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SYDNEY -- The second major film studio complex in Sydney, Serenity Cove Studios, will open the doors of two of its six soundstages in July.

The facility at Kurnell on Botany Bay will expand the city's capacity to handle major U.S. and other international films, augmenting the Fox Studios Australia lot.

The A$80 million ($60 million) Serenity Cove project is being bankrolled by developer Paul Williams.

"We have been a little behind schedule due to building delays, but as promised we will have fully soundproofed stages available for hire," said Kingston Anderson, chief exec of Serenity Cove Studios. The other four stages are due to be completed by the end of the year.

Negotiations are underway with several producers to fill the stages for the second half of 2004.

A number of film and television-related businesses including Cutting Edge have set up shop at the Serenity Cove site, and Anderson is confident others will follow as productions are booked in.