Proposal for new $150m studios in Penrith
Lakeside Studio hopes to offer new studio space for Sydney by 2023.
- Published by David Knox
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Penrith Lakes look set to be home to a new $150 million film & TV studio.
Lakeside Studio and Penrith Lakes Development Corporation has announced an agreement to develop a world-class purpose-built studio and production training facility.
Producer James Vernon (Hacksaw Ridge, The Kings Daughter) said, “With Sydney’s FOX studios being so heavily booked, its rendered Sydney without a full-service film studio.
“We’ve spoken to many studios and streamers and they are not thinking of the current situation, but of the future. Sydney still stands as one of the best places to come and film.”
The site which was used for numerous scenes Mad Max Fury Road is expected to open for business in 2023. To be developed in three phases, the site may eventually feature ten sound stages of various sizes aimed at attracting large-scale international productions, as well as catering for the Australian local market.
The largest stage with a floor area of 4,500 sqm may claim to be the largest sound stage in the Southern Hemisphere.
Set in 39 hectares, the site proposes a five-star hotel, a golf course and helipad, and backlots that include a private lake for water shooting options. It will also house a business park and an academy for up to 200 film students.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes will next week release details for the site.
“Who needs Hollywood Hills when we’ve got Penrith Lakes? NSW is home to some of the best film production crews in the world, so it’s fitting they have a place to call home in Greater Sydney,” he said.
“If approved, this 41ha precinct would include up to 10 production stages, filming tanks, construction and design facilities, as well as a film school.
“It would create up to 300 construction jobs over three years and, once completed, the site would employ up to 2000 people on major movie projects.”
Source: Variety, Daily Telegraph
6 Responses
… maybe I could share a story from the 2000 Olympics that came from the Penrith rowing venue … SOBO detected some interference so laid a cable down the length of the course, put a camera at one end and measured the signal at the other … the interference made it unusable … discreet enquiries revealed that the source was owned by the Department of Defence … they wouldn’t tell us what it was, but guaranteed that they would turn it off for the duration of the competition (you know that by telling you about this I’ll be forced to shoot you) … if it’s still there, good luck with trying to establish studios!!!
Yes I agree. It is still an issue in some localised places when using sensitive equipment.
Ummmm, doesn’t this place flood every 10 years or so ?
As an ex-resident they will have almost every location site they may need within eyesight. A river, mountains, bush land, city, freeways, dirt roads, etc.
And eventually a new airport.
It was an excellent and memorable backdrop during the Sydney Olympics for the regatta events.