Some residents of Doon Doon near Uki have welcomed the cancellation of a US television show filmed in and around Murwillumbah earlier this year, which they say disrupted their quiet lifestyle.
The comedy-drama series called Camp, by a joint US-Australian production company, was cancelled by major network NBC because of poor ratings after its first screenings recently across the US, and a second series has been canned.
Producers of the show have been forced to sell all the sets, props, wardrobes and equipment they used for filming of the 10 one-hour episodes in Murwillumbah and at the scenic Crams Farm picnic and recreation area at the Clarrie Hall Dam.
A large garage sale will be held in Murwillumbah next week where the props and wardrobes, including structures used for sets at Crams Farm, will be offered for sale.
The production of the show was supported by Tweed Shire Council, which had offered generous incentives and use of public facilities in a bid to stimulate the local economy.
Show producer Brett Popplewell told local media recently that the show’s cancellation was disappointing and came as a shock.
But a local couple from Commissioners Creek near Crams Farm said they were happy to hear the news after complaining earlier this year about the ‘horrendous’ speeding along the unsealed Doon Doon Road leading to Crams Farm by contractors employed at the set, who mostly came from Queensland.
They said wildlife was killed as a result.
The couple, who live near the set and did not want their names made public for fear of recriminations, said the Crams Farm site had also been locked out to locals and tourists during the filming and it had suffered as a result of the commercial venture.
A six-month lease on the empty Murwillumbah Bowls Club was used as the base for a crew of 70, plus actors and extras.
Council’s acting director of community and natural resources, Anthony Burnham, said at the time that the filming boosted bookings of motel beds across the Tweed and businesses provided fuel, meals and building supplies.
Council also had a lease with Matchbox Pictures that covered restoration work for the Crams Farm set location.
The couple said the film company had ‘free rein of the park for the whole week to do whatever they do, yet the army cadets were not allowed by Council to use it for their camps because of fears their marching could compact the soil there’.
The sale of costumes, set pieces, furniture and watersports equipment used in the filming will be held at 2 Kite Crescent, Murwillumbah on Friday, November 8 to Sunday November 10, from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Such a shame the movie was cancelled
Thank God that won’t be back. I have no idea with the size of the US why they had to take over our little area and make it look like the US…financially ridiculous. For the small amount of revenue they brought to a select few in the northern rivers they were a big nuisance.
The mind-numbing drivel of Yankee TV soaps depends on total lack of inspiration or social challenge. What a vast amount of money must be raked in from advertising to justify this churn of the regurgitated. Makes selling drugs look legitimate.