A new convention centre under construction at the RNA Showgrounds in  Brisbane, Australia and projected to attract more than 220 events and  30,000 visitors annually is on schedule for a March 2013 opening.

RNA chief executive Jonathan Tunny and Brisbane Marketing Convention  Bureau director Annabel Sullivan used this week’s AIME platform to  unveil interior designs of the new convention centre and the role it  will have in the multi-billion dollar RNA Showgrounds regeneration  project.

“The $59 million Royal International Convention Centre (RICC) is stage  one of a A$2.9 billion regeneration project to transform the Showgrounds   into a vibrant year-round destination offering a unique lifestyle and cultural hub,” said Tunny.

“It is Australia’s largest ‘brownfield’ development, is the most  significant urban renewal project in Brisbane since South Bank and  includes 340,000sqm of new residential, commercial and retail precinct  development.”

Tunny said the 22,000sqm multi-level centre is set to hold  international, national and local business events which in 2010-11  pumped a total of A$212 million into the Brisbane economy.

“Situated in one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, the new  RICC is ideally located  1.6 kilometres from Brisbane’s central business   district and 15 minutes from international and domestic airports,” he said.
“It will have pride of place on the 22 hectare RNA Showgrounds site,  which is Brisbane’s biggest indoor/outdoor events venue, attracting  millions of visitors a year.”

Tunny said the new RICC offered ‘Australian first’ features including a custom-built operable ceiling grid system which can cut exhibition  set-up time by up to 24 hours.

“Our catering facilities will be world class and feature 12 of the  latest designed self-cooking centres, capable of serving 2,600 plates in   40 minutes.

“The ovens enable us to produce fresh food on a daily basis for large  numbers and feature a computerised system to track and monitor the  quality of the food being served.”