Driving a hard bargain
Producers in talks with Tweed council
PRODUCERS of a UK reality TV series have offered a compromise to the Tweed Shire Council to end a long-running battle about car trips.
The council and Granada, the producers of hit show I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, have been arguing over how many vehicles can access the film set near Dungay each day.
Granada has threatened to walk away from the Tweed if a compromise cannot be reached after it was fined twice for breaching its 80-cars-a-day limit.
A development application was filed with the council last week, asking for the quota to be increased to 100 vehicles for 35 days of the year.
Tweed councillors have voted twice to fine Granada for breaching the limit but, not wanting to lose the $13 million the show injects into the local economy each year, decided to negotiate with the company.
In a presentation to councillors this week, Granada explained why the extra trips were needed.
“(There) is a total of 245 people to ensure these filming days run smoothly and safely across the walk-in filming period (when the celebrities arrive),” the presentation stated.
“The number of additional vehicles we need to hire to transport all of the above crew is around 148.”
These people include two hosts, six in the host entourage, the 12 celebrities, 12 celebrity chaperones, spin-off show hosts and crew, 20 producers, 20 from the transport department, three directors, 23 camera operators, 23 sound engineers, and two water police.
“The proposal results in potential exceedances of the 80vehicle-per-day limit for a maximum of 35 days per year. This is essential to enabling the production to occur.
“Granada is committed to achieving acknowledgment of Murwillumbah in particular and the NSW North Coast region in general, by way of production credits, promotion and marketing so the modifications support the continued use of the site for filming purposes and provide benefits to the locality.”