Gungahlin cinemas set for construction within the next two years

Construction for a new cinema in the community of Gungahlin will begin sooner rather than later after the second development application for the cinema was approved this month.

According to Gungahlin commnuity and business website My Gungahlin, the application was approved on April 7, eight years after the concept to develop a cinema in the region was first mooted.

Construction must commence within two years of the approval date and must be finished within two years of the development works commencing. 

The $15 million development will comprise of a two-storey cinema complex with three ground-level retail or commercial spaces, 117 ground-level car parking spaces and a ground-level United Cinemas foyer.

The cinema will be located on the second floor with eight cinema screens and 1662 seats. The cinemas will have a dress-circle theatre layout with two levels of seating.

The first DA released in November, 2016 proposed a three-story building with Hoyts as the preferred operator and 307 car parking spaces. 

However, a legal battle brought on by United Cinemas delayed progress on the cinema. The matter was resolved in court with United Cinemas as the operator.

The reduction in car parking spaces was acknowledged in the first DA, noting that the development is close to public transport including the light rail and bus routes. 

The DA also stated that cinema guests could also use nearby car parking spaces at existing developments including Gungahlin Village which has 650 car spaces, but Gungahlin community members voiced their concerns at the reduced car spaces.

The approved DA is the first stage of the development on the block which covers only a quarter of the area. The second stage for the remainder of the block includes a commercial development where Defence Housing Australia is expected to relocate to. 

The third stage is yet to be finalised, however, My Gungahlin noted that it will include commercial and multi-residential development.