Brisbane Airport's $4 billion expansion plan gains federal approval

Brisbane Airport Corporation expects 49 million air passengers a year through the city by 2034

The Federal Government has approved a 20-year development plan for the Brisbane Airport precinct.

The strategy includes construction of a parallel runway, a regional satellite facility, upgraded domestic and international terminal facilities, and improvements to transport networks.

The Brisbane Airport Corporation has committed almost $4 billion to fund the new projects over the next decade.

Airport spokeswoman Helen Clarke said the plan would open up increased tourism and trade in the state.

She said Brisbane had one of the fastest growing airport precincts in the country.

"The airport will expand over time - in 20 years' time it will be about the same size as Singapore and Hong Kong airports.

"We see the addition of a mass transit system, having a high-frequency connection between the international and domestic terminals, as well as our new parallel runway.

"We expect that by 2034 there'll be about 49 million passengers a year travelling through the airport.

"Obviously we need to support those passengers with new infrastructure and new jobs."

She said about 21,000 people currently worked full-time within the airport precinct.

That number was expected to more than double to about 51,000 within the next 20 years.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/brisbane-airport-expansion-plan-gains-federal-approval/6066786

Dragon Boat Races Darling Harbour | Chinese New Year Celebrations

Dragon Boat Races Darling Harbour | Chinese New Year Celebrations

The mythical dragon commands the wind, the mist and the rain, surging through the skies and the seas as part of the Chinese New Year Festival, Celebrating the Lunar New Year.

For more than 2,000 years, Dragon Boat racing has had a special place in Chinese culture, with 12-metre long boats battling it out to the pounding of drums. The first races were held to commemorate Qu Yuan, the great warrior poet, who drowned himself in a river as a protest against political corruption. Today, the race represents patriotism and group integrity.

Get up close to all the action on the 90 metre viewing pontoon as these spectacular boats race through the waters, each with a carved dragon head and tail, a hull painted with dragon scales, and paddles to represent the claws.

Location: Cockle Bay Wharf

Cost:  FREE

Also - Eye Dotting Ceremony

Come and be part of a unique Taoist ceremony that blesses the waters to ensure a safe weekend of racing and awakens the dragon by dabbing red paint onto the eyes of each boat’s figurehead

When: Saturday 28th February

Time:  9am

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Matilda The Musical | Lyric Theatre

“ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, A SHOW COMES OUT BLAZING AND RESTORES YOUR FAITH IN BROADWAY. MATILDA THE MUSICAL IS THAT SHOW.” - New York Post

Matilda The Musical is the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the twisted genius of Roald Dahl. With book by Dennis Kelly and original songs by Tim Minchin, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
 
Winner of 50 major international awards, including 12 for Best Musical, Matilda continues to delight audiences of all ages both in London and on Broadway before arriving at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from July 2015.

‘EASILY THE STANDOUT MUSICAL OF THE DECADE’ - Sunday Times, (UK)

Get Tickets for Matilda at Ticketek

Find Great Value Sydney Hotel and Apartment Accommodation with Metro Hotels

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Deal

Visiting Melbourne for one of the many conventions or exhibitions? 

This great value deal has you covered with complimentary WiFi and bottle of water .

Experience the excitement of Melbourne when staying in your very own serviced boutique apartment in the CBD with trams and public transport within easy reach.

Book this Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Deal at Metro Apartments on Bank Place

View Metro Apartments on Bank Place, Melbourne

About Metro Apartments on Bank Place

Metro Apartments on Bank Place boasts 45 well-appointed guest rooms, 36 of which are fully contained, 1-bedroom apartments; other categories include 4 studios and 5 queen rooms. The apartments contain a queen size bed with ensuite bathroom and separate living/dining/kitchen area. 

The kitchen comes equipped with hotplates, convection microwave oven, fridge, dishwasher, cutlery, crockery, cookware utensils, and toaster. There is also a combination washer/dryer, a flat screen LCD television, and remote control, reverse cycle air conditioning. Maximum occupancy per apartment is 3 guests (charges apply for extra bedding).

Les Misérables | Show at Capitol Theatre Sydney

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in March 2015.

The new production features glorious modernised staging, orchestrations and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. It has been praised by critics, fans and new audiences, breaking box office records internationally and inspiring filmmakers to make the outstandingly successful movie which went on to win 3 Oscar’s®, 3 Golden Globes® and 4 BAFTAs.

Playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is established actor and musical theatre star Simon Gleeson. NIDA-trained Hayden Tee will play Valjean’s lifelong antagonist Javert while starring as Fantine is Patrice Tipoki. Playing Madame Thénardier is Lara Mulcahy and joining her in the role of Monsieur Thénardier is Australian theatre and cabaret favourite, Trevor Ashley.

Recent WAAPA graduates Kerrie Anne Greenland and Emily Langridge play Eponineand Cosette respectively. Chris Durling takes on the role of the passionate student leader of the revolution, Enjolras and Euan Doidge plays Marius the love struck revolutionary.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century revolutionary France, LES MISÉRABLES is a much loved blockbuster musical which has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. 

Having won more than 100 major awards around the world it has been hailed as the most stirring, moving musical ever. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, it is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master of the House” and many more.

This new production of LES MISÉRABLES made a triumphant return to Broadway earlier this year.

“Refreshing, rethought and every bit as epic.” Chicago Tribune
“A sizzling Les Mis for the 21st century ...” The Huffington Post

Running Time: Approximately 2 hours & 55 minutes including 20 minute interval

See the Capitol Theatre Website for Full Information about the Show Les Miserables

Metro Hotel Sydney Central is located directly opposite Capitol Theatre, so is an obvious accommodation choice when you next require a hotel when catching a show at Capitol Theatre

Palace Hotel Sydney is a nearby Venue for pre and post show meals and refreshments

Harlem Globetrotters - The 2015 Australian Tour

• Sydney game: Thursday 18 June 2015
• Melbourne game: Saturday 20 June 2015
• Perth game: Sat 27 June 2015

Following on from the hugely successful 2013 tour of New Australia, the world famous Harlem Globetrotters are back by popular demand for a seven-city tour in June 2015.

The Harlem Globetrotters features some of the greatest athletes and entertainers on the planet, and they are bringing their unrivalled family experience to New Zealand and Australia as part of the Harlem Globetrotters 2015 “Washington Generals’ Revenge” World Tour.  

The Globetrotters will face a great challenge this year, as the infamous Washington Generals are more determined than ever to match the franchise’s historic last victory over the Globetrotters in 1971.  It has been five years since the Globetrotters and Generals have faced off, as the Generals have been searching far and wide for the best players to retool their roster and have been preparing for one thing: victory over the Globetrotters.

We know there will be another positive response to the tour. They are great athletes and great ambassadors to sport for the whole family and word has got around about how entertaining they are. We are going to some new venues which will also be a buzz too,” said Suzanne Cannell, Tour Organiser from On The Road Events.

Sydney will put on its own glitz and glamour for the Globetrotters team with the game being held in the centre of the city at the Qantas Credit Union Arena on Thursday 18th June, followed by Melbourne on the 20th of June and Perth on the 27th of June.

Buy Sydney tickets: http://www.qantascreditunionarena.com.au/Events/Events%20Detail/Harlem_Globetrotters.aspx

Buy Melbourne & Perth tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au/The-Harlem-Globetrotters-tickets/artist/806223


Review:

Absolutely amazing!!!

State Netball Hockey Centre

 - Parkville

 - Fri 18 Oct 2013

Posted 21/12/2013

by SamTez 

This Fan's Reviews

This show was so great! My girlfriend has wanted to see these guys since she was 9 and it was such an awesome experience to be able to fulfill that dream and take her to such an amazingly talented show! We loved it!!!

Baseball and Gridiron Could Come to Sydney with Proposed $123m Funding Boost

A NATIONAL Football League (NFL) game could soon be headed to Sydney with NSW Premier Mike Baird to inflate the state’s major events budget to a record $643 million should the Coalition be re-elected in March.

A Major League Baseball game featuring the Yankees or Red Sox, a National Basketball Association (NBA) game, the President’s Cup golf tournament and stealing Formula One from Melbourne are among other big ticket items on the Baird government major events wish list.

Mr Baird, who will today announce details of a $123 million funding boost to the events budget at the Hurley Australian Open of Surfing event at Manly Beach, will also use the extra funding to bid for world premier concert tours of major artists such as Madonna while extending already successful events such as Vivid Sydney.

The premier said the funding boost would help NSW to secure the state’s reputation as the “undisputed home” of major events in Australia.

“We have the track record that shows when we put on a show, we do it well,” Mr Baird said.

“Since 2011, we have successfully hosted the Major League Baseball Opening Series, friendly matches with football giants Manchester United and Juventus, the British and Irish Lions Rugby Tour, the Sydney International Art Series: Pop to Popism, the first Pop Art exhibition to be showcased in Australia since 1985, and the hugely successful Vivid Sydney.

“More major events will attract more tourists to NSW who will provide a boost to the State economy when they stay at local hotels, eat out at local restaurants and take cabs home.”

The announcement follows a last-minute pitch by the government to organisers of the America’s Cup for races to be held on the Harbour.

The government is evaluating whether to make a multimillion-dollar bid for the qualifier races in February 2017.

Premier Mike Baird wants to increase the state’s events budget.

It is understood an NFL game would top the list of events sought by the government should former NRL star Jarryd Hayne win a spot on a team.

The priority of other event bids is to be kept secret so as not to corrupt the tender process.

The government calculates the increased events budget would increase visitor expenditure by $481 million.

Of the extra $123 million in funding, $73.25 million will be dedicated towards the goal of making Sydney the number one destination for major events in Australia with $22 million set aside for Western Sydney.

Another $40.6 million will go towards growing regional tourism while $9.5 million would be focused on targeting overseas visitors from priority international markets.

Tourism and Major Events Minister Troy Grant said the lower Australian dollar and oil prices would help create economic conditions to boost jobs and growth in the sector.

He said the increased funding would help in moves to encourage tourists to stay longer and visit regional NSW.

“One in five visitors to Sydney also visit regional NSW,” he said.

“Our aim is to encourage more tourists to extend their stay and visit regional NSW and today’s announcement helps achieve this.”