Tele win: Minns agrees to build the wall to save Russell Crowe-backed movie studio

The Daily Telegraph has helped a Russell Crowe-backed movie studio in Coffs Harbour get the go-ahead after the NSW government agreed to build a sound wall next to a highway adjoining the site.

A Russell Crowe-backed movie studio in Coffs Harbour will go ahead after the NSW government agreed to build a sound wall next to a highway neighbouring the site.

This comes after calls from The Daily Telegraph last month to build the wall, revealing the $650 million Pacific Bay Resort Studio project was under threat after the Minns government refused to commit to the structure.

The NSW government has now signed off on a $5.5 million grant with Transport for NSW to build the sound wall along part of its new $2.2 billion Coffs Harbour bypass project, allowing the studio project to go ahead.

The funding is conditional on the resort owners receiving development approval and will be paid out when construction work on the film studio commences.

Actor Russell Crowe at the Pacific Bay Resort site in Coffs Harbour where the proposed studio will be built. Picture: Nathan Edwards

The project was first announced in 2021, to much fanfare with actors Russell Crowe, Jack Thompson and former Coalition government ministers but progress stalled after TfNSW removed a 35-year-old forest buffer on the edge of the property during the construction of the new bypass. The studio’s investors said the lack of a sound wall made the site too noisy for filming.

Director of the Pacific Bay Resort Studios Peter Montgomery said he was “extremely pleased” the government had agreed to the sound wall so the project could go ahead.

“This gives us great confidence to proceed with all of the planning requirements for the studio,” he said.

“Whilst we hope to commence building in the shortest possible time frame we will be in the hands of the NSW planning department after final lodgement of our new updated SEARS request.

“We will now roll our sleeves up and get on with it.”

Arts Minister John Graham said that a noise wall was “no barrier” to screen investment. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Arts Minister John Graham said that a noise wall should be “no barrier to screen investment”.

“Once work on the studio gets underway, the government will provide funds for the noise wall,” he said.

“A private investment in studio facilities in Coffs Harbour would be extremely welcome. The more studio space we have in NSW, the more productions and jobs we can attract.”

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh said commitment to build the sound wall would allow the studio project to turbocharge the economy of the north coast town.

“This was a significant hurdle in the project because the proponents didn’t have the confidence to forge ahead - this now gives them that confidence,” he said.

Originally published as Tele win: Minns agrees to build the wall to save Russell Crowe-backed movie studio