Entertainment attractions to enliven North Terrace

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday 6 June 2005

SKYCITY ADELAIDE REDEVELOPMENT UNVEILED

New entertainment attractions to enliven North Terrace

SKYCITY Adelaide will open the first stage of its $20m redevelopment of the historic Adelaide Railway Station building to the public tomorrow, Tuesday June 7, at 10.00 am.

The public opening follows an invitation-only, black tie event at SKYCITY Adelaide this evening, Monday June 6. Over six hundred guests will be treated to a lavish launch party to “reveal’ the $20 million redevelopment and celebrate the official opening of the new spaces.

Opening for business are a new entrance to the entertainment & gaming complex, a family-friendly flagship restaurant called 'North', two bars, two private dining areas and new state-of-the-art gaming facilities.

Michael Silberling, SKYCITY’s General Manager - Australian Operations, said the new attractions would enliven Adelaide’s North Terrace and the street-front, and cement SKYCITY as Adelaide’s most popular one-stop entertainment destination.

“We have created a venue which offers a broad range of entertainment, dining and leisure attractions’’, Mr Silberling said.

“This redevelopment will further enhance SKYCITY’s reputation as Adelaide’s entertainment heart, a drawcard for tourists and key city landmark.”

Mr Silberling said the redevelopment would generate significant economic benefits for South Australia, including the addition of 250 permanent jobs at SKYCITY Adelaide.

The redevelopment, which followed extensive consultation with the Department of Conservation and the Adelaide City Council, is highly sympathetic to the heritage status and beauty of the Railway Station building.

“We’ve opened up areas of the Adelaide Railway Station building that have been unseen by the public for almost 20 years,” Mr Silberling said. “It has been our privilege to restore and refresh one of Adelaide’s most treasured and prominent heritage landmarks.”

“The overall design is a sensitive mix of old meets new. Many original features have been retained and restored, including the original marble on all columns and intricate stonework design in roof areas.”

“In the LOCO bar we’ve incorporated the heritage-listed Railway Station ticket windows alongside more modern features like a lustrous, red “marblo’ bar - an Adelaide first.”

“We have also made a feature of the property’s three original chandeliers, incorporating them into the new entrance from North Terrace into Marble Hall.”

Contemporary flagship restaurant North fronts Station Road, and features both indoor and alfresco dining. It also features a wine wall, believed to be South Australia’s largest (storing over 1,100 bottles) with arguably the widest selection of South Australian wine with vintages spanning more than 40 years. North has a firm focus on fresh South Australian produce and includes private dining rooms and seats more than 200.

Vying to be the city’s funkiest new bar, LOCO fronts North Terrace and will feature Adelaide’s first glowing red “marblo’ bar and a unique Stock Exchange Board for drinks. Original heritage features of the heritage-listed railway station building - such as the old ticket windows - have been fully restored, giving rise to a unique atmosphere of old meets new. With views to North Tce, LOCO is Adelaide’s new place to be and be seen.

The new gaming areas feature nine table games and 110 gaming machines, approved under SKYCITY’s existing license.

The redevelopment being opened tomorrow is the first part of SKYCITY’s proposed $70 million expansion plan for the complex, to be implemented over three years.

“If customers respond positively to the changes, and the wider environment remains positive, then SKYCITY looks forward to beginning the remaining stages of the project,” Mr Silberling said.

Stages II and III of the development include a new underground carpark (with 450 parking spaces and better accessibility to the Riverbank precinct and other nearby locations); the redevelopment of the casino’s main gaming areas; renovation of existing food & beverage outlets; and a major upgrade of Station Road.

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SKYCITY ADELAIDE REDEVELOPMENT - ADDITIONAL FACTS:

SKYCITY ADELAIDE:

- The business opened as the “Adelaide Casino’ in 1985.

- Previously owned by the South Australian Government, it was purchased by NZX/ASX-listed company SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited in June 2000.

- The property was re-branded SKYCITY Adelaide in April 2001.

- Visitors to SKYCITY Adelaide will have a choice of 6 bars, 4 restaurants, 73 gaming tables and approximately 960 gaming machines, as well as private dining facilities. The historic Marble Hall also provides a venue for major concerts and events.

- For more information: www.skycityadelaide.com.au

THE NEW REDEVELOPMENT - STAGE ONE:

- The new $20 million Stage 1 North Terrace development comprises:

o North - a new contemporary-style flagship restaurant, catering for 200 people, with indoor and outdoor seating.

o Private mezzanine level dining facilities.

o LOCO - a new North Terrace street level bar incorporating unique railway ticket windows.

o New entrance on North Terrace into Marble Hall, featuring the property’s three original 3.2 m chandeliers.

o New gaming areas with 9 table games and 110 gaming machines; approved under SKYCITY’s existing licence).

o Construction started in May 2004 and was completed in June 2005.

o Will bring total number of people employed by SKYCITY Adelaide to approximately 2250.

STAGE II & III

- Stage II & III include development valued at $50 million

o Carpark development - construction of a 450-space underground carpark adjacent to the property.

o A purpose-built entertainment venue to cater for live performances, corporate functions and special events, with capacity for up to 800 people.

o Redevelopment and landscaping of Station Road.

o Redevelopment of existing ground level gaming floor.

o Redevelopment of existing level one gaming floor.

o Renovation of existing food and beverage offerings.

- During the construction phase the overall three-year redevelopment program would create 480 direct jobs, and 1,150 jobs if indirect and flow-on effects are considered.

- The overall project is estimated to boost State output by around $150m.

SKYCITY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP:

- SKYCITY Entertainment Group Ltd is a gaming and entertainment group based in Auckland, New Zealand and listed on the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchanges.

- SKYCITY owns gaming and entertainment complexes in Adelaide and Darwin, Australia, and in Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown and Christchurch in New Zealand. SKYCITY also owns cinema exhibition company SKYCITY Leisure, which operates 92 cinemas throughout New Zealand.

- SKYCITY provides broad-based, locally-tailored entertainment: business operations span table games, gaming machines, hotel accommodation, convention facilities, theatre, restaurants, bars, retail, cinema, out-catering and events, and tourism adventure activities.

- SKYCITY has developed a reputation as an industry leader in customer service, community involvement and host responsibility, and employs around 5,000 staff across New Zealand and Australia.

- SKYCITY’s Group-wide problem gambling and alcohol management training programmes and customer initiatives are widely recognised as industry leading.

- SKYCITY Entertainment Group was recently named “Trans-Tasman Business of the Year’ at the inaugural Trans-Tasman Business Awards.

- For more information: www.skycity.co.nz.

ENDS

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