Canberra will get a new, $510 million National Convention Centre, if a Liberal government is elected on October 19.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee said the new centre would be built on the site of Civic Pool. 

The proposal was for a staged approach with an initial build of 20,000 square metres, before increasing to 30,000 square metres. 

This would allow for a new convention centre to be up and running as quickly as possible before expanding to meet growing demand. 

“Canberra, as the nation’s capital, should have a world-class convention centre and infrastructure to host major conferences, meetings and other corporate events with capacity for multiple events at a time,” she said. 

“By bringing more business events to Canberra, significant economic benefits will be distributed all across the ACT through tourism, hotel stays and hospitality, which will be a game changer for local businesses.” 

Ms Lee said the first stage of the convention centre plan would deliver: 

• Banqueting options for more than 600 people 
• Exhibition and meeting space which is divisible and allows the convention centre to accommodate multiple events at once, and, 
• Theatre/auditorium space. 

A new convention centre of this size could return up to $200 million of economic benefit to the ACT annually by increasing the size, flexibility and number of events that the current convention centre is unable to accommodate. 

“Additionally, a new convention centre will create thousands of jobs, increase business investment and tourism infrastructure in the city and enhance the ACT’s reputation as an international city,” Ms Lee said. 

“A new convention centre located in the city has been discussed for over a decade but due to inaction by Andrew Barr and the Labor-Greens government it has not been delivered.

“With the federal government, a number of national peak bodies and organisations located in the ACT, Canberra is in the box seat and should host more world-class events that are larger and more frequent than we are at present. 

“The Canberra Liberals are the only party that can be trusted to deliver a much-needed convention centre and major infrastructure that will bring significant economic boost to the ACT and local businesses.”