ASF Consortium’s Gold Coast Project To Create 13,000 Jobs in Queensland

The A$3-billion Gold Coast integrated resort being built by Chinese developer ASF Consortium is expected to generate over 13,000 jobs in the region according to a report.

Prepared by a consulting company MarcoPlan Dimasi, the report analyzed the project’s plans and made a number of conclusions from the data presented. The consulting firms states that around 4,100 jobs in construction will be generated by the project during the five year development phase. Subsequently nearly 9,100 full time positions both direct and indirect will be created once the casino becomes operational.

In a statement Brian Haratsis chairman MarcoPlan said,

The Gold Coast Integrated Resort represents a substantial and long-term employment hub for the Gold Coast and southeast Queensland. Based on our jobs analysis for the latest concept plan, the project has the potential to keep skilled workers in the region and provide thousands of world-class opportunities for the local workforce.It will also stimulate training, education and upskilling opportunities across the state, creating new careers for existing and future generations.

According to the report most of the 9,100 jobs generated after operations commence, will be in businesses located on on-site. Close to 50 percent of those jobs will be outside the resort, including the surrounding Southport area. Haratsis pointed out that the project will result in wider economic benefits for the entire region including increased demand for accommodation, office space, retail facilities, and other local services.

Information @ ASF Group Ltd

ASF unveiled detailed plans for the Spit property in December but is yet to receive approval from government. The community consultation for the project is slated to begin next month and is likely to be contentious. Local groups have vowed to oppose the project with one of them suggesting that an eco-friendly Aboriginal park be built on the site. ASF director Louis Chien said that the company would hold community consultations of its own to ensure that citizens and Gold Coast businesses have a chance to participate in the process.

The final report of the official consultation process will be released at end of the current quarter following which ASF will have until mid-2017 to respond. The Gold Coast Integrated Resort is proposed to be set up on a government-owned site located between the Sea World theme park and the Fishermen’s Co-operative.

Plans released by the company reveal that the complex will have five towers along with a large public piazza overlooking the Broadwater offering visitors a range of restaurants as well as other attractions like two beaches and a waterfall. ASF has projected that the development will attract nearly 1.5 million tourists.