The residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to the delivery of the long‑promised Gungahlin Cinema. A cinema for the Gungahlin Town Centre was first proposed more than a decade ago, with the ACT Government releasing land at the corner of Efkarpidis Street and Hinder Street specifically for this purpose in 2012.
Despite repeated assurances and multiple development announcements, the project has faced continual and avoidable delays. The developer originally indicated construction would commence in 2020, yet no meaningful progress has occurred.
For years, there seems to be no progress between ACT government and developers but has been repeatedly stonewalled, resulting in a barren, fenced‑off block in the heart of the Gungahlin Town Centre. Gungahlin is one of the fastest‑growing regions in the ACT, yet remains the only major town centre without a cinema.
Residents continue to be disadvantaged by the lack of local entertainment infrastructure, despite more than a decade of unmet commitments. Community frustration has grown as the promised cinema has now been delayed for over 12 years, with no clear timeline for delivery.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government to:
1. Urgently investigate and publicly report on the causes of the prolonged delays in the Gungahlin cinema development;
2. Explore all available mechanisms including planning, contractual, or legislative options to ensure the developer meets their obligations or that alternative pathways are pursued;
3. Commit to a clear, enforceable timeline for delivering a cinema in the Gungahlin Town Centre;
4. Ensure transparent communication with the Gungahlin community regarding progress, obstacles, and government actions taken to resolve the issue;
5. Gungahlin residents deserve equitable access to cultural and entertainment facilities, and that the continued inaction on this project is inconsistent with the ACT Government’s stated commitment to building cohesive, liveable communities; and
6. Take regulatory compliance action to enforce the lease conditions for the Gungahlin cinema site.