Time extension issued for Hobsonville development

Housing subdivision at Hobsonville Point, Auckland. Photo / Brett Phibbs, NZ Herald

A council body has four months to produce a viable film studio at Hobsonville Point or the land will be used for housing.

The council's economic development arm, Ateed, says 16 parties have shown an interest in a film precinct, which could create 435 jobs annually and attract film schools from AUT and Unitec.

The opportunity of a dedicated precinct for Auckland's burgeoning film industry tempted the Auckland Development Committee today to grant Ateed a four-month extension to come up with a firm proposal.

The extension follows plans by the council's property arm to build 441 houses and apartments on a prime 20ha site - part of the wider Hobsonville Point development where more than 3000 new homes are planned.

A masterplan by Auckland Council Property Ltd(ACPL) envisages recouping $36 million spent to date on the land with a tidy $34 million profit for the cash-strapped council.

Said councillor Cameron Brewer: "Auckland needs houses and council needs cash".

However, Mr Brewer and most committee members were happy to keep open the option of a film precinct on 10ha of the site until October 31.

The other 10ha will be used to build 315 homes.Councillor Wayne Walker said the most certain thing that people needed was jobs."If there is one area where jobs are growing it is in screen, and especially in digital," he said.

Ateed chief executive Brett O'Riley said the original BOOT(build-own-operate-transfer) model for a film precinct had moved to a leasehold or freehold option for the land, which could change the financial implications for council.

He said Ateed would also take account of the concerns of the community, which Upper Harbour Local Board chairwoman Lisa Whyte said centred around certainty.

Residents, she told the committee, were very passionate about the level of amenity provided at Hobsonville Point.

If Ateed cannot find a "definitive and commercially viable proposal" by October 31, the ACPL masterplan will be adopted by council.

ACPL chief executive David Rankin said the four-month extension would cause no problems with the housing development - work on the first 80 houses is ready to go - "but we don't want to go beyond that".

Movies v homes

• Supporters of film precinct at Hobsonville Point have four months to firm up plan
• Precinct could provide 435 jobs annually* Film schools at AUT and Unitec could move to precinct
• Alternative plan for 441 houses and apartments if film precinct flops