Mayor keen to back film studio proposal

Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan has backed calls for a proposed film studio and school to be built in the CBD, saying the plan presents an opportunity to revitalise the centre of the city.

This comes after Bunbury City Council agreed to help the developers of the film studio, which include Bunbury-based Vue Group and the Shanghai Hippo Animation Design Company, to find land for the development.

Mr Brennan made it clear it was early days in the development but said it was opportunity to create a new industry not seen in the region or the State.

He said the film studio could be built on the council-owned land in the CBD but he first wanted to see more detailed plans from the developers.

He also suggested the council could offer the land on a long-term lease rather than sell it outright.

"It is a very exciting prospect but again I just temper everything by saying it is very early days," Mr Brennan said.

"I am optimistic that it will happen however let’s not get too carried away, let’s work through the stages and get a good outcome."

Vue Group managing director Alan Lindsay has made it clear they want the new film studio to be based in the CBD.

"We are not interested unless it is downtown," he said.

"We will have an extra 400 to 500 new faces downtown in the next two to three years.

"It is important there is a sense of community to what we are doing rather than be out on the fringes and separate from the city."

The memorandum of understanding, which is set to be signed between Vue Group, the Shanghai Hippo Animation Design Company and the State Government, later this month, is likely to state that all parties use their "best endeavours" to build the studio in the South West.

Vue and the film company are already involved in a multi-million dollar deal to produce four animated films for the Chinese market.

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