Rezoning Red Carpet Rolls Out for Gold Coast Film Studios

A film studio precinct billed as Australia’s “most advanced” is a step closer after the approval of a major rezoning by the Queensland Government.

A planning scheme amendment for 51.6ha of land at Yatala on the southern end of the Gold Coast has been greenlit, paving the way for the precinct.

The Gold Coast Screen Industry Precinct at 396 Stanmore Road will join the 154ha Village Roadshow Studios—one of the largest studio lots in the Southern Hemisphere—among other industry-related development in South-East Queensland. 

US-based studio developer Shadowbox Studios is likely to be the delivery partner for the film production studios after earning the backing of the Gold Coast City Council last year as preferred developer for a 22ha section of the project.

Shadowbox, which has sites in London and Atlanta in the US, proposed the construction of 10 sound stages, workshops, office spaces and backlot areas.

The Gold Coast Screen Industry Precinct would also include education and training facilities, as well as short-term accommodation. 

The amendment converts the site from low impact industry to a combination of new innovation zone and open space zoning and follows public consultation in 2024.

The Queensland Government hopes it will attract domestic and international production companies as well as smaller boutique productions for TV commercials and independent digital media. 

▲ The rezoning opens the door for the development of land at Yatala for a movie industry-focused precinct.

The precinct, which would be on city-owned land, would also support public screenings and film festivals. 

The greenfield site would be developed in two stages, according to plans by Shadowbox, beginning with six sound stages, workshops, offices and outdoor filming space. 

Expected to be operational in 2028, that would be followed by a second stage of four sound stages and workshops.

It is estimated the new studio could contribute $195 million to the economy annually.

The planning scheme amendment would enable the City of Gold Coast to “advance its competitiveness as a production centre,” according to deputy premier and state development, infrastructure and planning minister Jarrod Bleijie.

▲ According to Screen Australia, $1.7 billion was spent on drama production in the country in 2023-2024.

The announcement comes after a call-in notice was issued earlier this month for a major mixed-use tourism and housing precinct development on the northern Gold Coast. 

Theme park operator Dreamworld is working on a development application that would allow it to develop its landholdings in four precincts. 

That includes a tourism core on which the theme park would sit and continue operations, and a nature-based tourism precinct with cabins, boardwalks and viewing platforms.

A gateway precinct would have short-term accommodation, a resort complex and hospitality and entertainment venues, while a town centre transition precinct would allow for further residential and accommodation uses.