The city’s old Miami Depot site is set to be transformed into a creative industries precinct
In a boon for local creatives and the Australian film industry, Gold Coast councillors this week resolved to support the creation of a creative industries precinct, which would transform the city’s currently under-utilised Miami Depot site. Here’s everything we know so far …
Legendary director Baz Luhrmann has long been an advocate for the Gold Coast’s film and entertainment scene, having filmed his biographical drama Elvis entirely on the Gold Coast. Now, his company, Bazmark, is taking another major step in supporting the region’s creative industries by providing strategic advice to help bring a proposed creative industries precinct to life in the beachside suburb of Miami. The precinct, which would be built on a site considered surplus to the City of Gold Coast’s requirements, is designed to accommodate a variety of industries including tech, visual effects, gaming, screen industries, as well as spaces for innovation, retail and residential use.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate expressed his enthusiasm for the proposed development, which would be another boost for the city’s booming screen industry that generates more than $571 million a year for the local economy. “We recognise there are constraints with a lack of production infrastructure on the Gold Coast. Further growth to expand studio space and supporting infrastructure and capability for the screen industry is crucial,” he said.
In addition to offering strategic advice for the new precinct, Bazmark has also moved its global head office to the Gold Coast. With plans for several major productions, the move could potentially generate millions of dollars for the local economy.
Baz shared his excitement about the project, “The Bazmark team and I are excited to be on the ground floor to lend our expertise to the development and construction of the Miami Arts Depot,” he said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the Gold Coast is the perfect environment to further develop a filmmaking culture that stimulates local business and involves the whole community in the process.”
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He continued, “Our goal is not only to continue to make our own productions here, but to create world-class facilities for film post-production, visual effects, game design and other tech that Bazmark can enthusiastically promote around the globe.”
To ensure the development moves forward, Invest Gold Coast will lead the preparation of an Implementation Paper and Draft Plan for the Miami Depot – Creative Industries Precinct. This will include consultation with both the community and the State Government.
The news comes at an exciting time of growth for the Gold Coast industry, following the announcement of Shadowbox Studios as the preferred proponent to deliver a state-of-the-art screen production facility at Yatala.
Artist impression: supplied