NEW OUTDOOR VENUE FOR GOLD COAST

RACV Royal Pines Resort will unveil a new multi-purpose 10,000-seat outdoor venue with John Farnham as its first act on November 13.

Gold Coast Concert Lawns is the brainchild of event manager and entrepreneur Peter Shiell, who has worked with some of the biggest names in music and is the man behind Richard Branson’s V Festival at Avica Resort. That venue has since been acquired by billionaire Clive Palmer.

While the Farnham gig is set to generate around $10 million into the economy, Shiell’s company Entertainment Logistics, plans to bring a range of world-class entertainment to the concert lawns.

“It’s a venue at the end of the day that will surpass any venue in Australia,” says Shiell.

RACV Royal Pines Resort sales and marketing senior manager Collete Tobin, is hopeful the resort will host four prodigious entertainment acts a year.

“We will be very careful in the theme of the acts, so that they fit our demographic. There will be no raves and no head banging,” she says.

Landscaper Scape Shapes will level a portion of a 16,000sqm site on the eastern side of the hotel at cost of $120,000.

Due to its flat configuration and flexible set up and pull down design, the venue will also be able to host elite sporting teams.

RACV acquired Royal Pines for $60 million in 2008 and is the host venue for the ANZ Ladies Masters.