FILMING of the movie Oddball will shut down part of Liebig Street on May 20, but Warrnambool City Council will offer free parking as a way of compensating shoppers.
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While businesses will remain open and operate as usual on the main street between Timor and Koroit streets during filming, the council’s tourism services manager Peter Abbott said traffic would need to be stopped.
“Liebig Street is a feature of the movie in a major scene and requires the closure of this section to parking and vehicle traffic,” Mr Abbott said.
“We understand this will create some disruption to the normal function of the city centre, which is why we’re replacing the on-street parking with free parking in our off-street car parks.
The free parking will be offered in the Cramond & Dickson and Ozone car parks, as well as parks near the WAG, although a “small number of spaces” in the Cramond & Dickson car park will be set aside for film production vehicles.
“Businesses will remain open as usual and we encourage people to continue to support Liebig Street businesses which will be accessible at all times,” Mr Abbott said
“We apologise for the inconvenience but we anticipate that with the release of the movie next year and the associated publicity there will be longer term benefits for Warrnambool.”
He said pedestrian traffic would be allowed on the day but there will be some disruptions as filming moves along the street.
Oddball tells the story of Warrnambool penguin-guarding Maremmas and will star Shane Jacobson (Kenny, Charlie & Boots) and Alan Tudyk (Serenity, Frozen, Death At A Funeral).
Filming will also take place along Viaduct Road and in and around Thunder Point from May 23-31, as well in Stingray Bay and at Pickering Point.
Traffic is expected to be affected along Viaduct Road during that time but should largely remain open.
The roads to Thunder Point and Pickering Point will be closed some days, as will some of the walking paths around the area.