The ACT government should call for expressions of interest to build a new convention centre and "get out of the way", ACT Tourism Industry Advisory Council chair David Marshall says.
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Dr Marshall told an ACT parliamentary inquiry into the long-talked about centre he believed it should be built through a public-private partnership, with a contribution of about $160 million from the ACT government.
Their contribution could stem from the land for the new convention centre on Lake Burley Griffin's West Basin and for neighbouring hotels, as well as the sale of the old centre on Constitution Avenue, Dr Marshall said.
"The government does not have to fork out $400, $500, $600 million dollars to build a convention centre," Dr Marshall said.
"If we're talking about a government commitment of just $160 million I just cannot understand why this is such an inhibitor. I think the government should produce an EOI, put it out into the public arena and get out of the way and let the private sector look at it."
The inquiry into the new convention centre was called after a business case was shelved earlier in the year because of federal disinterest.
The landmark Australia Forum was expected to cost up to $740 million to build, according to the Canberra Business Chamber.
However the committee heard the existing convention centre knocked back at least 100 conferences a year because it was unable to squeeze them in.
Chair of the inquiry, Canberra Liberals politician Jeremy Hanson, asked Dr Marshall what alternatives were there to the government building a new centre "as an interim measure" to ensure business was not lost.
Dr Marshall said the floor space would at least have to be doubled to offer the kind of capacity the market demanded.
He believed the best solution in the long run would be to build a new centre.
"All we're going to be doing if we don't proceed to build new one and patch up the old one, which we've done twice at a significant expense, millions of dollars we're talking about here," Dr Marshall said.
"You go to any other convention facility and you walk in and they're new, they're vibrant, they've got escalators. We haven't even got an escalator. I mean look at the centre, you can tart it up as much as you like but we're in a competitive environment and that's the big challenge for the ACT."
Dr Marshall also quashed suggestions a joint convention centre and stadium could be built, saying it was best not to "dilute" its use.
Mr Hanson said it could be time to reexamine the role of the neighbouring Canberra Casino in a new convention centre.
A bill was introduced in the ACT legislative Assembly last week that would allow the casino to have up to 200 poker machines and 60 automated gaming tables as part of its redevelopment.
Mr Hanson said given that, it might be worth revisiting the casino's role in any redevelopment.
"It strikes me and the other members of the committee that we have developed a model that is the best model model, it's nirvana so to speak, and that's good but that remains elusive," Mr Hanson said.
"What we're looking for is if that does remain elusive ... what are the other options that might not be perfect but get the job done to actually make sure over the next 20 0r 30 years we're not missing significant opportunities.
"I think the casino is an important part of that, we seem to have drawn a red line through that at the start of this conversation but may be it's time to reexamine."
Dr Marshall said there were people out there who would be turned off from holding their convention in Canberra were it linked to a casino but he believed they were few in numbers.
"A thing to do is get an EOI out there and see what happens," Dr Marshall said.
The convention centre inquiry picks up again in October.
