In October 2002, an enhanced convention centre for Melbourne was proposed to government, using an initial feasibility study commissioned by MPV, on behalf of MCET.
The feasibility study for a new convention centre arose from a number of strategic considerations, including:
• greater recognition of the economic value of the Meetings, Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) market segment
• development of new capacity and competition in the regional (Australasia and Asia-Pacific) MICE market
• capacity of the largest plenary hall in the existing Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre only being 1 500 people.
The Government deferred consideration of the 2002 feasibility study and referred it to the Gateway Review Process for a "Gate 2 - Business Case" review.
The Gateway Review Team made a number of suggestions in regard to this early document, such as recommending that MCET/DIIRD and MPV:
• document key success factors for the project
• identify key stakeholders and seek their consensus on these factors
• conduct more detailed economic modelling and risk analysis
• develop a better understanding of the commercial opportunities in the precinct
• benchmark the proposed facility against competitor facilities in order to better understand cost, size and functionality issues.
The recommendations made in the review were substantially addressed in the approved business case that was submitted to the Government in August 2003.
The Gateway Review clearly assisted MCET, DIIRD and MPV to:
• clarify project outcomes
• improve costs and benefits modelling
• refine the functional specification for an enhanced convention centre.
It is noted that the MCCD project has been exempted from further Gateway Reviews.
We consider that this decision should be revisited to enable the project's development to benefit from further Gateway Review assistance as it progresses through its lifecycle.