Stage two of the Melbourne Convention Centre upgrade is almost
complete after two months of renovations.
The redesign of the Bellarine and level two corporate floor will reveal
a new look that is 'both contemporary and elegant'.
The meeting rooms will be fitted out with modular furniture. Each of the
rooms on the corporate floor will have its own electronic whiteboard and
silver screen, while the entry to each room will feature an LCD screen,
which can display company name, logo and meeting times.
The cost of the upgrade is about Adollars 26m (pounds 13m). Work started
in December 2000 and will take three years to complete.
'This enhancement programme has one key point of difference,' said
Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre chief executive Leigh Harry.
'The introduction of a central hallway and permanent outer walls to the
Bellarine now means it is a fully self contained convention venue, and
allows us to compete for conferences of 300 to 500 delegates.'
Plans are before the State Government for a Adollars 300m (pounds 150m)
expansion programme of the convention, meeting and exhibition
facilities, including a 5,000-seat plenary hall and an additional 18,000
sq m of exhibition space.