Cinema complex plans proceeding

QUEENSTOWN

PLANS for an eightscreen cinema complex are moving ahead at Queenstown’s Remarkables Park.

The complex, to be housed in a fourlevel commercial building bordered by Market St and Golden Elm Lane, could be open by Christmas.

At present, there is no movie theatre in Frankton despite its growth as a retail hub, meaning local moviegoers either head to the Queenstown CBD or Arrowtown.

Remarkables Park director Alastair Porter said he had an operator lined up — ‘‘great company, good experience’’ — but would not say who it was.

Subject to resource consent approval, he hoped to start building excavation next month. The tender had been awarded to Cook Brothers Construction.

‘‘We’ll do our best to get the cinema open for Christmas, but the rest of the building, probably March next year,’’ Mr Porter said.

The ground floor was slated for hospitality/retail outlets and the two floors above for office space.

Like many other Remarkables Park buildings, it had been designed by Dunedin’s Mason & Wales Architects.

According to design review board minutes from November, Mr Porter talked about ‘‘the flexibility of the cinema spaces where each is smaller than a traditional theatre but this then allows more frequent cinema showings and also for the space to be used for meeting[s], presentation[s] and private screenings’’.

It was reported in November Five Mile’s developer had also applied for a cinema complex as part of its expansion plans, but construction was not imminent. — Mountain Scene