The developer behind plans for a $300 million convention centre and casino in Mildura believes it can convince the Victorian Government to issue a second licence for the state if there is public support.

Australia Cove Limited has released plans for a $300 million development known as 'The Mildura'.

The proposal, to be built on the corner of Seventh Street and Langtree Avenue, includes a convention centre, five-star hotel and a casino.

Previous attempts to build a second casino in Victoria, including in Mildura in 2011, have failed.

The State Government said it had no plans to issue a second casino licence for Victoria.

About 140 people at last night's launch were in support of the project.

The Mildura Development Corporation, Mildura Tourism, Mildura City Heart and representatives from the Mildura airport have thrown their support behind the project.

Australia Cove chief executive Bob McIver said the project needed public support to get off the ground.

"The starting point needs to be full support from the Mildura community," he said.

Mr McIver said the building would 'make a statement' in Mildura, and include 165 rooms, 350 basement car park, retail space and a boutique casino.

He said Australia Cove included people who had experience in building similar projects.

"For instance I've been involved with projects of this type since the early 1970s, which included building the Yulara Tourist Resort at Ayers Rock, so we know what we are doing," he said.

Mr McIver said he had met with Mildura Mayor Glenn Milne and chief executive Gerard José to ask for feedback on the proposal but was yet to receive any.

He said he believed developers could convince the State Government to grant them a casino licence because the company understood the industry and had been personally involved with similar developments elsewhere.

"Other projects that have been mooted probably had an incorrect strategy for success," he said.

"The first project mooted here was a public-private partnership and by definition that makes it a lot harder to get through and to get people to agree on because it was going to incorporate Crown land on the river's edge."

Concerns over social impact of gambling venue

Reverend Canon Dale Barclay, from the Anglican Parish of Sunraysia South, was the lone voice of dissent at the project's launch.

Rev Barclay said he was surprised that organisations supported the proposal prior to a social impact analysis being completed.

"I ask the questions about what percentage of revenue would be from the casino and they were unable to answer that question. That is the real question – how big an impact will the casino have in the area," he said.

"Mildura is currently losing more than $70,000 a day in poker machines and my concern is that any increase could cause more social problems, and there is a link between problem gambling and domestic violence.

"The main concern I have after the meeting is that none of that information had been looked at as far as I could tell. No one, as far as I know, had done any work on the social impacts and I was surprised that people were supporting it without a preliminary social study being done.

"I'm pro-Mildura but with the concept including a casino, I just can't.'

Support from business and tourism sectors

Mildura Development Corporation chairman Jenny Grigg said it was the 'most exiting, iconic' project for the region, and nationally.

"It offers huge potential for our region, in economic development — jobs and growth. We're looking at 800 jobs in construction and 800 ongoing jobs," she said.

"The potential is to provide our young people with new and exciting career paths, not just provide them with a job but new career paths and take them into a productive future.

"The flow-on effects that this project provides are massive."

Ms Grigg said the corporation had looked at the company proposing the development, overall economic impact on the region, and the facts and figures on jobs and investment when considering its support.

"They have a track record in developing similar projects and the fact they are funded, they are not seeking government funding, was also taken into consideration," she said.

"Our role at the moment is to provide as much support as we can as the company goes through that process with government to gain a casino licence."

The site of the proposed convention centre and casino, a car park on the corner of Langtree Avenue and Seventh Street, Mildura. ( ABC Mildura - Swan Hill: Lauren Henry )

Ms Grigg said the flow-on effect of a convention centre would boost the small business and tourism sectors.

"Every small business has an opportunity and should be looking at how they can compliment that, how can the convention centre support what they do now, and how can they be part of that and grow their business," she said.

"If they sit down and think about it, and they already are, then it's really exciting for the region."

Mildura Rural City Council chief executive Gerard José said, in a statement, the council was always supportive of developments that had the potential to bring positive economic and social benefits to the community.

"As we would for any other potential business looking to set up in our region, council has provided data and statistics to the developer for their proposal," he said.

"At this stage, we haven't received anything formally in relation to the project and would welcome a full presentation to council and councillors from the developers."