Harmony Fields in Maddington could soon be home to a massive outdoor drive-in cinema featuring four screens, a central café, and a mini golf course.
According to the proposal developed by Rowe Group and Ace Cinemas, the drive-in cinema would feature 800 parking bays and operate Monday to Sunday from sunset until 1 am, offering two screenings each night, with vehicles receiving the soundtrack through their car radios.
Additionally, the Mini Golf and Café are proposed to operate before weekday film screenings and from 12 pm to 4 pm on weekends.
The development application, currently under review and open for public comment through the City of Gosnells, includes a 24-page acoustic report, a 91-page bushfire management plan, a 38-page transport impact assessment, stormwater, waste management, and landscape plans.
Mayor of the City of Gosnells, Terresa Lynes, said she looks forward to receiving community feedback before finalising her position on the proposal; however, the final decision will not rest with the council.
“I understand it would be the second drive-in cinema in Perth and the only one in Perth’s southern suburbs. It could provide another entertainment option for residents in the south-east corridor,” she said.
“The city is not the decision maker for this application; however, it will prepare a report including community feedback for the Metropolitan Outer Development Assessment Panel, who are the final decision makers for this proposal.”
A Facebook post from the Examiner Newspapers announcing the potential development went viral last week, attracting over 2,000 reactions—primarily positive—along with nearly a thousand comments, 177 shares, and over 62,000 views.
“I think this is a fantastic idea. I miss the old drive-ins. So much fun,” one comment read.
“That be a great idea. I heard so many stories about the old drive-in, and I would love this wonderful idea to get approved”, another said.
However, not everyone is pleased with the drive-in cinema proposal, with several residents living nearby expressing concerns about the potential negative impact it will have on the area and environment.
In just five days, a petition opposing the development, initiated by local resident Kylie Webster, has gained around 100 signatures, and a new Facebook group called “Save Harmony Fields” has attracted 150 members.
Devastated by the news of the proposal, Ms Webster, who moved near Harmony Fields just over three years ago for its quietness and proximity to nature, believes the location is unsuitable for the drive-in cinema and suggests that the nearby Maddington football field, situated in a largely vacant general industry area in the evenings, would be a better fit to minimise potential noise, light, and traffic impacts on residents.
“I understand that the idea of a drive-in cinema appeals to some people, but I don’t think they’ve considered how they’d feel to be living next to it or to lose their recreational space,” Ms Webster said.
“I hope people actually look at the development plans and think about the size and location of this proposal because it really is massive and will destroy the amenity of the area.”
In addition to the planting of casuarina trees and hedges, the proposal includes 1.8-meter-high fencing to reduce light spill from headlights toward the adjacent Ballard Place.
Ms Webster believes there’s so much more that Harmony Fields could be to the local community.
“A drive-in cinema, at least as described in the proposal, is not a community-based space, and the concept put forward is that people will drive in, quietly listen to their radio with their windows up and engines off, not chat with anyone, then leave,” she said.
“The residents I’ve spoken with would love this to be a space that actually brings people together. We have lots of suggestions if the City of Gosnells is interested.”
Based on findings from various reports, the developers believe the proposal should be supported by the Metropolitan Outer Development Assessment Panel for seven key reasons.
“The proposed development provides an opportunity to enhance the currently underutilised subject site whilst providing many of the social and recreational benefits associated with public open space,” the application stated.
The acoustic report included in the application also states that noise monitoring was conducted on-site in December 2023, and based on its findings, it believes that the drive-in cinema would have minimal noise impact.
The acoustic report included in the application also states that noise monitoring was conducted on-site in December 2023, and based on its findings, it believes that the drive-in cinema would be capable of compliance with the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations.
Speakers around the café playing movie soundtracks, voices at the ticket booth, car movements, starts, and door closings were considered in the report, but not all factors were included.
“It is understood/assumed that the soundtrack from movies will be played through the radio of cars, and as such, have not been considered in relation to the noise impact of the development,” the report stated.
“Although not part of the environmental assessment, the site is located adjacent to Tonkin Highway and noise monitoring of the background noise levels in the area indicate that the noise received at the neighbouring residences from the proposed development would, for the majority of the time, be below the existing background noise level.”
To view the full Planning Application and provide feedback, please visit the Your Say page on the City of Gosnells website at yoursay.gosnells.wa.gov.au.
Feedback will close at 5 pm on Tuesday, November 19.
