A creative industries precinct is set to take shape on the Gold Coast with legendary local filmmaker Baz Luhrmann's production company Bazmark providing the City with strategic advice.
Councillors recently resolved to support the establishment of the creative industries precinct which would be located at the City's Miami Depot site.
It is planned that the site, deemed surplus to the City's requirements, be repurposed to accommodate a mix of creative industries including tech, visual effects, gaming and screen industries, innovation, retail and residential uses.
Mayor Tom Tate said a creative industries precinct would be another boost for the city's booming screen industry which generates more than $571 million a year for the local economy.
"We recognise there are constraints with a lack of production infrastructure on the Gold Coast. Further growth to expand studio space and supporting infrastructure and capability for the screen industry is crucial," Mayor Tate said.
"The Miami depot site is well-placed to provide opportunities for the community as our local screen industry continues to flourish.
"With one of Australia's greatest filmmakers and his Bazmark production company located on the Gold Coast advising the City, this is a great opportunity to attract further investment in the creative industries sector and continue to create more jobs within the industry."
Bazmark relocated their global head office to the Gold Coast and have a pipeline of major productions planned which would generate hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy.
"The Bazmark team and I are excited to be on the ground floor to lend our expertise to the development and construction of the Miami Arts Depot," Baz Luhrmann said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the Gold Coast is the perfect environment to further develop a filmmaking culture that stimulates local business and involves the whole community in the process.
"Our goal is not only to continue to make our own productions here, but to create world-class facilities for film post-production, visual effects, game design and other tech that Bazmark can enthusiastically promote around the globe."
The creative, tech and screen industries significantly contribute to the Gold Coast economy, with the screen sector supporting almost 4,832 jobs in the year ending June 2023.
The reported value add of creative and performance arts to the Gold Coast economy has seen positive trends over the past decade with figures reported showing an annual contribution of over $88 million in 2023.
It is estimated that over five years, Bazmark's pipeline of projects for the Gold Coast would represent a $740 million investment with a forecast of 8,700 jobs.
Invest Gold Coast will be responsible for progressing the preparation of a Miami Depot – Creative Industries Precinct – Implementation Paper and Draft Plan which will include consultation with the community and the State Government to support the implementation of the precinct.
The news comes at an exciting time of growth for the Gold Coast industry, following the announcement of Shadowbox Studios as the preferred proponent to deliver a state-of-the-art screen production facility at Yatala.
