Cinema all set for summer

‘Pop-up’ screenings if revamp is approved

A CINEMA could pop up on the Surf Coast in a matter of months if a $13 million plan to overhaul a famed surf brand’s office is given the tick.

Real estate investor IP Generation is awaiting approval from the Surf Coast Shire to convert Torquay’s Boardriders office into the Surf Coast Social, a new office space for Boardriders staff, a coworking hub, cinema, microbrewery and wellbeing facility.

The Baines Cres development’s five-screen cinema is set to include an existing auditorium at the site with 180 seats, two 72-seat cinemas and two with 42 seats.

The developers have signalled the cinema will operate a summer series “pop-up” out of the existing auditorium, and fully open next spring, if the planning application is approved.

“We’re ready to go on this project now,” IP Generation spokesman Chris Lock said.

“Should we get our approvals in place in the coming month we’ll be announcing our tenant commitments and investing in excess of $10 million immediately, making this a reality before the end of 2020.”

Boardriders’ Torquay base sold for $15.2 million last year after the surf giant announced it would move its headquarters to the Gold Coast.

Boardriders have committed to occupy space within the Surf Coast Social precinct under a 10-year lease.

Sou’West Brewery is expected to enter to local beer market through the new space, with a proposed annual brewing capacity of 300,000 litres, equating to about 1700 kegs.

Planning documents said the proposal was hoped to be a “popular amenity” within the surf precinct as well as servicing the community and tourists.

A total of 207 car spaces will be available on-site with a further 12 spaces on-street at Baines Cres.