The proposed development, on land at corner of Park and Warlters streets, features nine cinemas, gymnasium, fun fair with indoor bowling alley, food and drink premises, retail tenancies and basement car park.

The proposal has an estimated construction cost of $34.7 million.

The Port News spoke to nearby residents and businesses after the development application went on public exhibition.

Raine & Horne Port Macquarie licensee Martin Newell said he appreciated any investment in the area.

“It will bring jobs in construction and when it is built,” he said about the proposal.

Mr Newell said the planned entertainment and commercial precinct would probably be a drawcard for Port Macquarie and the locality.

He said the land earmarked for the proposal was a prime piece of real estate and he believed, given the views, it would be more suited to hotel accommodation.

Burger Urge Port Macquarie store manager Kyle Lynch and assistant manager Hamish Johnson believe the proposal, if it goes ahead, will bring more people to the locality.

Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant manager Bella Clark said the photomontage of the proposed building looked appealing.

She said the proposed development would offer something different to Port Macquarie, as well as more parking.

Nearby residents Brian and Gloria Stirton, who are not against the proposal, raised some concerns.

“My main concern is the noise and I’m hoping the building will be properly insulated,” Mrs Stirton said.

Mr Stirton added they were concerned about noise, waste collection with trucks and the traffic impact.

He said if the proposed development was good for the community, that was fine.

“We bought in town because we wanted to be close to everything, and if that’s the price we have to pay, that’s the price we have to pay,” Mr Stirton said.

United Cinemas founder Roy Mustaca moved to allay concerns.

He said the proposal development would have its own car park, which would ease parking for a lot of people.

“Our cinemas don’t all finish at the same time and we don’t have any problem with noise,” he said.

“We have many cinemas and we don’t have problems with garbage trucks.”

Mr Mustaca said the entertainment and commercial precinct would be wonderful for the area and create employment opportunities.

“We employ all ages and we give an opportunity to the younger ones who have never had a job before,” he said.

Meanwhile, another nearby resident, who did not want to be named, raised concerns about the impact on street parking along Warlters Street, noise and the scale of the proposal.

The development application is on exhibition at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council until February 15.

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