Russell Crowe and Associates Announce Plans for Pacific Bay Resort Studios and Village in Coffs Harbour

June 16, 2021
The Coffs region based actor and entrepreneur will partner with Olympian and resort owner/operator Peter Montgomery to move the development forward.

With Australia currently experiencing an unprecedented boom due to overseas productions, Russell Crowe and his producing partner Keith Rodger have teamed up with Peter Montgomery to work towards creating Australia’s first fully integrated feature-film production and post production complex.

Situated around halfway up the Pacific Highway between the film hubs of Sydney and Byron Bay (and Brisbane/Gold Coast of course), Pacific Bay Resort Studios and Village is “lifestyle film-making with education as the fabric of the studio,” according to Keith Rodger.

Pacific Bay Resort

“A great deal of planning and consultation have gone into the design of the proposed Pacific Bay Resort Studio and Village,” said Peter Montgomery in a statement. “Its proximity to Coffs Harbour airport and the data centre are complemented by the region’s outstanding climate and natural landscape. Our studios will cater for major international feature films as well as local productions, giving them the bonus of resort lifestyle in facilities that are designed to bring employment to the region and work in harmony with Coffs Harbour’s Regional City Action Plan.

“The NSW north coast is already populated by many skilled cinema technicians and artisans, some of whom have already contacted us to express their support and readiness to be involved. We have representatives here today from some of our prospective tenants – leading figures in the film world. We also hope to have a tertiary school based here that will include an Indigenous Film component.

“The project will also involve the foundation of a new animation business together with a substantial post production capacity to support films shot at the studios as well as external projects. We are also including a Film and Olympic Museum together with an art gallery, integrated into a separate entertainment facility.”

Partners already itching to get on board include Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Destination NSW, Screenworks; Australian Television and Radio School; The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA); VA Digital Hire; ARRI; Spectrum Films; Leading Edge Data Centres; Trackdown; and Lux Machina/Epic Games.

“By providing everything cast and crews need within the studio complex we can eliminate the time usually lost due to the logistics of bringing a production together in a major city or isolated regional studio,” said Keith Rodger.

“Our multiple Leading Edge Data Centre 400GB fibre links and well as our onsite processing and storage capabilities’ will allow offsite producers remote production access with near-zero (>1msec) latency. Real-time data is a given if we’re to appeal to our industries top producers.

“It just makes budgetary sense to Integrate high-speed remote data access to sound stages offering equipment rental, trained local crews, production offices, post facilities, catering and accommodation.

“Combine that with LED virtual studios, sound-proofed stages, water tanks, a full resort and adjoining city offering the freshest and best cuisine: it’s our coastal lifestyle, all designed to make production more efficient, cost-effective and enjoyable for actors, crews and their families.”

Montgomery has confirmed that planning applications for the Pacific Bay Resort Studios and Village have been finalised for immediate lodgment with the NSW government as a State Significant Development.

Quantity Surveyors Rider Levett Bucknall estimate the Capital Investment value is $438,560,000, and the developers home to have the necessary consents, agreements and approvals within 12 months.

“This project has the potential to elevate Coffs Harbour to the world stage with international demand for filming space currently at an all-time high,” said NSW Deputy Premier Mr Barilaro. “The Australian film industry employs 20,000 people and if the NSW Government can develop and support regional capacity in this area we can ensure the creation of an entirely new regional industry and a potential jobs boom for Coffs Harbour.”

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Comments

  1. If it’s got room for a decent backlot it should go well. That’s what NSW is missing with noise complaints coming from neighbors around fox studios in Sydney whenever they try to do something outside. An tearing up centennial park every time is a poor and. Temporary option.

    I’d love to live and work here.
    Go you good thing.

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