A $205 million expansion project has been completed at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), adding 900 new jobs across the precinct and bringing thousands of additional visitors each year.
Acting Premier, James Merlino, and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, opened the expanded MCEC facilities.
The expansion has added nearly 20,000㎡ of flexible, multi-purpose event space, including meeting rooms, banquet rooms and 9,000㎡ of new exhibition hall, along with a $150 million commercial development by Plenary Group and its partners, which includes a 347-room hotel and multi-deck car park.
Construction commenced in June 2016, with around 700 workers and up to 60 apprentices employed on-site, including local contractors such as Wantirna-based Camatic Seating, which used more than 5t of recyclable plastic to produce the MCEC seats. In total, the expansion has used more than 80 per cent local content.
State Minister for Tourism and Major Events, John Eren, said, “MCEC is a key event destination in Melbourne, and the expanded facilities will ensure Victoria continues to hold bigger and better business events well into the future.”
The expanded MCEC is expected to attract 74,000 international visitors every year, who will spend an average of $693 each day while in Melbourne, resulting in an annual $167 million boost to the economy.
