designed to meet the requirements of Sydney’s valuable exhibition and event industry.
Sydney Harbour Expo @Glebe Island has been selected as the preferred tenderer to build, operate and remove the interim facility, which will host exhibitions and events during construction of the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) at Darling Harbour between late 2013 to late 2016.
Sydney Harbour Expo @Glebe Island is the company formed by the leading event and equipment hire company, Pages, to deliver Glebe Island Expo.
Pages, which has developed its own in-house design and manufacturing capability, has been a highly successful supplier of event infrastructure in Australia and internationally since 1957.
Infrastructure NSW Project Director Tim Parker said, with Pages on board, we are able to create a fully-enclosed and fully-serviced, marquee-style structure of 25,000 sqm - almost replicating the current exhibition space at Darling Harbour.
“Previously, we asked tenderers for 15,000 sqm of enclosed space, with the extra 10,000 sqm to be available on a temporary basis for the larger shows,” Mr Parker said.
“The plan to have one large space undercover was developed in consultation with and endorsed by the major exhibition organisers that use the current facilities in Darling Harbour. It can be provided at the same cost to the NSW Government.
“Glebe Island will be able to accommodate Sydney’s major exhibitions, which attract more than 500,000 visitors and generate more than $100 million in economic benefit each year.
“We are proposing a strong focus on public transport to Glebe Island Expo. We will introduce shuttle services to Glebe Island on event days – including ferries from Darling Harbour and buses from the CBD.
“This facility is part of a city-wide interim solution which will keep our important conference, meeting and exhibition industry open for business to ensure Sydney remains the number one choice for events during the SICEEP construction period.
“Our interim solution will provide a platform for transition when the new, world-class facilities at Darling Harbour open in late 2016,” Mr Parker said.
Glebe Island Expo will:
-Provide 25,000 sqm of exhibition space.
-Be a destination for local and international visitors, capitalising on the proximity to Sydney Harbour.
-Deliver the experience of a more permanent facility through a uniquely designed solution.
Provide access for loading, private vehicles, ferries and shuttle buses
Glebe Island's role as an important port facility will continue while Glebe Island Expo is in use. Port activities will continue once the temporary facility is removed when the new convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities open late 2016.
The target for development consent is March 2013, with construction commencing mid next year.
Bookings for Sydney Harbour Expo are currently coordinated through Business Events Sydney, and the transition to the new operator will happen in March 2013.
News to hand is that five groups have submitted tenders to design, build & operate an interim venue on Glebe Island – the Glebe Island Expo. The plan is to host exhibitions and trade shows while construction takes place on the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) from late 2013 to late 2016. The bidders are: Infrastructure Glebe Island Consortium, which include: Cox Richardson Architecture Pty Ltd, Singex Venues Pte Ltd; iEDM Pty Ltd; Probuild Construction (Aust) Pty Ltd - Sydney Harbour Expo@ Glebe Island: Pages Equipment Holdings Pty Ltd - GL Events SA- Expertise Events and Renascent Sydney Pty Ltd. While the successful tenderer will develop detailed plans, the Glebe Island Expo is likely to be constructed as a marquee-style structure. The successful tenderer is expected to be selected in December 2012, while the Glebe Island Expo is to start operating by late 2013.
Business
Events Sydney (BESydney) will take on broader responsibility and manage booking
enquiries for the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment
Precinct (SICEEP) and Glebe Island Expo until operators of the new facilities
are appointed.
Glebe Island
Expo is the interim facility that will house Sydney's major public exhibitions
and trade shows during the development of the 20-hectare Darling Harbour site
that will be home to SICEEP - a world-class meeting place for the future.
Infrastructure
NSW, which is delivering SICEEP for the NSW Government, will recommend the
successful proponent in December 2012 and the operator for the interim facility
is scheduled to be announced in March 2013.
Infrastructure
NSW Project Director, Tim Parker commented, "BESydney's team has extensive
knowledge of the events market and the expertise to oversee both the enquiry
and booking process for both Glebe Island Expo and SICEEP. Our aim is to make
the enquiry and booking processes as streamlined and user-friendly as possible.
BESydney is already bidding on events for 2017 and beyond that will take place
in the new facilities. The company is well placed to manage enquiries."
Lyn
Lewis-Smith, CEO of BESydney comments, "The team is pleased to be taking
on these new responsibilities. BESydney will be a one-stop shop for business
events. Glebe Island Expo is part of the Sydney-wide interim solution that will
enable Sydney to remain a vibrant hub for business events whilst SICEEP is
constructed. The new facilities will deliver great opportunities for business
events in the city, both now and in the future, and the team is looking forward
to working closely with the industry to ensure their success."
"We
already have a dedicated Event Delivery department that assists clients with
sourcing venue options for their events. BESydney has been working closely over
the past months to re-home the conferences and congresses it secured for Sydney
that will be affected by the SICEEP development. This team will be expanded and
will have dedicated staff to take on the responsibilities of the Glebe Island
Expo and SICEEP."
Exhibitions
that will be affected by the SICEEP development will have first right of
refusal for bookings for the interim facility. It is anticipated there will
also be scope for additional events to be secured for Glebe Island Expo.
BESydney's
Event Delivery team will manage the bookings and Robyn Johnson, General Manager
Event Delivery, comments, "Our first priorities will be making sure that
planned exhibitions have a home and ensuring that event organisers know Sydney
will continue to deliver a world-class event experience during the development
period."
Expressions
of interest for bookings can be submitted online at www.glebeislandexpo.com. All enquiries should
be emailed to bookings@besydney.com.au or call 1300 141
583.
Glebe Island
Expo was announced yesterday by Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Brad
Hazzard and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, George
Souris. Infrastructure NSW will soon issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to
companies interested in designing, building, operating and then removing the
interim facility. Detailed designs have yet to be developed, yet it is aimed
Glebe Island Expo will provide:
- Pavilion-style
exhibition space of 15,000 square metres in a high quality,
air-conditioned, fully serviced interim facility
- An
adjacent flat space of 10,000 square metres for exhibitors to temporarily
expand the space for larger public exhibitions and trade shows
- A
weather-proofed and climate controlled environment
- Flexible
space that can create reception areas and meeting rooms
- Close
proximity to the CBD and a unique location on Sydney Harbour
- Availability
for the entire construction period
- Event-related
food and beverage facilities, such as pop-up cafes and restaurants
- Full
'back of house' facilities, such as loading-dock, external storage and
waste management facilities.
For further
information:
Rebecca
Mills, Marketing and Communications Manager
Business Events Sydney
rmills@besydney.com.au
Tel: +61 2 9332 5218
Mob: +61 420 960 108
