Developer to Request License for Second Casino in Victoria

Australia Cove Limited has unveiled plans for a $300 million convention centre and casino development in Mildura, in north west Victoria. The developer plans to request a second casino license from the Victorian government.

The development would be known as The Mildura and would be located on the corner of Seventh Street and Langtree Avenue. It would include a convention center, a boutique casino and a five star hotel with 165 rooms, retail space a 350-space basement car park.

Other proposals to build a second casino in the state have been unsuccessful, including an effort to build one in Mildura in 2011. Despite support for the current proposal from Mildura Development Corporation, Mildura Tourism, Mildura City Heart and representative from the Mildura airport, the government has made it clear that they have no plans to issue a second casino license for the state.

However, Australian Cove chief executive, Bob McIver said that he believed they could convince the State Government to grant them a casino license citing their experience in the industry and experience with similar developments in other locations.

“It offers huge potential for our region, in economic development – jobs and growth,” said Mildura Development Corporation chairman Jenny Grigg. “We’re looking at 800 jobs in construction and 800 ongoing jobs.”

Ms Grigg said they examined the developer in terms of facts and figures on jobs and potential for economic growth in the region and were satisfied the development would be positive for the region.

However, Reverend Canon Dale Barclay of the Anglican Parish of Sunraysia South said that no social studies had been conducted on the social effects a casino would have in the region and he is concerned that supporters of the project had not taken this into account before backing the proposal.