Hollywood to take over Northern NSW point for two months
It was more akin to a country soap opera than the bright lights of Hollywood, with a mayor in tears and claims the environment was being forgotten.
But despite significant community opposition, movie giant Warner Bros was cleared to film its blockbuster Aquaman at the Hastings Point Headland, on the New South Wales far north coast.
It took an emergency meeting of the Tweed Shire Council to rubber-stamp the proposal for the $160 million project after furious ratepayers complained they were not consulted about plans to block off the site for at least two months.
The council granted a temporary licence to film at Hastings Point, with regular checks to be conducted.
Aquaman, which stars silver screen royalty Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Jason Momoa and Willem Dafoe, is based on an American comic book character.
Some opposition has been expressed about the Warner Brothers film Aquaman being filmed at Hastings Point in NSW.
Hastings Point in northern NSW where Aquaman is set to be filmed next month. (Photo: Tom Forbes)
Duncan Jones, Warner Bros' location manager, said he had spent a lot of time talking to locals but conceded "a few had slipped through the cracks".
"This is a really exciting project, we do make films everywhere, this is not the only location for this production," he said.
"We embrace every community that we go to. We like to think we make movies, but we give back to everywhere we go. We give back in a positive way, not just in terms of jobs and money, but we give that Hollywood wow-factor."
"This is the magic of Hollywood coming to the Tweed Shire."
Environmentalists bemused by decision
This is not the first time the area has been used to film a major movie.
Many local residents claim native grasses at the rocky foreshore were damaged during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean last year and fear history will repeat.
Greens Mayor Katie Milne broke down in the meeting while delivering an emotional speech about how the town must not forget the environment for the "bright lights" of Hollywood.
Gary Thorpe, president of Progress Association of Hastings Point, could not understand the decision.
The notice informing Hastings Point residents of a film set for Aquaman by Warner Bros. (Photo: Tom Forbes)
"We're at a loss to understand why council has given this production crew such an extended period of time to exclude visitors and locals from the headland," he said.
He claimed local residents were not properly consulted.
"I think there needs to be some sort of limitations given," Mr Thorpe said.
"Otherwise we'll have one film crew queuing up after the next with no regulation in place."
Tweed Deputy Mayor Chris Cheery, also a Green, said council had tried to address ratepayers concerns, but conceded they had learnt from the spat.
"We need to do our consultation for this sort project that is going to have a high community impact, quite a bit earlier," she said.
"We need to be clearer to the film producers what we expect."
Filming will start next week.
//RILEY STUART AND DONNA HARPER
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Welcome Aquarians we Earthlings mean no harm.
Hastings Point is promoted as Jewel in the crown by NSW Govt Tourism Bodies.
Headland is trashed already...$160m buys 2 crappy [LITTLE LISA SLURRY][SIGNS].
Movie props easy knock up {Aquaman Sea Scrolls} fix a conch shell for sea rescue.
Greens Mayor Katie Milne's protective nature is rare and warranted here.
Deep down surfers and movie people agree.
More importantly we all know too little, to let so much ride.
What is rare here is a varied and lively inter-tidal zone. Shells abound with creatures.
Respect to Saltwater People... Where Hastings Point north facing sandy hook meets Cudgera Creek shapes their fish trap. Sorry! If I wasn't meant to divulge location.
As with Tallebudgera Creek both Fish Traps rest in busy entry points. (Mostly Invisible)
NSW Northern Coastline is still free [P].
Surfers spend a night or two... free as a bird.
Gold Coast [P] Calls Time out @ World Surfing Reserves.
Nod off in Kombi up at The Spit... cop a lifetime ban.
Movie people trailer park hooks any beach-whole beach 24/7 whole season long.
Movie Stars are top 10 lawbreakers. Media headline [A problem worth having].
That's a wrap! Locals credited with season long precedent of Whiteshoe Surf Marquis.
Touch of Movie Magic will keep'em at bay until next year. Hooray for Hollywood!
Disclaimer: Swellnetonian is on a CGI viral Hiatus.
I remember my mate had webbed toes.
Bloody Aquairians hippies, if your not Piscean your not true oceanic dudes.
I remember around 2005 the crew from Fool's Gold with Mathew McConoughey set up at Spookey's / Blue Pools car park for about a month. Not a problem . The Slow Food shop did a roaring trade plus many other businesses in Yamba. Embrace the experience and surf with some characters from the Hollywood scene.
For some locals only this will be a first world problem.
Yes, embrace the experience. The locals will all go and see the movie and then say- 'yeah, I know where that is, great spot'.
Heh, this is only temporary. It's a buzz to actually a connection with a specific movie.
Hmmm yep can't see the problem! Except for locals making some extra bucks for 2 months this year..
Surely after the "grass" was damaged during pirates there would have been a agreement on fixing the "grass" when done!
I wonder how much pollution the Byron shire makes by all the bonfires and weed smoke going up into the atmosphere?
But it's natural right!
Oh and who's idea was it to build a tar road over the natural grass on the headland so cars could drive out there?
Ha Ha Ha, yeah, I am currently in talks with the "Authorities" (which I have secretly paid money to) so that I can take over Snapper Rocks for a year because I am making a movie called "Beautiful uncrowded barrels all to myself on the Goldy" (which promises to be a box office hit) !! I have made a small allowance so that a maximum of three sexy naked woman can join me in the line up on the strict proviso that they don't drop in...
Are they calling the movie "Jetski" by any chance?
Whinge has some merit as total access denied. Council could have negotiated better outcomes especially on weekend access. Maybe I just whinging because my deserted walks and skinny dips will now be overseen by crowds. Aquaman meets weenman!!!
Well anyone who goes to a nudest beach and likes to strip off in public is classified as a " exhibitionists" and is more than likely chuffed at the idea of a few movie stars and directors looking in there direction!
I think you all secretly like the idea but are to afraid of saying so in case of recuperations from the more intense green/hippy majority!
Hollywood go go go.....
Hey Mango. The "Caps Lock" button is the one between "Tab" & "Shift" on the left of the keyboard.
Go go go HOLLYWOOD!!!!!
Now I am confused. Am I a MORON or something to do with a reddish-brown colour associated with Queensland State of Origin?
S-W, you are a confused moron. Self -diagnosis is sometimes the best diagnosis.
Now that I think about it, this could be my big break. Going to take a couple of extra Ron Jeremy doses and go strut my stuff. Where's that bloody make up girl gone? No Hippy's round here major, all rity!!!
No Hippy's around here?
I think you will find many living in trees and woods! From coffs to byron.
But dave seeing your into porn i will let you off!
Shit is this sounding like stabmag again? Should i skip to beach grit...
Who gives a f---
Thanks mango
Hollywood magic? Theres no magic down there in holiday time. They should just remove the road from the headland and make it pedestrian access only. Give it back to the locals
Ah so functions and occations are OK on the headland but no movies!
datasha, do you mean John Oxley and/or Warren Hastings?
well I havent seen Pete Evans backdooring middle rock
To be honest it sounds like the locals only car about them being not able to "drive" out on the headland!
Not to concerned about visters using it!
Maybe they could just leave there car at home and go for a walk on the beach for two months!
Now thats caring for the environment!
The local businesses will have a really good trade for a while which will
filter one way or the other thru the community,in time every local will have
a decent story to tell, gives the place a little bit of excitement for a time.
The local council will get some money injected and I bet some local people
may even get some work if they really want it of course.
Lets face it the place isn't the be all and end all of decent surf so why not?
Only down side is that Nicole Kidman is in the movie which means I cant watch
it because she has to be the most over rated actress on planet earth.
Bingo!
Spot on Evo.
I will tell her boys as we do a skinny dip out take. Hang on a minute. Sorry boy's, bit of a delay while they go get a bigger camera and lens. Oh, such is life- first the horn, then the porn, money in my bank, Nikki to give me a - poetry!!!
Clarify. Horn, Jeff. Money in my bank account
Porn, used to take all my girlfriends down there for cuddling. Now, in steady relationship. Very handy I might say so would be grateful for poor actress rather than being left out altogether.
Surfs crap there and the fishin's worse, so what's the fuss about?
Hippys tend to be very fucking selfish! If you hadn't already had a clash with one or known!
A verbal fight with one can be very much like what goes on in a commission house building!
Except this ones more likely to happen down in the main street of a town!
Yeah that headland looks like every other one on the northern NSW coast. Lots of Kikuyu or is it couch grass. Not much left to trash there it was done long ago. Coming from Victoria when I started the road trip up the coast (late seventies) couldn't believe how rooted some of these headlands are, how cheap and nasty most of the development was, and how souless most of the towns were. Post war development has been crap.
Hastings is hardly the mecca of the north coast. Locals have put up with countless film shoots at Caba over the years, albeit lower budget productions, so fuck em., take it on the head. Warner Bros is a machine, and their catering is second to none, get a job as an extra and ride the gravy train.
Exactly!
Will Vincent Chase and his Entourage (Johnny Drama, E and Turtle) be heading to Hastings Point for this sequel or has Warner Bros still overlooked for the role after appearing as Pablo Escobar in Medellín?
If he is, that I'll be a lot of fun for the local ladies.
Are you lot on mushies? It is beautiful spot. Been food source long time. Hollywood, Bollywood, no matter, blessed place for mob. Happy surfing . be true to you.
Lol hehee really Dave! A north new south Welshman accusing a outsider of being on mushys?
Daves at the gym , getting some tips from 'Hemsy' .
Too right. Who needs mushies when you got , oh, you know that bloody four letters thing. I been doing sit ups, cuddling everyone, doing skipping, cuddling everyone
Must have made an impression though, they have asked me to research new location West of uluru. Given me great little postie Honda and a Jerry can. Love to chat but, well, the show must go on.
They took "COKE" out of coca cola a long time ago Dave.
Don't call us , we'll call you. ;}
Nothing to do with Flat Eartherz idiot box office splash.
Fellow Swellnetonians... What would it take to draw a line in the sand? (GC samples)
1876- Beach long rifle range-ended up aiming seaward at sharks.
1888-Buggy run had white horses chargin' around Burleigh Point
1898 Quarrying at Fingal Caves/Point Danger
1902-Trans Cable laying /1919- World Record Bike Racing at Main Beach.
1919 NSW/QLD Quarantine cross border surf ban (NSW surfers protested loudly)
It was said this limited choice led to the first surfing of D'bah.
1931-Planes on beach Runways,1932- Camel Trains,1933-Glider Club at Narrowneck.
1940's Broadbeach Surfers stared down Sandmining Bulldozers & won!..They're Back!
1940's U.S. Army fenced off Surf reserves for their own crew.Locals surfers were livid.
1950's - After Cyclones Beach Baths pumped out pools full of sand at given points.
(Letter to Ed) Beach Radio + Beach Concerts/ Hokey Pokey driving us surfers nuts.
1960's Just who surfs with a live naval mine? (detonated on Spit)
1970's Nude school cleared out the line-up + Groynes (Good or Bad) 1,2,3,4 & more...
1980's Caravan Park surf safaris coming to an end.
1990's Boyz Toyz + Beer buoys. All lost at Sea!
2000's... o/n [P] Fined (sleeping/beach fires) + [2P] Time Out Surf Sessions
Surf Comp 1/2 Day/Tent - One Week - One Month a shopping mall awaiting more.
Sand Pump & Dredge until Surf Season ends. Quick hurry up it's time to pump again.
Movie People come & go whenever they please now forced to hide out for the season.
Ocean Resort creeps out the beach. Oceanway well heeled now gearing up for war.
Cruise Ship Terminal (50yrs) + Cruise Ship Casino (100yrs) + Cruise Ship resort (100yrs)
Day had to come when beach precedent reached fever pitch,forever and sky high.
We shall fight on the beaches as surf lovers always have! Freedom come freedom go.
The location managers quote of, "Its the magic of Hollywood coming to Tweed Shire", has all the charm of a bowl of cold spew.