SKYCITY gives progress update on NZICC project

SkyCity Entertainment Group has lodged a resource consent application with Auckland Council for the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC).

The application is for the NZICC and an adjacent 5-star 300-room SkyCity hotel and pedestrian laneway to be developed separately.

SkyCity Chief Executive Nigel Morrison says the announcement is a significant and exciting milestone for the project, following a further six-month preliminary design process involving close collaboration between the NZICC design team and the Crown.

The resource consent application contains plans for a public gallery entrance from Hobson Street, multiple meeting rooms, a dedicated 3,000-seat theatre and an exhibition floor the size of Eden Park’s rugby pitch. A luxury hotel will be built alongside the NZICC with a pedestrian laneway of bars, restaurants and boutique shopping running between the two buildings from Hobson Street to Nelson Street.

Morrison explained “lodging an application for resource consent represents a significant step towards realising what will be a magnificent facility for both Auckland and New Zealand.”

Design improvements, together with significant recent and expected construction cost inflation, has meant that early estimates of the full cost of the development has been revised to a range of between $470 and $530 million.

Morrison added that Skycity and the New Zealand Government have agreed to extend the date for formally approving the preliminary design of the NZICC, which includes agreeing both the design and the total construction cost, until the end of February 2015. Once the designs for the NZICC are finalised with the Crown and resource consent is granted, Skycity hopes to sign a construction contract in the final quarter of 2015, with work on the project expected to take three years from that point.

Morrison concluded  “SkyCity looks forward to progressing the NZICC project and is confident the NZICC will provide substantial economic benefits for Auckland and New Zealand.”

SkyCity has also released new imagery of the Centre, including a video flythrough showing sweeping views of key spaces inside the NZICC, which will include a large gallery, a large exhibition space (configurable for a range of events), pre-function areas with panoramic views and a large theatre adaptable for banquet and entertainment events.

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