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The Queensland Government has moved to shore up the future of television and film production on the Gold Coast by rezoning industrial land in the city’s north to establish a dedicated screen industry precinct that is tipped to become the most advanced in Australia.
The rezoning of 51ha of land in the Yatala Enterprise Area - the Gold Coast's largest industrial precinct – is expected to pave the way for investment in the area by the screen industry which contributed more than $571 million to the city’s economy in FY23.
The rezoning includes 22ha of city council-owned land at 396 Stanmore Road in Yatala which is earmarked for a global hub for film and TV production.
The Gold Coast City Council last year chose US-based Shadowbox Studios to develop the hub which will feature up to 10 sound stages, workshops and office spaces, with the first stage of the project scheduled to be operating by 2028.
After two rounds of public consultation, the state government has today announced plans to fast-track development of the precinct by amending the zoning for the Yatala Enterprise Area from low impact industry zone (Future Low Impact Industry Precinct) to a combination of a new Innovation Zone (Gold Coast Screen Industry Precinct) and Open Space Zone to support screen industry uses such as sound stages and production facilities.
The amendment also recognises the longer-term need to protect high-impact industry zoned land in the Yatala-Stapylton Enterprise Area from encroachment by consolidating high-impact industry zoned areas to the eastern side of the M1.
The government says the amendment that reclassifies this area of Yatala’s industrial zoning is aimed at ensuring industrial land can be used to its full potential.
Queensland’s Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie, says the local government’s planning scheme amendment sent a clear message to the screen industry that Queensland is “open for business”.
“The Gold Coast is the centre of Queensland’s screen production success, recognised globally for its world-class production facilities and huge network of skilled screen workers,” says Bleijie.
“The planning scheme amendment enables the City of Gold Coast to advance its competitiveness as a production centre by creating 51.6 hectares of dedicated film industry space.
“It ensures timely approvals for screen production and supporting activities, while minimising impacts on surrounding sensitive uses and adjacent industrial land.
“The rezoning also paves the way for the Gold Coast Screen Industry Precinct, which is tipped to become Australia’s most advanced studio and production precinct."
The new Gold Coast Screen Industry Precinct is expected to facilitate development of a large studio space and sound stages to attract domestic and international production companies, as well as smaller boutique production facilities, where filmmakers and content creators produce high-end TV commercials and indie digital media.
The precinct is also aiming to attract industry-specific training and education facilities to expand and upskill the existing and future workforce.
Cultural events such as public screenings and film festivals form part of the vision, as well as short-term accommodation to support film production and industry training.
Gold Coast Acting Mayor Mark Hammel has welcomed the rezoning decision, which followed a two-part public consultation process that was finalised earlier this year.
“The Gold Coast Screen Industry Precinct is a significant project that will enable the continued expansion of our film and screen sector and position the city as a globally recognised leader in the screen industry,” says Hammel.
“It’s an exciting time for screen workers on the Gold Coast, who are part of one of our city’s fastest growing industries.”
The council says it expects the changes announced today will be in place as part of a new version of City Plan due before the end of this year.
The latest move follows the state government earlier this month issuing a proposed call-in notice on development plans for a major mixed-use project put forward by Coast Entertainment Holdings (ASX: CEH) that will expand the company’s Dreamworld theme park site on the Gold Coast to include hotels, restaurants, function centres and residential towers.
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