Auckland councillors are undecided about the future of 10 hectares at Hobsonville Point.

Council agency ATEED has been given four months to provide a business case to convert the site into a sought-after new film studio.

If they're unsuccessful, council property company ACPL would use the land for much-needed housing and an employment hub.

Upper Harbour Local Board chair Lisa Whyte said the community might accept a facility that provides a small number of high-quality jobs.

"The local road network isn't designed to cater for mass-commuting traffic but the ferry wharf gives good access to the city."

Residents are being assured their community won't become an industrial eye-sore if a new film studio goes ahead.

Councillors have given council agency ATEED four months to deliver a viable plan for a film studio on a vacant 20 hectare site.

Lisa Whyte said the agency is promising a facility locals can be involved in, and feel comfortable with.

"What we don't want is a fenced off compound or anything like that, but that's not a proposal that's on the table."

Deputy mayor Penny Hulse has rejected suggestions ATEED and ACPL have been at loggerheads about use of the site.

"This process has not been a disagreement between two CCOs or between council and its CCOs," she said.

"Both CCOs developed land use proposals as part of their differing strategic responsibilities. This was the job we asked them to do."

According to Ms Hulse, the council wanted to turn the site into a marine hub, but hadn't received any superyacht proposals.

“Now is the time to be practical, if a marine precinct cannot provide employment," she said.

"Other options need to be considered that provide the best outcomes for both the local area and the wider region in terms of homes and jobs”.

The options on the table

Councillors will go with one of two options by the end of October, for the full 20-hectare council property.

Currently, the committee has given interim approval to have a screen precinct built on 10 hectares of the land, with the remaining 10 hectares becoming housing.

ATEED has been given approval to begin a procurement process for private investors to build and operate the precinct.

The other, which the committee may fall back on, will see 14 hectares of land committed to housing. The remaining 6 hectares earmarked for an Employment Hub.

That proposal was put forward by ACPL.

Council agencies stand by their posts

ATEED chief executive Brett O’Riley said Auckland has a valuable screen and digital sector that could perform better with a new hub.

“ATEED’s vision is for the private sector to create a thriving modern, world-class, price-competitive, studio complex with adjacent film schools.

“That will allow Auckland to attract the major international productions we are missing out on."

ACPL chief executive David Rankin said it was fair to give ATEED more time to nut out their proposal.

“In the interim three months ACPL will continue to complete the consenting for roading infrastructure and associated design.

"Momentum is maintained in the event council adopts the mixed development proposal later in the year."