Redfern and Olympic Park sites considered for new $100 million project
Wayne Pashley is the audio wizard behind Australian blockbusters Mad Max: Fury Road, Elvis And The Great Gatsby He applauded the government for committing to doing what previous governments failed to do despite repeated warnings from the industry.
“That’s why so many tradespeople and companies are heading north. Frankly, there’s nothing more urgent for the NSW film industry than the construction of soundstages where the industry is actually located. The irony is that we know US studios and producers are dying to shoot in Sydney, but they can’t because there’s no soundstage. It’s a hugely frustrating economic own goal.”
In its Christmas Eve message to the film industry, Screen NSW acknowledged reports that Sydney was missing out on major international productions due to a lack of available soundstages and production space, saying recent market research and research confirmed the urgent need for additional production space.
The winning partner will be asked to establish a film studio on state-owned land located approximately 35 kilometers from the Sydney CBD, with strong links to major road networks and “key success factors identified by the industry in previous market research”.
Applications will be judged against the government’s objectives to strengthen capacity, produce international blockbusters, create local jobs and ensure NSW remains the country’s screen powerhouse, with development supported by joint investment from a $100 million capital fund.
Images of Sydney Studios proposed for green space next to Silverwater prison.Credit: Sydney Studios
The proposed criteria appear to rule out government investment in separate film studio proposals for the Central Coast and Oran Park, which are outside the government’s preferred 35-kilometre zone.
Private consortium Distillery Capital wants to build eight state-of-the-art sound studios, co-located editing suites and rehearsal spaces, public green space and up to 500 affordable inner-city homes on disused railway yards in Redfern. A consortium of local filmmakers, architects and a construction giant have submitted their unofficial proposals for North Eveleigh to the government.
University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott sees the Eveleigh plans as a way to finally realize a long-desired bridge connecting the Australian Technology Park to Carriageworks and the surrounding Technology Center precinct, while also providing much-needed student accommodation.
The acquisition process comes amid a leadership change at Screen NSW, following the resignation of chairman Kyas Hepworth and ahead of the appointment of a new managing director. She was the first First Nations woman to lead the agency.
