Macquarie Point Development CEO Elizabeth Jack. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Real estate

Macquarie Point to be spruiked as key development opportunity for the Chinese

MATT SMITH, State Political Editor, Mercury

October 29, 2014 6:00am

MACQUARIE Point on Hobart’s waterfront will be spruiked as a key development opportunity during the InvestTas summit to coincide with the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The program for the inaugural TasInvest summit next month says the more than 80 Chinese and international delegates will be given “exclusive access to proponents of over a dozen major investment projects and many more business matching opportunities.”

The release of the program coincides with a fundraising event in Hobart tonight to help launch a Tasmanian branch of the Australia China Business Council.

The TasInvest program said the summit would focus on the key sectors of resources, agrifood and tourism.

“Investors will gain a detailed understanding of exciting projects ready for investment,” the program said.

The old railyards site at Macquarie Point is spruiked heavily in the program.

“It presents one of the state’s most inspiring investment opportunities and is loc­ated in a largely undiscovered site close to Hobart’s CBD,” the program said. “It’s estimated that total capital investment for the project could be as much as $1 billion over a 10-year construction phase.”

Macquarie Point Development Corporation chief exec­utive officer Liz Jack said the corporation was excited to be part of the event.

“To have it front and centre will now mean that we can start to have a conversation with investors about what they are looking for,” Ms Jack said.

“This site provides some great opportunities and advantages in terms of Antarctica as well as tourism, research and education.”

Premier Hodgman said Tas­Invest was an unprecedented opportunity to pitch investment-ready projects to an international aud­ience keen to invest in Tasmania.

“The already overwhelming interest from more than 80 Chinese and international registered delegates is expected to increase following confirm­ation the Chinese President’s visit will coincide with TasInvest,” he said.

“China is now our largest trading partner and the visit from the President, together with TasInvest, presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to build on our economic and cultural relationship.”

Leading economist Saul Eslake will be Master of Ceremonies for the TasInvest event at Wrest Point casino.