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| Subject: Great frellin NEWS!!Jobs!Jobs!Jobs! Dockland Studios | |
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Author: NieMMY SuperStar! |
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Date Posted: 16:40:26 07/26/02 Fri Docklands film studio 'will go ahead' By Gabriella Coslovich July 25 2002 Victorian Treasurer John Brumby has broken his silence on the progress of the $111 million film and television studio complex planned for the Docklands and given his assurance that the project is going ahead. Brumby said a contract would soon be signed with Central City Studios, the company that won the tender in January. It is chaired by former Foster's and Coles chief, Peter Bartels. "We are in the final stages of negotiation and an announcement will be made shortly," Brumby said. "It's taken probably two months longer than we thought. Two months more to get the contract right will save many months and potentially many millions of dollars down the track." He said the studios were a "crucial piece of infrastructure for the arts industry" and that the government wanted to avoid mistakes made by the Kennett Government, citing Federation Square as an example of how badly framed contracts could lead to budget blow-outs and stalled construction. He said the government, which had committed $40 million to the $111 million project, was finalising the design and building program, planning approval, contractual framework and operating arrangements. Remediation work on the site was almost complete and construction would begin as soon as the contracts were signed. The delay has caused concern in the local film and TV industry, and the Opposition arts spokeswoman, Lorraine Elliott, this week called on the government to explain the set-back. advertisement advertisement Melbourne film maker, David Parker, a partner in one of the losing tenderers for the project, said the lack of information was frustrating. "I think (the delay) is really serious," he said. "Melbourne's getting left on the shelf. We need to get on with (it)." The studio was originally expected to be fully operational by the middle of next year and Brumby said he did not think that timeline would be altered significantly. The Age understands that Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, will make an announcement about the studios when he returns from the Commonwealth Games next month. The government's film and television taskforce, chaired by actor Sigrid Thornton, warned that without extra studio space, Victoria would continue to fall behind New South Wales and Queensland in film and television production. Printer friendly version [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |