By Brendan Rees
Nearly three years after announcing plans to transform the old and dilapidated Cranbourne pool site into a cinema complex, the developer says he’s still stuck in limbo.
“I would’ve like to have been open a year ago but unfortunately you’ve got to go through the process,” the director of Grant St Entertainment Complex Ian Macklin says.
He says he’s currently in negotiations with the land being leased through the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) who controls the crown land site.
“It’s been a bit of a battle … still quite a few conditions on the planning permission but we’re working through that,” he said.
A planning permit was issued on 6 June 2018 with CFA and DELWP conditions included.
“They have three years to start and five years to the complete the development,” Casey manager of statutory planning and building services Duncan Turner said.
Under the plans, blockbuster films would hit the proposed four-cinema complex which would also feature a bar and terrace.
Mr Macklin said he was disappointed the application had taken so long: “Unfortunately they found quite a few things which planning wise slowed everything down.”
“I’m pretty confident we should start work on site for within the next two to three months – full steam ahead then.
“Everyone I speak to wants us to do it. I’ve even had people applying for jobs which is going to be good for the community,” he said.
Casey Mayor Amanda Stapledon said the plan was a “wonderful initiative” and council would do everything it could to help make the project come to fruition.
