Gungahlin cinema to feature ‘best sound in the world’
It’s been a long wait but the community of Gungahlin will finally get a cinema complex with plans due to be lodged within a month
Canberra Star
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A new cinema complex at Gungahlin in Canberra’s north will feature a state-of-the-art sound system, dress circle theatres and meals delivered to customer’s seats.
After seven long years of being kept in the dark, the community has welcomed news United Cinemas will deliver the eight-cinema complex on Hinder St, opposite Coles in the commercial zone of the town centre.
A development application for the long awaited project will be lodged within a month.
Gungahlin Community Council president Peter Elford said residents were “absolutely ecstatic” to hear the dusty carpark would finally be developed after a long running saga, which began in 2012 when the ACT Government called for expressions of interest.
Hawker-based developer Krnc Group got the gig and selected Hoyts as the preferred operator in 2016 with construction set to commence the following year.
However, planning for the project was at a snail’s pace and then hit a major roadblock when United Cinemas mounted a legal challenge, which has now been resolved.
“For us it’s been a very frustrating period of asking the developer what’s going on and not getting any reply,” Mr Elford said.
“There was just nothing happening, there was no news and as a result a number of residents became cynical that it was ever going to happen.”
Mr Elford said the site — bounded by Hibberson, Hinder, Efkarpidis and Kate Crace streets — was perfectly positioned opposite Coles and other commercially zoned buildings as well as the light rail station.
“Because it will be the first United Cinema in Canberra, it will be a bit different to a standard cinema and will help attract people to Gungahlin and help businesses in the town centre,” he said.
“I know it’s something the community really wants.”
The cinema is one of the final pieces of the puzzle as Gungahlin nears its maximum population of 80,000 people.
“We are about 70,000 now and it’s the usual challenge of an outer suburb greenfill build where you have to wait for the right mix of shops and facilities to come in,” he said.
Gungahlin is the only town centre in Canberra without a cinema.
United Cinemas founder Roy Mustaca said he was aiming to equip as many of the eight screens as possible with Dolby Atmos, which he described as “the best sound in the world”.
“The cinema at Gungahlin will be similar to our other cinemas except it will be better because we’ll use new equipment,” he said.
“The picture will be the best depth you can get and we tend to go for the beautiful ceilings and the best lighting.”
Dress circle theatres would include two levels with “recliner” seats on the bottom where meals are delivered to customer’s seats and “stadium” seating on the top level.
The smaller cinemas would have 187 seats while the two largest ones would have 270.
Mr Mustaca said he always built cinemas in up and coming developing suburbs such as Craigieburn in Melbourne and Narellan in NSW.
“We are taking a chance and we believe we can service the community in Gungahlin because a cinema is very important for areas that are oncoming,” he said.
“I think the community will be pleased with the quality and the wow factor we give our cinemas.
“It’s going to be a beautiful theatre.”
The cinema will be the first cab-off-the rank and one of three buildings on the huge site.
It will be accompanied by a three level commercial and retail building and a mixed use building is also on the cards but the land’s current zoning does not allow apartments.
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