🛬 Air Taxis move a step closer for Gold Coast
Volume 164: Coomera homes near $1m | Trams test trip to Burleigh | Doctors outperformed by AI | Domestic violence prevention on the Gold Coast and heaps more
G’day GC and welcome back, it’s May 7.
Time to bust out the winter woollies with a cold snap incoming tonight, and temperatures expected to drop to around 6 degrees in some southeast areas.
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Air Taxis move a step closer on the Gold Coast
Domestic and family violence prevention: Sessions in the hinterland
Cheap no more, Coomera home prices are: Nearing $1 million
Around The Web: Royal Pines advanced aviation, doctors outperformed by AI in Harvard study, police to fine autonomous cars, a new Banksy statue, Queensland biosecurity feedback needed and heaps more
Trending: Trams tested to Burleigh..
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1. Air Taxis move a step closer for the Gold Coast
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: International company Skyports Infrastructure has signed a deal to work with the City of Gold Coast to work towards the start of air taxi services in the region.
Why It Matters: The Gold Coast is pitching itself as one of Australia’s early test beds for advanced air mobility, with tourism, airport access and 2032 Olympic planning all hovering in the background.
The Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed on Wednesday at Council chambers, will involve both organisations to jointly investigate “a pathway to future commercial operations, defining the commercial, economic and community benefits”.
By the Numbers:
5 to 7 minutes is the proposed flight time they think they can achieve between the Gold Coast Airport and Broadbeach via the planned network
45 minutes is the current drive time from the Southern GC to the Broadbeach/Surfers Paradise area
2028 is when Skyports’ Jeju Island vertiport network is expected to begin commercial operations
Zoom In: Skyports operates the world’s busiest commercial heliport in New York and is planning to open more “vertiport networks” in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this year.
It is also developing Korea’s first vertiport network in Jeju Island, which is expected to start commercial operations in 2028.
What They Said: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he wanted the Gold Coast to be at the cutting edge of technology.
“My discussions about transport opportunities with Skyports on my previous trips to Singapore and Dubai are now coming into fruition,’’ Cr Tate said.
“Having seen the Skyports operations in Dubai firsthand, I can tell you that air taxis are the future of transport.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said they were keen to explore potential partnerships in the region.
“Discussions with Skyports Infrastructure around Advanced Air mobility naturally aligns with our 2024 Gold Coast Airport Master Plan vision
“Through the planned network, a 45-minute drive between Gold Coast Airport and Broadbeach can be reduced to a 5-7 minute flight,’’ a joint statement released on Wednesday says.
What To Look For Next: With the company already in talks with potential landlord partners, including Gold Coast Airport, the questions now are where the vertiports land, how quickly approvals move, and whether this becomes reliable transport infrastructure, or just a very good pitch deck with propellers.
2.
3. Cheap no more: Coomera home prices near $1 million
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Coomera’s days as the Gold Coast’s “affordable north” are fading fast, with three-bedroom houses now approaching the $1 million mark.
Why It Matters: Herron Todd White says the suburb’s price growth is being driven by major infrastructure investment and ongoing development, including Costco, Westfield Coomera, Coomera Rail Station and plans for a future hospital.
That is turning Coomera from a budget-friendly option into a serious northern Gold Coast hub, with nearby Upper Coomera and Pimpama getting pulled along for the ride.
By the Numbers:
$1 million is now within reach for three-bedroom houses in the Coomera area
$935,000 has been achieved for well-appointed townhouses in Pimpama, picking up spillover demand
300 square metres or less are seen as the more affordable entry points, supporting compact three-bedroom dwellings with reduced living areas
What They Said: Herron Todd White Gold Coast director for residential properties, Jerusha King, says property prices in the northern suburbs are growing, fuelled by significant infrastructure investment and ongoing development.
“Price points across the region continue to rise, with three-bedroom houses now approaching the $1 million mark and four-bedroom dwellings exceeding this level.
Higher density residential projects are also being actively encouraged, with strong demand evident for newly constructed townhouses.”
“Townhouse values have increased notably”
“Older townhouse stock, typically around 20 years of age, now represents the most accessible segment of the market, with pricing generally around $800,000.
What To Look For Next: The full article below.
4. Around the web
People who bought the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 will be getting: Some cash back after Apple agreed to pay users for not delivering AI Siri
Microsoft’s mega push in AI data centre is: Colliding with its green energy goals, weighing up scaling back one of its clean energy targets
A new statue has appeared in central: London overnight, blinded by a flag and walking off a ledge, is said to be possibly by the artist Banksy..
A new study of emergency triage diagnoses at Harvard University has found that: AI outperforms doctors, correctly diagnosing patients in 67% of cases versus 50-55% by humans.
Josh Hannay is set to hand two fresh faces their NRL debuts as the Gold Coast Titans travel to: Gosford to face the Roosters on Friday night.
Up in the US, a new law has passed that will allow: Police to issue fines to autonomous driving cars, passing the penalty onto the manufacturers
5. Trending
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇
Weekly dream gig
This week - If contracts, cost control and keeping a multi-million-dollar build on track sounds like your kind of chaos, this one’s for you.
Sunray Recruitment is chasing a Contracts Administrator for a major $8M Byron Shire Council upgrade across First Sun Byron Bay and Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park.
The package is serious with $120,000.00-$160,000.00 + super, phone, laptop and fuel provided, plus a 12-month contract with potential to stick around long-term.
Big project, beachside sites, solid pay.
6. Upcoming events
🎨 Date Night Paint & Sip Workshop – Paint Your Partner (Anime Style): Fri 8 May, evening; fun couples painting workshop combining creativity and social painting experience at a Gold Coast venue.
🏇 TAB Hollindale Stakes Day – Sat 9 May, 10 am–5:30 pm; frock up for one of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival’s big Gold Coast race days, headlined by feature black-type racing. Tickets.
🎪 Festival on the Farm Mother’s Day – Sun 10 May, 10 am–4 pm; live music, food, animals, tractor rides and family fun roll into Paradise Country for a very Queensland Mother’s Day outing.
🎤 Mother’s Day at The Star Gold Coast: Sun 10 May, all day; special dining experiences, entertainment, and curated Mother’s Day offerings at The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach Island.
🎶 The Sweet Caroline Tour – Live Concert: Wed 13 May, evening; Neil Diamond tribute concert experience featuring live band performance at The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach Island.
💃 Viva La Salsa Night – Miami Marketta: Fri 14 May, evening; Latin dance party featuring salsa music, DJs, and live performances at Miami Marketta, 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami, Gold Coast.