Aquaman vs the greens

Tweed council may halt filming at Hastings Point

THE Justice League might not be enough to save Aquaman from this latest threat — the Tweed Shire Council.

The $160 million movie’s plan to film at Hastings Point is in doubt due to what has been called a “greenie agenda” after Mayor Katie Milne called a snap meeting just hours before the filming licence was due to be granted.

The Tweed Coast Reserves Trust meeting, to be held at 11am today, could put the brakes on the filming which had planned to “bump in” on Monday for a two-week shoot.

Conservative councillor Warren Polglase said an inprinciple agreement had been reached in March and it was all systems go until late Wednesday afternoon.

“The Mayor and her greenie

colleagues decided that there had been a lack of consultation,” he said.

The meeting was so sudden the agenda had not been finalised at close of business yesterday. Cr Milne declined to comment.

Conditions had already been placed on Aquaman’s filming including ensuring no trees were removed, taking care of the grass and conducting community consultation.

Under NSW law filming cannot begin on council property, including footpaths, beaches and roads, until a licence has been granted.

Independent councillor Ron Cooper, who supported a halt to the filming, said Hasting Point residents had complained about a lack of consultation.

“We said (to Warner Bros) make sure the community know what you are doing,” he said.

“I think it is just a community that has been through a lot.”

The Tweed council is finely balanced, with a four person block including Cr Milne who usually vote together.

But Country Labor councillor Reece Byrnes could break ranks and throw his support behind the production.

“My understanding is that project is great for the community and that it will be providing a lot of jobs,” he said.

Hastings Point headland was closed to the public in June 2015 so it could be used for a location shoot as part of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Today’s meeting comes as the Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah prepares to unveil Film on Tweed, a new exhibition promoting the region’s popularity as a location for film and TV productions.