A touch of the big screen has come to the Gold Coast, with filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean’s fifth movie heading for Southport’s famous seaside location, The Spit.
Popular with Queensland’s illegal campers, the area has been earmarked to be totally cleared and ready for action within weeks, according to Hal Morris of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority.
Morris said the set would be totally fenced during filming, to deter visitors from entering the site.
The issue of illegal camping would also be the subject of further negotiation between relevant authorities in an attempt to work out a solution.
Morris said depending on weather, filming for the movie was planned to take place in June. In the meantime, work is believed to have begun on the construction of another massive ship for the production.
According to Morris, the vessel will operate on tracks to enable the film crew to capture the backdrop of the ocean.
Set construction is also expected to begin shortly. Small areas of Doug Jennings Park are also to be set aside for employees’ parking, vans and trucks during actual filming days.
Filming for the $250m blockbuster is expected to be delayed for several weeks to await the return of its star Johnny Depp, who is recovering from an injury.
It is unknown if future poster printing will include scenes shot at The Spit.
