On the 25th, authorities in Osaka, Japan, held a public hearing on the draft environmental evaluation report of the Osaka IRKK, which will build a casino and integrated resort (IR) on Yume-Shima (photo).
Osaka IRKK includes U.S.-based casino group MGM Resorts International, Japan’s Orix Corp and several other Japanese companies as small investors.
A dozen members of the public spoke at Saturday’s hearing. Some of them were from anti-casino groups, according to information reviewed by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent.
The Osaka IRKK will look at the outcome of the hearing and decide whether further research is needed. It will now release its final evaluation report this summer.
On Oct. 27 last year, the city released a draft environmental report. According to information collected by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent, the city’s document concluded that “the goals of environmental conservation were met in all items and aspects.”
In early December, work began at the site to prevent the risk of soil liquefaction and to deal with other land problems, according to an announcement by Osaka City and prefectural authorities.
Other MGM Osaka-related news will be held on January 18 at the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The co-hosts will be Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City.
According to this correspondent, the Chamber of Commerce mainly represents small and medium-sized enterprises in Osaka City and is one of the three major regional economic organizations.
The others are the Kansai Economic Federation and the Kansai Federation of Business Managers. The latter two organizations are known mainly for representing the major companies of the city.
All three were said to have supported the MGM Osaka IR plan, which has been suggested to be beneficial to the Osaka economy and the wider region.
In September, Osaka authorities said the initial cost of investment in MGM Osaka would increase by 190 billion yen (currently $7.48 billion).
BY: 경마사이트프로