Over recent weeks, public discussion has centred on the fate of a city stadium, but there is another important discussion to be had about the urgent need for a world class meeting space befitting the national capital and an aspiring global city.
For many Canberrans, a new National Convention Centre may not seem directly relevant. Isn’t it somewhere for people from out of town to have meetings and conferences? The average punter believes they may never go there and might struggle to fathom why we need to invest millions into a facility.
Yet a meeting place for the national capital could play a vital role. A world class meeting facility at the heart of the nation will benefit our city, our population, and the whole nation in many ways.
It can position our nation and our city globally, and accommodate the high-level gatherings for global heads of state that are part of the government’s role in international affairs. We should host these here in the capital with ease, and proudly showcase the capabilities of our city and nation.
It can provide a venue where Australia as a nation can engage in discussions and dialogue about the issues of national importance, and a “neutral ground” for hosting the big discussions that impact us now and into the future.
A national centre could be an iconic place that every Australian visits and connects with in their lifetime as part of a visit to their national capital, along with the Australian Parliament and our other great cultural institutions.
And a national centre can be a public space, full of life, and constantly utilised by both locals and visitors for concerts, sport, and a whole range of gatherings and activities.
While the public discourse seems to be obsessed with cost, the return on investment from a world class meeting facility in Canberra would be enormous. Growing our business events capability will help “turbo-charge” the overall visitor economy and support economic growth by attracting industries such as defence, cyber, health, higher education, space, and government services.
When governments provide the right platform for business events they foster innovation, investment and collaboration across industries, and help with talent attraction domestically and internationally.
Many regional cities like Cairns have new facilities, and smaller cities like Geelong and Albury have significant plans. With a regional population over one million people, we don’t offer this level of infrastructure. As a National Capital, it is a sobering thought that our sister city Wellington is proudly launching the Ta’kina Centre, designed to showcase the expertise and thought leadership of the New Zealand capital.
Post pandemic, post-election, surely the time is right to be bold in conversations about infrastructure. Instead of cost and what can’t be done, let’s discuss vision and what could be achieved.
– Graham Catt, Canberra Business Chamber CEO
