A decision about a $6.8 million retail centre at Dubbo that could, but does not yet, include a cinema is expected "imminently".
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Dubbo City Council reported yesterday it was in the final stages of assessing the Victoria Park Centre development application (DA).
A proponent of the project said on Thursday that a large cinema complex had been "successfully engaged" and "most things have been put in place for a lease to be signed" when approval came through.
Estate agent Laagan Whalan told the Daily Liberal of a plan to include a movie theatre within the centre, a week after Reading Entertainment Australia announced it was leaving the Riverdale shopping centre.
"But we're still trying to get the original DA approved, across the line," he said.
"With the cinemas, it's a minor change here and there."
Council building and development services manager Stephen Wallace said yesterday a cinema was "definitely possible" at the proposed Victoria Park Centre site, being zoned B3 commercial core.
He said the DA, lodged by Dubbo businessman Nino Patriarca in October, was for a single-storey, 7.4-metre high, 12 tenancy commercial development with 221 parking spaces in Talbragar Street.
"Based on that the DA is in the final stages of consideration and should be determined imminently," he said.
"We're considering traffic management at the moment - the final matter to be considered."
Should it be approved, the developer could then lodge a modified DA to include a cinema, which the council would consider, the manager said.
If it was a change to the height or an insignificant change to the footprint of the centre, it would be relatively straightforward, depending on the details, he said.
The new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) gazetted in November 2011 rezoned more land, including the Victoria Park Centre site and neighbouring ALDI site, as B3 commercial core.
Mr Wallace said the purpose had been to ensure there were greenfield sites for large-footprint commercial and retail developments.
"That's being borne out," he said.
Mayor Mathew Dickerson said last week he was confident Dubbo would not be left without a cinema, despite Reading Entertainment Australia's decision to cease operating at Riverdale when lease negotiations broke down.
The LEP gazetted in November 2011 also allowed cinemas in the B6 enterprise corridor zone, he said.
