Wollongong council, Illawarra Business Chamber, WIN, the Property Council, Destination Wollongong, RDA Illawarra, Illawarra Joint Pilot Organisation and the University of Wollongong joined together to sign an agreement on Wednesday, in an effort to reignite the campaign for the entertainment centre upgrade.

The project, mooted for many years, would include improvements to the building’s facade, better food and commercial options that open to the street and would allow it to cater to mid-level conventions of between 800 and 1500 people.

About $60 million is needed to transform the 18-year-old building; about $40 million for the upgrade, and at least another $20 million for a Wollongong City Council multi-storey car park.

It is hoped the combined efforts will give WEC owner, Venues NSW more clout when applying for state or federal funding.

“We need to have a strong united will to show the government we want this and we need this,” RDA Illawarra’s Eddy De Gabrielle said.

Business Chamber chief Debra Murphy noted the city had a record of “success in alliances”, including the development of Port Kembla.

“We’re trying to change landscape to make this all about conventions because that’s where we will get most bang for our buck,” she said.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the eight groups, the convention centre upgrade would cost significantly less than a new purpose-built facility and would allow the government to refurbish a state asset which is in need of an upgrade.

The economic benefits are valued at $12 million a year, in addition to the $27 million generated by the WEC. 

Destination Wollongong’s Tania Brown cited the recent CrossFit games as an example of how large events could boost the city’s economy.

“On Saturday night you couldn’t get a seat in a restaurant; when this venue does well, the town does well,” she said.