Why The Block team won’t film in Sydney
MELBOURNE holds bragging rights as host of Channel 9’s hit renovations show The Block because business in the Harbour City is just too hard to do.
MELBOURNE holds bragging rights as host of Channel 9’s hit renovations show The Block — and it’s all because business in Sydney is just too hard to do.
The Block is unlikely to return to Sydney as producers find Victoria more welcoming as well as being quicker and easier to deal with.
MORE BRADFIELD:
Sydney’s future tangled up in red tape
Seven shocking examples of red tape in Sydney
Our shining jewel is in need of a little polish
Chris Johnson: Let’s be a true world city
They had long hinted they would like to bring the reality the show back to NSW for the first time since 2013 but red tape and “not in my backyard” protests have put them off.
“We don’t get any special favours (in Melbourne), it is just the processes are simpler,” creator Julian Cress said.
“We do sensitive heritage restorations and we don’t cut corners … The average time we spend in council is 90 days — we do a two-year project in three months.”
This year’s winners, Bondi’s Hayden Vale and Sara Tumino, said they noticed the difference between NSW and Victoria.
“It was very efficient and smooth in Melbourne,” they said.
“(But) we bought a property at Stanwell Park a few years ago and it was sitting with the council for almost six months … even though our architect did everything right.”