Cinema complex to be built in Brunswick without additional carparks

A cinema complex, with a rooftop screen, will be built in Brunswick despite community opposition. But the influx of movie goers could change how a popular shopping centre does business.

The creators of Lido Rooftop Cinema will build a new outdoor venue in Brunswick. Picture: Mark Dadswell

A new 10-screen cinema complex for Brunswick has been green lit.

But neighbours and retailers say a Moreland Council decision to approve the project without extra carparking will choke the area.

Sparkly Bear Cinemas — a 10-screen complex, including a rooftop screen and a cafe — will be built at 1-5 Weston St, opposite Barkly Square shopping centre.

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The complex will have a capacity for 1123 patrons and will be open until midnight seven days a week.

No carparking spaces have been included in the plans.

Michael Petit, who led a fight opposing the plans, said neighbours would have settled for the installation of just 10 per cent of the recommended number of spaces for the site under the Moreland Planning Scheme, which stood at 342.

He feared moviegoers would clog up residential streets.

Residents near the cinema were opposed to the plans. Picture: Ellen Smith

“The people who will pay the price for this development will be those who come home from work with nowhere to park,” he said.

Acting on behalf of the developer Eddie Tamir — who runs Hawthorn’s Lido, Elsternwick’s Classic and Belgrave’s Cameo cinemas — John Haysey of Contour Town Planners said the other cinemas ran successfully without their own carparks.

1-5 Weston St, Brunswick. Picture: Google Maps Street view

Lido and Classic are surrounded by multiple carparks, while Classic operates in a largely residential area without a large carpark.

“What this cinema does is actually provides a cinema for your residents who do live in your area, who can catch a bus there, who can ride, who can walk, who can get the train there,” Mr Haysey said.

Eddie Tamir and son Benji outside the site in 2017. Picture: Hamish Blair

Barkly Square centre manager Fiona O’Brien said their 650-space centre carpark would be overrun with cinema goers and a new management plan might need to come into effect.

“If we have to introduce a new management plan to that carpark … there’s actually going to be a phenomenal impact on our community,” she said.

But South Ward councillor Mark Riley said the cinema fit with the council’s mandate to reduce car use and encourage other forms of transport and would be a positive to store owners in the area.

Councillors Oscar Yildiz, Sue Bolton and Lambros Tapinos voted against the permit application.

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