🛩️ Bonza's Budget GC Flights, Satellite Civilisation, Calling All Potential Gold Coast Councillors and more
Discover more from The GC Minute
🛩️ Bonza's Budget GC Flights, Satellite Civilisation, Calling All Potential Gold Coast Councillors and more
Today’s newsletter is 962 words: 4 minute read.
Thursday, August 3.
Yeahh the girls ⚽️ 🇦🇺
The Matildas are keepin’ the dream alive this coming Monday night in Sydney.
Watch it live at 8:30 pm AEST.
In today’s email
Bonza’s Budget GC Flights: Are scheduled to begin in November
Satellite Civilisation: Starlink’s 4,500 to become 42,500
It’s A Cluster: The emerging tech heartlands of Australia
Trending: Palm Beach things
Around the Web (Snippets): Tallebudgera Creek dredge starts, Fruit-picking robots, Meta blocks the news, Calling all potential Councillors and more!
GC Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Gold Coast Housing Prices
1. One Big Thing: Bonza’s Budget GC Flights
Gearing Up
Ultra-low-cost airline Bonza is setting up its second Southeast Queensland base on the Gold Coast.
Launching 11 new routes, you can soon fly to spots like Melbourne, Cairns, and Whitsundays while keeping some cash up to play on arrival.
Zoom In
Bonza will initially operate with just two wet-leased jets, with eventual upgrades to branded Boeing 737 MAX 8s.
This move will see nearly 700,000 new seats in the market and create 100 beachside jobs, adding local job opportunities.
Zoom Out
From Albury to Townsville, Bonza's expanding network covers the east coast like a fresh layer of sunscreen.
It's not just about flying; it's about connecting families and offering holiday bliss, apparently.
More routes are teased from the new base, so keep your eyes peeled here at The GC Minute to find out what gets announced.
What the People Say
CEO Tim Jordan is all aboard the Bonza brigade, connecting communities and bolstering the economy.
Queensland Airports Limited CEO, Amelia Evans, is equally amped, forecasting a cool $100 million splash to the local Goldie economy from the new services.
The Road Ahead
Bonza's budget flights are scheduled to begin in November, but the ticket sales will start way sooner.
2. Satellite Civilisation
Orbital Impact
Elon Musk's SpaceX has launched over 4,500 Starlink satellites, accounting for over 50% of all currently active satellites.
With plans for up to 42,000 satellites, this network offers high-speed internet across the globe.
Its value has pushed SpaceX to nearly $140 billion.
Starlink's Dominance
The Starlink project has become essential to various sectors.
It's used in war zones like Ukraine and remote areas and by governments like the U.S. and Japan.
Meanwhile, the European Union has earmarked $2.6 billion to build its own satellite constellation.
Even China has registered plans for 13,000 internet satellites off the back of concerns that Musk would secretly activate free and open internet over the hyper-controlled Chinese Government’s closed internet and communications network.
A Delicate Balance
Ukraine's digital minister has described Starlink as "the blood" of their communication infrastructure, which we hope aids in their efforts against their invaders.
However, at least nine countries have expressed concerns to American officials about Musk's power over this technology.
The balance between domestic needs and geopolitical considerations regarding Musk's influence is a complex issue, with Taiwan's reluctance to use the service citing Musk's business links to China.
Looking To The Stars
It’s bloody good internet (we got the opportunity to use it a few clicks south of Jindabyne recently). Still, Musk's dominance in satellite technology is certainly shaping the future of global internet access quickly, including potential effects on the Gold Coast.
It’s the fire Telstra needed to be lit under it and the death knell for others, ie. Optus and other B-grade coverage services.
Either way, this city is set to benefit.
Competitors will step up to this global product or step off and let us gain access to a better internet to benefit innovation and all.
3. Australia Tech Heartlands
Cities vs. Regions
The recent CSIRO report reveals that 62% of Australia's tech jobs are located in 60 metropolitan suburbs and 36 regional towns, with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra leading the way.
Gold Coast's Emerging Role
The Gold Coast is recognised as a niche cluster for developers and graphic designers, with the beachside suburb of Burleigh Heads employing at 3.2 times the national average rate.
Zoom In
Regional areas are becoming tech hotspots, yet there's concern over housing challenges, with Silicon Valley's housing woes as a potential warning.
Lessons from there must guide Australia's balanced growth.
Nurturing Australian Talent
The growing tech industry keeps talent within Australia, fostering careers domestically.
Growth Phase
Australia's tech clustering is an exciting development but requires careful handling to ensure innovation without societal disruption.
The focus on areas like the Gold Coast, as we've spotlighted, illustrates the way ahead.
4. Trending this week
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
An Annual Dredge: The yearly $1 million job restarts at Tallebudgera Creek this week, where sand is pumped around the Burleigh headland and Burleigh beach
Fruit-picking Robots: Meet the flying geniuses that are filling the labour shortage
Burleigh Sinkhole: Cause a bit of chaos along the Southport-Burleigh Rd near Bunnings
Calling All Potential Councillors: Nominations are now open for eligible individuals interested in filling the vacancy of Gold Coast Division 4 Councillor.
Meta Blocks The News: In Canada, in its latest standoff with publishers
Sunshine Coast vs. Gold Coast: In the battle for the #1 nationwide city relocation destination
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