One year on from construction commencement and International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) is officially a third of the way to its opening in December 2016.
The centrepiece of the NSW Government’s AUD$3 billion transformation of Darling Harbour, ICC Sydney is a AUD$1.1 billion world-class development by Darling Harbour Live, a consortium comprising of venue manager AEG Ogden, construction company Lend Lease as well as Hostplus, Capella Capital and Spotless.
Key construction statistics to date include:
-More than 16,000 tonnes of steel and 110,000 tonnes of concrete removed from site, exceeding the recycling target of 90 per cent of the demolition materials;
-More than 32,000 cubic metres of concrete have been poured to date, more than 30% of the total; and
-Piling for new buildings is now complete with over 1,500 piles created, and concrete structural works are well underway with seven tower cranes in operation, the largest of which can lift 20 tonnes at 90 metres.
ICC Sydney Chief Executive Officer and AEG Ogden Group Convention Centres Director, Geoff Donaghy said the world class development would deliver the very latest model of business events venues.
“Attending business events in Sydney will never be the same again. ICC Sydney’s ultramodern, integrated and highly flexible design is backed by high-end technology infrastructure and a world-class, waterfront city centre setting,” Donaghy said.
“The development of ICC Sydney ensures Sydney’s premier position as the business events destination of choice when it opens in December 2016 and well into the future,” he said.
Business Events Sydney (BESydney) CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith, said the company had secured 19 major global business events for ICC Sydney with an estimated economic benefit to the State of AU$150 million.
“Many of these events would simply not have come to Sydney without these new facilities, including the prestigious Sibos 2018, returning to Australia for the first time since 2006; the World Congress of Accountants, returning to Sydney for the first time since 1972; and the World Chambers Congress, which has never before been held in Australia,” Lewis-Smith.
“These events are testament to collaboration across the city, the strength of our industry and global reputation, and of course ICC Sydney,” she said.
Across the 20-hectare site in Darling Harbour, there will also be a landmark luxury hotel, reinvigorated and new public spaces, new pedestrian connections and a cosmopolitan city neighbourhood.
The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) today welcomed news from the acting Premier of New South Wales and Minister for Trade and Investment, Troy Grant, that construction of the new exhibition, convention and entertainment facilities at Darling Harbour were on target for opening in December 2016.
EEAA Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, said that over the past 12 months the site had been completely transformed with first, the demolition, and now clear evidence of the new structures rising out of the ground.
“With a redevelopment of this scale it’s good to know that construction by Lend Lease is progressing well and according to the timetable shared with industry.
“EEAA Members are major users of the exhibition and convention centre precinct and so it’s very pleasing to know that at this stage we can look forward to an on-time return to the site.”
During the three year construction work at Darling Harbour, “organisers” have adapted to the disruption and relocated their events including trade and consumer shows to Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island, Sydney Showground, Luna Park, Australian Technology Park, Dockside Pavilion and Royal Randwick. Sixty-five events of over 15,000sqm required a new home during the three years construction period.
“Over the coming months, clients of the new International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) will be keen to receive more detailed information about rates, calendars, and importantly operational and logistic plans,” she said.
“This will be the next step for clients of the new facility. At present, they are getting on with delivering events and shows that generate billions of dollars in trade, investment, export and visitation for Sydney and Australia.”
