Melbourne celebrates win of Enviro 2006 conference

By Heather Jacobs MELBOURNE The Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) has won the right for Melbourne to host Enviro 2006, considered to be one of the most important environmental science events in the southern hemisphere. "Enviro 2006, the region's premier event on sustainability, will bring 5,600 people to Melbourne and generate A$19 million (US$13.6 million) for the state of Victoria," said MCVB chief executive officer Garry Kingshott. "It will allow Victoria's best scientists, researchers and environmentalists to exchange ideas and develop theories to advance new discoveries and innovations." The programme involves a 1,600-delegate conference and an exhibition, expected to attract more than 3,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitor staff. It will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. The biennial event began in Sydney in 2000 and continued in Melbourne in 2002. Enviro 2004 was held recently in Sydney. This is the sixth major business event won for Melbourne this year through the work of MCVB representing a windfall of A$37 million. The win comes on the back of the announcement in late April by Victorian premier Steve Bracks that a 5,000-seat convention centre will be built as part of a major redevelopment at the city's Southbank area. To be opened in 2008, it will be Australia's largest. The convention centre is expected to bring in an additional A$197 million per year. Construction cost of the Convention Centre facilities — including the 5,000 seat plenary hall, with links to the adjacent Melbourne Exhibition Centre, is expected to be around A$370 million. "The Melbourne Convention Centre will raise our international profile, particularly among business leaders and the scientific community and attract new investment and people to Victoria," said Bracks. Minister for tourism John Pandazopoulos said tourism contributed A$10 billion annually to the state's economy and the project would boost Victoria's status as a world-class tourist destination. "A new convention centre will ensure tourism remains a major driver of growth in Victoria," he said. The state's market share of all international visitors to Australia in 2003 was 28 per cent, while its share of international business visitors was 32 per cent.