Latest news with #GoldCoastCityCouncil
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Gold Coast residents slugged one-off $10 payment in rates for cyclone clean-up
Gold Coast ratepayers will help foot the $50 million clean-up bill from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred with households charged a one-off $10 levy in the city's budget that was handed down today. It is on top of a general rate increase of 2.7 per cent for owner occupiers which Mayor Tom Tate pegged to Brisbane's inflation figures for the March quarter. The controversial "view tax" on high rise apartments will remain and properties registered as short-term rentals like Airbnb will continue to be pay a premium. The Gold Coast City Council is the country's second largest local government, with a budget of $2.678 billion, an increase of $215 million from last financial year. A record $1 billion dollars will be spent on capital works, with heavy investment in transport and infrastructure in preparation for next decade's Olympics. The city's disaster and emergency management funding increased to $39 million following two major natural disasters in the past 18 months — the 2023 Christmas Day storms which ripped through the region's hinterland and March's cyclone. The mayor said it could take three years before the beaches returned to their former glory. "It's about having the funds build up for future resilience. We don't know what Mother Nature's going to hit us up with so that money will be really for recovery and resilience," he said. "If it means we're going to need more halls and evacuation centres out west, that's what it's going to go to." Previously announced funding of $15 million for the design and business case for Light Rail Stage 4, extending the tram from Burleigh to Coolangatta airport, remains in the budget. But the mayor expressed his frustration that the state government was dragging its feet. "Transport infrastructure is the number one project. Without it, my prediction is that it will be gridlocked down south." Savings were found through job cuts at council but the mayor refused to say how many roles were lost. Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel said the council was using artificial intelligence to reduce operational costs. Despite lobbying from some councillors, Cr Tate also kept in place the 10 per cent early payment discount for rates. "It's been in place on the Gold Coast for the past 40 years and for future mayors, if they want to remove this, I think they take it to an election like I did," Cr Tate said. Hinterland councillor Glen Tozer was the only one to speak against the budget, citing his opposition to money earmarked for a commercial feasibility study in the controversial Springbrook cableway. He said the national park risked being stripped of its World Heritage listing if the project went ahead. "I have grave reservations about the environmental credentials," he said. "I'm not convinced it can be delivered in line with a commitment to a strict environmental assessment."
ABC News
30-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Beach erosion grounds Pacific Airshow months after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
A popular airshow on the Gold Coast has been cancelled, with organisers blaming beach erosion caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The Pacific Airshow, which last year attracted 270,000 spectators, was meant to take place over three days from August 15 on Surfers Paradise beach. The famous stretch of sand remains closed after large swells pounded the beach during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in early March. The Gold Coast City Council had hoped to restore the beaches by Easter, with a sand-dredging barge brought in to replenish more than 4 million cubic metres of sand, but large swells and king tides have delayed the project. Until earlier this month, Pacific Airshow organisers were reassuring the public they were confident the city's eroded beaches would be ready in time for this year's event. However in a statement on Friday the event's director said extensive modelling revealed the site wouldn't be safe for spectators. "Our team is devastated to be forced to cancel Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2025, but it's the right thing to do for everyone and the long-term restoration of the beach," said airshow director Kevin Elliott. He said organisers considered changing the date and moving to another location on the Gold Coast but could not find an option that wouldn't compromise the show or community safety. Mr Elliott said tickets holders would be given the choice of either receiving a refund or holding the tickets to use for the 2026 event. The Queensland government had estimated the event generates more than $33 million in overnight visitor expenditure for the Gold Coast, with more than 22,000 people flying to Queensland specifically for the event.
The Australian
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Australian
Gold Coast Council bin warning after rubbish trucks catch fire
A major Australian city has put residents on notice after seven garbage trucks caught fire in less than a month. Gold Coast City Council said batteries in bins were to blame for the blazes, which broke out after rubbish was loaded into the truck and compacted. 'Batteries do NOT belong in your bin. When crushed, they can spark, explode and start dangerous fires,' the council said in a post to Facebook. Wild images of one blaze show a massive pile of flaming trash dumped in a car park, with firefighters drenching the mess in a bid to extinguish the fire. Another image shows a stack of batteries badly burned and melted together. The Gold Coast has seen seven bin fires in May alone. Picture: Facebook The local council has said batteries are to blame for the blazes, and urged residents to dispose of the common item properly. Picture: Facebook The fires result in entire loads of garbage having to be dumped on the road. Picture: Facebook The Council also shared an image of a large burn mark on a garbage truck, with the sticker on the side of the vehicle melting away. Queensland Fire Department Superintendent Mark Halverson told ABC even dead batteries posed a huge risk. 'Even if a battery appears to be flat, there's almost always some amount of energy that remains within it,' he said. 'When that energy becomes exposed, there's obviously a lot of other combustibles in the truck and plenty of oxygen, so a very good opportunity for a fire to commence.' The Queensland government has committed millions in funding to help address the growing issue. Picture: Facebook In February, the Queensland state government announced $2 million to fund a 'bin blaze ban', noting battery fires had more than doubled since 2020. The funding would help increase access to battery disposal collection points, reducing fire risks to protect workers and essential waste services and educate residents about the risks of incorrectly disposed of batteries. 'Battery fires have more than doubled over the past five years, an unacceptable upward trend that simply must end,' Environment Minister Andrew Powell said at the time. People looking to dispose of their batteries are encouraged to use a special drop off point, which can be located at Hannah Moore Chief of staff, NCA NewsWire Hannah Moore is NCA NewsWire's chief of staff. She was previously the morning news editor at When she's not reading or talking about the news, Hannah is looking for another coffee. @hannahrlmoore Hannah Moore
Courier-Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Courier-Mail
Gold Coast Council bin warning after rubbish trucks catch fire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Environment. Followed categories will be added to My News. A major Australian city has put residents on notice after seven garbage trucks caught fire in less than a month. Gold Coast City Council said batteries in bins were to blame for the blazes, which broke out after rubbish was loaded into the truck and compacted. 'Batteries do NOT belong in your bin. When crushed, they can spark, explode and start dangerous fires,' the council said in a post to Facebook. Wild images of one blaze show a massive pile of flaming trash dumped in a car park, with firefighters drenching the mess in a bid to extinguish the fire. Another image shows a stack of batteries badly burned and melted together. The Gold Coast has seen seven bin fires in May alone. Picture: Facebook The local council has said batteries are to blame for the blazes, and urged residents to dispose of the common item properly. Picture: Facebook The fires result in entire loads of garbage having to be dumped on the road. Picture: Facebook The Council also shared an image of a large burn mark on a garbage truck, with the sticker on the side of the vehicle melting away. Queensland Fire Department Superintendent Mark Halverson told ABC even dead batteries posed a huge risk. 'Even if a battery appears to be flat, there's almost always some amount of energy that remains within it,' he said. 'When that energy becomes exposed, there's obviously a lot of other combustibles in the truck and plenty of oxygen, so a very good opportunity for a fire to commence.' The Queensland government has committed millions in funding to help address the growing issue. Picture: Facebook In February, the Queensland state government announced $2 million to fund a 'bin blaze ban', noting battery fires had more than doubled since 2020. The funding would help increase access to battery disposal collection points, reducing fire risks to protect workers and essential waste services and educate residents about the risks of incorrectly disposed of batteries. 'Battery fires have more than doubled over the past five years, an unacceptable upward trend that simply must end,' Environment Minister Andrew Powell said at the time. People looking to dispose of their batteries are encouraged to use a special drop off point, which can be located at Originally published as City's rubbish trucks catch fire seven times in one month as residents warned
Daily Telegraph
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Gold Coast Council bin warning after rubbish trucks catch fire
Don't miss out on the headlines from Environment. Followed categories will be added to My News. A major Australian city has put residents on notice after seven garbage trucks caught fire in less than a month. Gold Coast City Council said batteries in bins were to blame for the blazes, which broke out after rubbish was loaded into the truck and compacted. 'Batteries do NOT belong in your bin. When crushed, they can spark, explode and start dangerous fires,' the council said in a post to Facebook. Wild images of one blaze show a massive pile of flaming trash dumped in a car park, with firefighters drenching the mess in a bid to extinguish the fire. Another image shows a stack of batteries badly burned and melted together. The Gold Coast has seen seven bin fires in May alone. Picture: Facebook The local council has said batteries are to blame for the blazes, and urged residents to dispose of the common item properly. Picture: Facebook The fires result in entire loads of garbage having to be dumped on the road. Picture: Facebook The Council also shared an image of a large burn mark on a garbage truck, with the sticker on the side of the vehicle melting away. Queensland Fire Department Superintendent Mark Halverson told ABC even dead batteries posed a huge risk. 'Even if a battery appears to be flat, there's almost always some amount of energy that remains within it,' he said. 'When that energy becomes exposed, there's obviously a lot of other combustibles in the truck and plenty of oxygen, so a very good opportunity for a fire to commence.' The Queensland government has committed millions in funding to help address the growing issue. Picture: Facebook In February, the Queensland state government announced $2 million to fund a 'bin blaze ban', noting battery fires had more than doubled since 2020. The funding would help increase access to battery disposal collection points, reducing fire risks to protect workers and essential waste services and educate residents about the risks of incorrectly disposed of batteries. 'Battery fires have more than doubled over the past five years, an unacceptable upward trend that simply must end,' Environment Minister Andrew Powell said at the time. People looking to dispose of their batteries are encouraged to use a special drop off point, which can be located at Originally published as City's rubbish trucks catch fire seven times in one month as residents warned
