Cinemas ready to roll in Holmview despite Beenleigh strategy

A DEVELOPER’S plans for southeast Queensland’s newest multimillion-dollar family entertainment complex are likely to renew bitter debate about the lack of cinemas in a neighbouring suburb. Watch our video.

THE days of residents from Logan’s western suburbs having to travel to the Hyperdome to see a movie are numbered after a major developer lodged multimillion-dollar plans for a cinema at Holmview last week.

Lancini Group submitted its $130 million development plans to Logan City Council last week.

It is the second application the shopping centre owner has submitted for the Logan River Rd site in a year. In March, council knocked back an application to expand the shopping centre on to a neighbouring council-owned block of land.
The development application is likely to renew a bitter debate about the lack of cinemas in nearby Beenleigh, where Logan City Council held a business summit in 2017 to promote that town centre.

Developer Tomas Lancini plans to extend his Holmview Central Shopping Centre. AAP/Renae Droop

Last week, the developer resubmitted upgraded extension plans which now include a 3000sq m, six-screen cinema complex.

Lancini Group development manager Tomas Lancini said the plans were a direct response to the needs of the growing community.

“Local residents have been promised a cinema complex for years and soon they will no longer need to travel more than 15km to catch a movie on the big screen,” he said.

“With as many as 1500 new residents forecast to move to the area each year for the next 15 years, Holmview Central is one of southeast Queensland’s highest growth corridors.”

Mr Lancini said work was due to start in 2020 but depended on when the council approved the application.

An artist’s impression of the redeveloped Logan River Rd site at Holmview.

Lancini’s bid to expand its shopping centre followed a failed officer recommendation in October last year to rezone Holmview Central and nearby land as a District Centre.

The move would have paved the way for the developer, which donated $10,000 to suspended mayor Luke Smith’s 2016 election fund, to expand.

But councillors refused the proposed major amendment to the Logan Planning Scheme.

At the time, Division 5 Cr Jon Raven said rezoning Holmview would create unnecessary competition for traders in Beenleigh before 2021. “Beenleigh is a centre that needs as much attention and support as possible,” he said.

“What will happen if Beenleigh and this centre develop at the same time is that there will be two new shiny centres to choose from and … if one goes slightly earlier — because Lancini is ready to hit the ground running — people will be distracted and go there instead of supporting Beenleigh, which must grow as a major centre for the city.”

At the time, Cr Raven said council delayed rezoning the area until it was more suited for a larger centre.

Some of the smaller retailers in the centre also raised concerns.

Last week, Lucky Charm newsagent Tony Alexander welcomed the cinema plan and said his customers wanted the extension and entertainment complee built.

Holmview Central Shopping Centre. AAP/Renae Droop

Mr Lancini said the proposed expansion would increase Holmview Central by 23,000sq m to 30,000sq m and include a new discount department store, second full-line supermarket, an expanded range of retail and service providers and the cinema complex.

He said he wanted a tenancy mix that combined an expanded range of new retail and services complementing the two full-line supermarkets and discount department store.

He also said there would be a focus on creating a restaurant area for families to grab a bite to eat before going to the movies.

The plans also include traffic lights on Logan River Rd to assist traffic turning into the complex from Logan River Rd.

Lancini Group said it would hold community information sessions to inform residents of the proposal, which it said would create 290 jobs during construction and an extra 670 on completion.