Decision. The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre will close from late 2013 to late 2016. In an official statement the owners make the point that if a new centre had been constructed with the existing facility still operational it “would have delayed completion of the project until 2019”. New facilities will include the largest exhibition space in Australia at 40,000 square metres as well as the biggest meeting room space in Australia at 6,000 square metres. Business Events Sydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith, said the decision for closure “clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to essential improvements to Sydney’s convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities and their understanding of the valuable legacies – both economic and social – that business events deliver to the state and region.” Ms Lewis-Smith said BE Sydney “will continue to work closely with clients and industry to ensure that it is well-known that Sydney is open for business. Sydney has a diversity of venue options that can be used as standalone venues, or as part of a combined solution for large events.”
