The council’s plan to establish a new 4-screen cinema in Kempsey Central Shopping Centre, above Coles, has been on-hold since June when the cinema project was rejected by the Office of Local Government’s project review committee (PRC).

The committee rejected the proposal over concerns that council did not submit the cinema proposal in accordance with the NSW guidelines for Public Private Partnerships and did not fully consider independent analysis of the project.

Following the rejection, council voted to continue negotiations with the PRC but is yet to hear anything from the committee.

“Council is still awaiting determination from the Office of Local Government’s Project Review Committee (PRC). We are hopeful of some indication from the PRC soon as we have stressed to them the project timeframes,” a spokesperson for the council said.

Speaking to the Argus, Melinda Pavey said the delay on the cinema proposal has been too extensive and the project must be awarded a green light soon.

“I’m doing what I can behind the scenes as the local member to give clarity and an answer to the council – this has been going on for too long and I’m doing what I can to support council to get an answer so that they can get on with what they committed to before and after the local government election,” Ms Pavey said.

“The new council was elected in on the platform for a Kempsey cinema so I believe it does have the support of the majority of the community.

“With the new highway improvements between Kempsey and Port Macquarie, there is going to be more pressure for people to travel away from Kempsey to do their shopping and for their entertainment which is why I think we need more choices for those cultural type of activities in Kempsey,” she said.