EEAA on Sydney business continuity plans

AUSTRALASIA – The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia’s (EEAA) second project update on the redevelopment of Darling Harbour has highlighted the need to find an alternative site to Moore Park for major events.
 
More than 80 EEAA members at the project update heard from representatives of the Sydney International Convention Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP); Infrastructure NSW; Sydney Showground, Business Events Sydney and Diversified Exhibitions.
 
The meeting covered key facts about the redevelopment, issues related to the timetable, impacts during the build phase and strategies for business continuity including capacity at Sydney Olympic Park.
 
The EEAA has now called on NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell; treasurer Mike Baird and other senior ministers to invest adequate resources in securing suitable locations so that Sydney can stay open for business.
 
“There is no doubt that through the work of EEAA there is now more information in the hands of Government about issues affecting members. It’s our job to help the agencies charged with responsibility for the SICEEP project are not working in a project management vacuum.” said EEAA general manager Joyce DiMascio.
 
The Government’s Request for Proposal’s formal release is imminent although a draft has already been issued to the two remaining short-listed consortia.
 
EEAA member organisers will next meet Infrastructure NSW to outline the specific requirements for each event so that a detailed evaluation can be made of alternative sites, including Moore Park and other locations.
 
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the venues that faces closure throughout some phases of Darling Harbour’s redevelopment, alongside the redevelopment of other Sydney events facilities. Construction is set to be completed by 2016, resulting in exhibition space of at least 40,000sqm.
 
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