Is the next Hollywood rising just outside of Sydney?

That’s the bold vision behind Central Coast Studios, a $240 million production facility proposed for a 50 acre site in Calga, less than an hour north of Sydney. Tucked just off the freeway and ten kilometers from Gosford, the project has been lodged as a State Significant Development, with ambitions to place the Central Coast on the global filmmaking map—and reshape Australia’s creative economy in the process.

Led by co-directors Heath Bonnefin and Craig Giles, the proposed site includes a film production studios, a 180-room hotel, 1,000-seat performance center, and an entertainment district with cafes, bars, and restaurants—all anchored by education facilities and strategic partnerships with tertiary institutions. Think: not just a studio, but a full ecosystem. The team behind the proposal sees it as nothing less than a game-changer for the state’s screen, gaming, and tourism industries.

“For us, this is a game-changing investment in the Coast’s creative and economic future,” Bonnefin and Giles told local press.

The timing couldn’t be more strategic. NSW is already home to nearly half of Australia’s screen production activity, but the sector is facing a crunch. A skill shortage in technical and crew roles is slowing growth. The Central Coast Studios plan addresses this directly, with industry-ready training programs embedded into the precinct—a move designed to keep NSW globally competitive.

Just last year, The Fall Guy generated nearly 4,000 local jobs when it filmed in Sydney. Now imagine an entire campus purpose-built to attract that scale of production year-round.

The development comes as NSW legislators are pushing new bills to reduce red tape for screen and digital game production, including a Local Government Act amendment to designate “screen production friendly” councils. If passed, this would give projects like Central Coast Studios even more runway.

But it’s not just about infrastructure—it’s about impact. The studios promise to generate thousands of jobs, energize local tourism, and build out the next generation of Aussie filmmakers. Central Coast Council’s John McNamara, who chairs the region’s Economic Development Committee, offered a full-throated endorsement: “Your studio will draw visitors from outside our region and inspire a new generation of creatives,” he said.

The next step? The NSW Government will issue its Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARS), setting the stage for environmental studies and community consultations before formal development applications begin.

Call it what you want—a bold bet, a regional reboot, or the first domino. But one thing’s clear: if Central Coast Studios gets greenlit, Calga might just become Australia’s most exciting new production hub.