New plans for a Gungahlin cinema complex will be lodged next month, as the long-running saga approaches an end point.
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If approved, construction of the eight-cinema complex on Hinder Street will take about 18 months.
The complex was first mooted in 2012 when the ACT government called for expressions of interest.
Canberra-based developer Krnc Group was successful and in 2016 announced that Hoyts Australia was the proposed cinema complex's "preferred operator".
ACT government officials gave Krnc Group's plans the green light in 2017, but the start of construction was prevented by a legal challenge from independent chain United Cinemas, which contended that it had a lease agreement allowing it to operate the cinema complex.
The issue has since been resolved and if the new plans are approved, United Cinemas will operate the complex.
United Cinemas chairman Roy Mustaca, a singer-songwriter who bought the Max Brenner franchise last year, boldly declared his cinemas were "the best in the world" when he addressed this month's Gungahlin Community Council meeting.
"I'm only saying this to you [because] we can deliver you one of the best cinemas in the world," he said.
Architect Vanessa Benitez told the meeting all eight cinemas at the Gungahlin complex would be dress circle theatres, meaning they would have two levels. The bottom floor would contain recliner seats, with cheaper stadium seating on the upper level.
She said there would be in-theatre dining, with meals delivered to customers' seats.
Matthew Bourke, a director of project management company Lockbridge, told the meeting the cinema complex was just one part of an overall plan for a larger precinct.
He said stage one of the planned development would also include a three-level commercial and retail building, which may be split into a separate development application.
There would be 130 parking spots, he said.
Mr Bourke also foreshadowed future mixed use development on the same site, with the cinema complex and the commercial and retail building to only take up about half the block of land bounded by Hibberson, Hinder, Efkarpidis and Kate Crace streets.
Gungahlin Community Council president Peter Elford said he was glad the uncertainty around the cinema plans was over.
He said the most common question asked of the community council was about the cinema proposal.
"The overwhelming thing is thank goodness we're at last moving forward and the delays have been resolved," he said.
"Having seen what's been announced by United, it looks to be something different and that's positive.
"It means that there's an attraction in Gungahlin and a reason why people might jump on the light rail and go out to the town centre to catch a movie, because I think it will be a different experience."
Gungahlin is the only major town centre in Canberra without a cinema at present. Until one is built, the closest option for moviegoers who live in the ACT's northernmost district will continue to be Belconnen.
