When Jupiters sold Townsville Casino earlier this year, there were doubts that the new owner would make any changes to the property. Now, Colonial Leisure Group has announced plans to revamp the casino over the course of the next three years, hoping to turn the venue into a ‘mini Crown Casino’. At the moment, CLG is finalising its deal that will see the operator purchase Townsville Casino for $70 million.
The only step left in the deal is the approval of the state government. By the end of the financial year, state politicians will weigh in on whether or not the acquisition can take place – but we see no reason that it should not. Once the Colonial Leisure Group takes full control of Townsville Casino, owner Chris Morris wants to start making big changes to the property.
Firstly, he believes that the property fails to take advantage of its waterfront location, and he hopes to change that with the new renovations. Mr Morris states that improving the location is the primary priority for his group. Other considerations are the food and beverage services. Currently, there are three restaurants: Kobe, Spin and Aqua.
While these locations are held to a high standard, there is certainly room for improvement on the property. This could mean adding new restaurants or renovating the existing locations. “Our overall aim is to do a mini Crown casino and entertainment precinct,” says Mr Morris. “The real attraction of the Townsville casino is, number one, where it’s located, while the food and beverage on offer, to us, could be improved dramatically”.
Colonial Leisure Group aims to work with architect to redesign the property. The renovations should take three years and cost $20 million, resulting in a newly revamped property that will attract more visitors and boost the local economy.
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