Car park could pave way for Shanghai Hollywood

A multi-million dollar Chinese film studio and training centre could be built on one of the biggest and busiest carparks of Bunbury's city centre.

Mayor Gary Brennan has confirmed to the Bunbury Herald that local production company Vue Group, which wants to build the studio, had selected the Wittenoom Street carpark opposite the Bunbury Regional Art Galleries as its preferred location.

But Vue Group managing director Alan Lindsay would neither confirm nor deny the company's interest in the carpark.

Vue Group and the Shanghai Hippo Animation company are joint venture partners to build the film studio in Bunbury and signed an agreement with the State Government and Bunbury City Council last year.

With 110 parking bays, the Wittenoom Street lot is a major parking spot for central business district visitors and shoppers.

Mr Brennan said the film studio would contain some parking but conceded it would be mostly for users of the development.

He maintained the lost customer parking would have to be replaced elsewhere in the CBD.

Mr Brennan said the advantage of the land was that it was owned by the council and could be leased to Vue Group.

"Apart from the land adjacent to the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, it (the carpark) is the highest-value block the community owns," he said.

Mr Lindsay said that processes and reports needed to be completed before his group could confirm its preferred site.

He said the focus was a CBD location that could, if economically viable, include commercial development such as hotels.

"We're determined to have a facility in the CBD that brings life into the city," he said.

A development application will be lodged with the council once a site is confirmed.

Bunbury shopper Shellie Brenan, of Donnybrook, believed the development could open up job opportunities but hoped the carparks could be replaced.