Crown resorts chairman James Packer made a pledge last night to ramp up the war between his company and Echo Entertainment for access to Brisbane’s Queens Wharf integrated resort precinct.
Mr Packer said his Brisbane bid was part of a “pipeline” to build a global luxury brand.
“Queen’s Wharf – along Alice St to Queen St, through George and William streets – was a critical piece of tourism infrastructure and would create thousands of jobs,” Mr Packer said.
It was an opportunity to build something “truly spectacular” to cash in on the “incredible power” of the rising Asian middle class, he said.
“Brisbane is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city that has an extremely bright future,” Mr Packer said.
Crown has teamed up with China’s Greenland Holdings in a joint venture to bid for the Brisbane casino licence.
Casino industry analysts last week reported Echo – which already operates Brisbane’s Treasury Casino – was in the box seat to win the development.
But Mr Packer’s rhetoric last night suggested he was still firmly committed to his plans to hit Brisbane.
Both bidders are yet to release details and artists’ illustrations because of strict contractual agreements with the Government.
Detailed proposals are due to be submitted this month ahead of a decision due early next year.
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