ACT Labor MLA Michael Pettersson this afternoon called on the ACT Government to develop a cinema complex in Gungahlin, first promised almost a decade ago. The motion was carried with no amendments.

“A cinema was promised to the Gungahlin community a long time ago, and it’s disappointing that residents are still waiting,” Mr Pettersson said.

“Gungahlin residents deserve to have the same choice of retail, hospitality and entertainment venues as Canberrans living in other areas. Every other town centre has a cinema, and so should ours.”

In 2012, the ACT Government selected a site on the corner of Efkarpidis Street and Hinder Street for a cinema development. A competitive tender process was undertaken the following year.

Since the site was released to the successful purchaser, recurring delays have prevented the cinema’s construction.

Earlier this year, Mr Pettersson  surveyed of Gungahlin residents to hear what retail and hospitality options they wanted to see in their town centre.

“Overwhelmingly, people said they wanted more entertainment options.”

Mr Pettersson also called on the Government to revise the guidelines for granting extensions on development applications, so that the community can have more certainty about when projects will be delivered.