Holdfast Bay Council approves developer Andrew Taplin's $17m Glenelg cinema plan Banned coach James Hird apologises to Essendon fans, a new cinema complex for Glenelg, and Australian baseballer Chris Lane farewelled in Melbourne A $17 million eight-screen cinema complex at Glenelg is a step closer, after Holdfast Bay Council gave it the green light last night. Nearly 18 months after it was first proposed by developer Andrew Taplin, a majority of councillors agreed to the plan before a packed gallery. The plan must now be considered by the State Government's Development Assessment Commission (DAC). Once approved, the cinema is expected to open by early 2015. An artist's impression of the cinema at Glenelg. Picture: Proske Brown Architects Under the deal with the council, the Taplin Group would build the 1054-seat cinema complex in the air space above a council-owned car park, just off Jetty Rd. Mr Taplin would get the land for free, but in return must pay an estimated $5 million for a two-level carpark east of Partridge St. The council would contribute $2.5 million towards the carpark, which it would own and operate. Mr Taplin, who owns more than 25 per cent of the property along the Jetty Rd strip, welcomed the decision. "This development will provide a massive boost to the region by injecting millions of dollars into the economy and will also improve Glenelg as a major tourism and entertainment precinct," he said after the decision. We believe this development will play a major role in reinstating Glenelg's position as SA's premier metropolitan seaside commercial precinct. The council voted 7-4, after some councillors raised concerns about traffic management issues, the plan not meeting Holdfast Bay's own development guidelines and the impact of the concurrent closure of two carparks during construction. The council was expected to consider the Mr Taplin's proposal two weeks ago, but the vote was derailed after a councillor opposed to the plan engaged a little-used technicality to stall the vote.