Lights go out on film precinct

Hobsonville Point. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The lights have gone out on a film precinct at Hobsonville Pt after a worldwide search failed to find anyone willing to invest between $80 million and $90 million in the project.

The search found two prospective parties - a property developer and an international studio operator - neither of which was prepared to assume the risk of the development or operating costs of the precinct.

The 20ha block of land at Hobsonville will now be used for housing, including 6ha for commerical purposes.

The land can accommodate about 440 houses, of which work can start immediately on the first 80 houses.

The proposal for a film precinct was a late pitch by the council's economic development arm, which in July was given until October 31 to produce a viable plan, or the land would resort to housing.

The land was originally planned to support a marine precinct to build superyachts, but this was abandoned due to lack of demand.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development(Ateed) said a film precinct would provide 435 jobs and generated $483 million to the Auckland economy over 25 years.

It followed a fire which destroyed part of the council-owned film studio facility at Henderson last year.

Auckland councillors learned today the cost of developing a screen innovation and production precinct would be about $65 million to $75 million, plus $15 million for the land.

John Duncan, executive officer of the council's Auckland Investment Office,said he had come to the view that the concept had a lot of merit and commercial legs.

The Auckland Development Committee directed Ateed, Development Auckland and the investment office to continue to explore opportunities for appropriate film studio infrastructure to build on existing infrastructure.

"We will land a film precinct in this area...it just won't be at Hobsonville,"said committee chairwoman and Waitakere councillor Penny Hulse.