‘Tragic’: Transport for NSW red tape threatens to kill Russell Crowe-backed movie studio
A simple sound barrier has become a major sticking point that risks killing off a $650 million Russell Crowe-backed movie studio, with legendary Aussie actor Jack Thompson labelling the planning fiasco as “tragic”.
NSW
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A simple sound barrier has become a major sticking point that risks killing off a $650 million Russell Crowe-backed movie studio, with a legendary Aussie actor labelling the planning fiasco as “tragic”.
The new studio on the mid-north coast, which is expected to bring in tens of millions of dollars into the NSW economy is teetering on a knife’s edge because the Minns government has refused to commit to building a sound barrier along its new $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour bypass project adjacent to the proposed location of the new Pacific Bay Resort studios.
This comes despite the Minns government pledging $100 million of taxpayer dollars to find the location of a new movie studio in last week’s budget.
Yet the government’s refusal to implement noise mitigation measures will mean the privately-funded $650 million studio will not go ahead.
Premier Chris Minns said on Monday it would be “a shame” if the project didn’t go ahead but wouldn’t commit to building a sound wall.
“It would be a shame... it’s a great initiative and I hope they go ahead with it but there’s lots of good initiatives,” he said.
“If we’re going to commit public funds we need to be 100 per cent sure that the project is going to go ahead.”
The project was first announced in 2021, to much fanfare with actors Russell Crowe, Jack Thompson and former Coalition government ministers.
The construction of the new bypass has resulted in the existing Pacific Highway moving even closer, within 20 metres of the Pacific Bay Resort complex. During the construction process, Transport for NSW removed a 35-year-old forest buffer on the edge of the property, which the studio’s investors say has now made the site too noisy for filming.
Co-owner of Pacific Bay Resort, Peter Montgomery said an independent costing of the sound barrier placed it between $3.8-$5.5 million, far cheaper than the $100 million put aside in the budget.
“We’ve done the hard work. The site is zoned, the funding secured, the industry partners are in place,” he said.
“We’re not asking for $100 million. We’re not asking for a handout. We’re simply asking the NSW Government to enable what they say they support.”
Despite the removal of the trees, TfNSW has refused to commit to the sound mitigation measures to allow the project to continue. A spokesperson said they would not consider a sound wall until a development application (DA) has been submitted for the studio.
Yet the proposal is already in the state significant development (SSD) pathway, which would normally not require a DA. Mr Montgomery said the detailed SSD application already cost upwards of $500,000, with the next stage of the application, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) likely to cost several million dollars to prepare – a risk that is too high without assurances that a sound barrier would be built. The investors will need a guarantee by July 29 that noise mitigation measures will be put in place, before the deadline to submit the EIS expires.
Veteran actor Jack Thompson, who is backing the project along with Russell Crowe, said it would be devastating for the Australian film industry if the studio could not go ahead due to a minor planning issue.
“When you look at the amount of product coming out of the Gold Coast studios, it’s just laughable that (the NSW government) can’t see the benefits,” he said.
“To think that for want of a sound wall this facility could be lost, this enthusiasm, this number of people, this jewel in the crown of the film industry in NSW, it’s just tragic.”
Business NSW Mid North Coast regional director Rod Barnaby said the new Pacific Bay Resort studios would be a “gamechanger” for NSW, pumping millions into the economy.
“It will bring tens of millions of dollars into economic activity from the start, employ hundreds of people and supercharge a significant number of enterprises around it,” he said.
“We are keen to see projects like this get off the ground as soon as possible.”
Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said once an EIS or DA has been lodged, TfNSW would “consider appropriate noise attenuation in relation to the project”.
“Transport has already undertaken some revegetation works and has committed to further works once the current bypass construction work is completed in 2027,” she said in response to the removal of the forest buffer.
“Transport will continue to work with the proponents and the community as the bypass takes shape.”
Australian film producer Keith Rodger, who is also backing the project said back in 2021 TfNSW had assured investors that “either the forest would be retained or a wall would be built”.
“Neither happened,” he said.
“We engaged consultants, designed an amenity wall, and offered to integrate it into the bypass project. Yet despite years of engagement, we’ve been stuck in a bureaucratic loop.”
Coffs Harbour Nationals MP Gurmesh Singh said the Minns government needed to cut the bureaucratic red tape blocking the studio.
“I can’t fathom why the government is continuing to stall on this project,” he said.
“It is something that should have bipartisan support now that they are actively searching for a film studio in NSW. NSW is not just Sydney.”
Originally published as ‘Tragic’: Transport for NSW red tape threatens to kill Russell Crowe-backed movie studio
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