Mr Davidson used an partner function at The Social at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre this week to encouragement more thought and debate on the idea before the state election.

And encouraged both sides of parliament to consider it an important election issue for the region.

‘‘I want to remind the community of the genuine economic value of a convention centre - particularly the 720 direct and indirect jobs,’’ he said.

Mr Davidson said the report showed that is the city hosted 80 additional events a year at a new centrally located convention centre it would in 40,000 additional high yielding visitors who probably wouldn’t have dreamed of coming to Wollongong.

‘‘What we know is that getting visitors to come the first time is the hardest, after that the region truly sells itself,’’ he said.

‘‘We fully support Venues Illawarra in their attempt to create the Wollongong Convention and Entertainment Centre,’’ Mr Davidson said.

‘‘I feel like we’ve spent enough time talking about it and this region deserves game changing infrastructure to keep growing the industries, like tourism, that will power the Illawarra into the future. I’d ask the state government to commit to working with local stakeholders to seriously pursue a convention centre without delay. It’s time to get on with it.’’

The convention centre project is one that sits on RDA Illawarra’s infrastructure priority list alongside what are considered other important infrastructure projects for the region in Maldon Dombarton, the M1 extension and faster rail to Sydney.

‘‘The convention centre project is comparatively inexpensive and what I’d hate to see is another 25 years go by while we wish for someone to throw us a bone, like the 3 other major projects,’’ Mr Davidson said.

Newcastle was tabled as an example of the importance of good infrastructure.

Mr Davidson said Newcastle airport alone now generated economic output of $1.2 billion per annum.

‘‘Having far greater access to Melbourne and Brisbane by air as well as Sydney by road would be of amazing value to the Illawarra’s regional economy,’’ he said.

‘‘Sadly, our lack of airport makes Wollongong far less connected and therefore far less competitive than similar cities like Geelong, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. It seems as a region we decided long ago that having our own airport was for some reason unnecessary and now, with decades of urban sprawl encroaching on the airport,  it appears impractical that we’ll ever have a regional airport and that’s a great pity.’’

Mr Davidson the arrival of the Qantas 747 this Sunday was likely to be the only time Wollongong and Shellharbour would have a large passenger just land at Illawarra Regional Airport and that was a pity.

‘‘I’d really love to see the Illawarra grow as an inspired region, with imaginative and creative new businesses and as far as tourism goes, a ’must visit’ location, just down the road from Sydney,’’ he said.