Rooftop Movies to revitalize Double Bay

Sydney’s first open-air cinema is being hailed as the development to bring moribund Double Bay back to life.

Woollahra Mayor Andrew Petrie believes it is the first step towards reinvigorating the chick shopping precinct which has been in decline since the opening of the giant Westfield complex at Bondi Junction five years ago.

The plan is for a “silent” cinema to be constructed on the corner of Knox St and New south Head Rd, Double Bay.

Its innovation is that film sound will be captured by surround-sound head-phones distributed to the audience, eliminating noise distraction from outside and also any noise complaints from neighbours.

The movie screen will also be retracted during daylight house. Patrons will be able to order food and enjoy while watching a film.

A development application for the cinema project, currently before Woollahra Council, has been submitted by Fivex Commercial Property, which own the building involved.

Double bay was once the most sophisticated retail precinct in Sydney, but Westfield’s Bondi Junction development lured away businesses and shoppers.

Westfield also acquired the Village cinemas in Double Bay, only to promptly close them the day before cinemas within the Bondi Junction megaplex opened.

Locals have been lamenting the demise of nightlife in the area ever since, including the mayor.

But Councillor Petrie believes the rooftop cinema will be the catalyst for a rebirth of the suburb.

“It’ll get people back into Double bay and I really think [Fivex Commercial Property] are to be applauded,” he said.

“I know how I’ll be voting and I told the Council that I don’t want any red tape.

“It’s almost heresy for anybody to put their hand up and say we don’t want a cinema in Double Bay.”

Fivex Commercial Property General Manager, Lesli Berger said the cinema would draw people back to Double Bay.

“It’s going to be a unique experience,” Mr Berger said.  “This will be the first one in Sydney.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of business people in the area and they can’t wait for this to happen.

“In any shopping centre, you still need to have your attraction; you need entertainment.  It was a bitter blow for Double Bay when the Village cinemas shut down, and to leave the building empty and looking derelict is just awful.”

Double Bay Partnership general manager Jo Kelly said the site was great because it was not near residents and was opposite the Golden Sheaf Hotel.

“We think it’s a fabulous opportunity,” said Ms Kelly, whose organization involves retailers and the council. “We want to establish Double Bay as unique and boutique.”

Elsewhere in the shopping district, locals have been protesting against plans to turn the old Stamford Plaza Hotel site in cross St into two 14-storey towers for a residential, hotel and retail complex.

Developer Ashington has sought planning approval from the State Government in a bid to bypass Woollahra Council’s regulations restricting building heights to five levels.

The Sunday Telegraph: Around the Councils 12 April, 2009

By Carmel Melouney