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ABC to outsource set construction

As ABC Sydney sells off a property from its portfolio, it will be forced to outsource set construction.

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EXCLUSIVE:

ABC will close down its long-running set construction facilities in Sydney.

The end of construction comes as part of the closure of its Lanceley Place site in Artarmon, expected to wind down by January 2023.

Internally-produced shows include Play School, The Set (pictured), rage, Good Game: Spawn Point, Frankly, Take 5 with Zan Rowe, Art Works, Mikki vs the World and a range of news and current affairs.

“Following our departure from Lanceley Place, the ABC will no longer have the capability to build sets in house,” operations manager Kym Doust has told staff. “The ABC will now undertake all new set construction externally, using the services of set construction companies.

“We have met with team members based at Lanceley Place and have commenced consultation on how the proposed changes will impact their roles.”

Melbourne meanwhile, is understood to still have some small capacity for sets, props and costumes located in the inner west, after Ripponlea studios were closed in 2017.

Lanceley Place is being sold as part of a five year efficiencies plan by ABC within its property portfolio. Proceeds from the sale will help fund the development of ABC Parramatta and other staff accommodation projects.

3 Responses

  1. “efficiencies plan” = government speak for sell off everything, then privatise / outsource everything in order to fulfil the same requirements (but at a higher cost in the long run). I like how they justify it by saying it’ll fund the development of ABC Paramatta and other staff accommodation projects – in which case why not “accommodate” the set building team at these other sites!? I wonder what else will go as a result of the “efficiencies”…

    1. … with most television program production having been “outsourced” for years, there’s not really a great deal of sense keeping set construction in-house … changes like this are not only recent, when I joined the ABC in 1970 we had a set design, construction and painting department in Adelaide – that went decades ago …

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