19 June 2020

Development Application for Cinema, round two

| My Gungahlin
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A second Development Application (DA) has been released for the long awaited cinema for Gungahlin three years after the first one was released in November 2016 with an estimated build cost of nearly $15 million. Once the DA is approved it is expected construction will take 18 months to complete.

This DA proposes for a mixed use cinema and retail / commercial development on Block 1, Section 12 Gungahlin. It should be noted this DA only covers one quarter of this block whereas previous DA covered half of the block.

This proposed development is to include:

  • Construction of a two storey building including:
    • Three ground level retail / commercial spaces of approximately 310m2 Gross Floor Area (GFA) combined;
    • 117 ground level car parking spaces, four of which are to be accessible and 5 motorcycle spaces;
    • A ground level cinema foyer;
    • A cinema on the second level of approximately 3,568m2 GFA, containing 8 cinema screens and 1,662 seats;
    • Associated signage for proposed cinema and ground level retail / commercial uses;
  • Site servicing, driveways, and waste enclosures
  • Associated off-site works, including driveway verge crossings.

This proposed development is the first stage of the development of this block. The second stage to the north of the proposed cinema building is set to include a commercial development. Proposed uses of the eastern portion of the site are still being determined however plans contained within the DA do show two further buildings marked as stage 3, one showing as being ‘future commercial / serviced apartment development’and the other ‘future commercial / multi-residential development’.

The DA released in 2016 proposed a 3 storey building with basement level car parking comprising of 307 car parking spaces and 4 motorcycle spaces. It also allowed for 11,310m2 of commercial / retail floor space. The proposed cinema space in 2016 is very similar to that proposed now.

The reduction in car parking provision compared to the previous DA is acknowledged in this DA noting its proximity to the Gungahlin to Civic light rail corridor, to existing bus routes and shopping centres and to pedestrian areas between and bordering these existing features. It is also suggested cinema guests could utilise nearby car parking in other developments suggesting those in Gungahlin Village and Marketplace Gungahlin. The car parks in these shopping centres are there to support those shopping centres and should not be counted on for this development.

The traffic report provided as part of the DA shows the required parking should actually be 408 as opposed to the 117 being proposed. The traffic report provides an argument as to why 117 is deemed sufficient and we encourage you to read this for yourself.

Access to the car park will be from Hinder Street near where the access currently is to the basement car park to Gungahlin Village. This could cause potential congestion with cars trying to turn into both car spaces in the same vicinity. The exit point to the cinema complex on Efkarpidis Street near the car park entry and exit to Eastlake Gungahlin which could have the same issues.

The car parking for the cinema development will be paid and controlled using number plate recognition as used at Westfield Belconnen. ‘Way Finding’ will be installed at the entrance off Hinder Street to advise how many spaces are available in each parking area.

You can view and provide a submission to this Development Application 201936502 by 27/12/2019

There was a presentation to the Gungahlin Community Council on this proposed development as well as the cinema operator United Cinemas. Start viewing from around 5 minutes for this presentation. There were technical difficulties on the night which we apologise for.

If you are interested in the history of this development you can read What’s happening with the Gungahlin Cinema

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