🏘️ Dire rental report findings
Volume 114: e-bikes caught going 120km | Million dollar Nerang intersection upgrades | GC comedy show giveaway | Elon Musk gets a city and heaps more
G’day there, it’s Thursday once again, and with (finally) a few cooler mornings around.
It’s May 8.
Today's newsletter is 1,545 words, a 7.5-minute read.
🌺 DON’T FORGET: Mother’s Day is this Sunday — miss it and risk dropping to the bottom of the Christmas list and her phone’s favourite contacts..
Good on ya’ Mums, and thanks for everything you do ❤️🙌
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Eureka seeks gold in caravan park purchase
A May report reveals: There are virtually no private rental options affordable
Million-dollar major Nerang: Intersection upgrades
Trending: e-bikes caught going 120 kmph
Around The Web (Snippets): Top female surf judge named, Elon Musk just got a city, national rally against violence, a GC comedy show giveaway and heaps more!
Upcoming Events
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Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: Eureka seeks gold in caravan park purchase
What’s Happening: Eureka Group Holdings has snapped up the Burrum River Caravan Park on the Fraser Coast for over five million dollars, with plans to convert short-term sites into long-term rentals.
Why It Matters: As housing pressures mount across Queensland, developers are pivoting to affordable, permanent housing, especially in regions experiencing infrastructure booms.
By the Numbers
The group owns or manages 2800 units across Australia and is Australia’s largest provider of affordable seniors’ rental accommodation
$5.3 million: Was the purchase price of Burrum River Caravan Park
32 new long-term rental units proposed
There is 100% occupancy across Eureka’s five nearby villages
Local Impact: While this deal is north of the Gold Coast, it mirrors a broader trend seen given that more traditionally popular coastal regions are grappling with tight rental markets, rising demand, and limited stock.
Fraser Coast Forecast: Clear Skies, Low Vacancy: The region’s appeal is rising with $11.5 billion in projects planned, including a new train manufacturing hub and massive wind farm.
What The People Say
“This provides long-term accommodation for retirees and key workers,” said Eureka CEO Simon Owen.
“The area is particularly appealing because several large infrastructure projects have either been announced or are planned for the Fraser Coast.
These include the:
$2bn Forest Windfarm proposed to be built between Gympie and Maryborough.
$9.5 billion Queensland Train Manufacturing Program in Maryborough
What To Look For Next: The full article below👇
2. Report finds nowhere left to rent on JobSeeker
What’s Happening: Anglicare’s 2025 Rental Affordability Snapshot has found that Australians on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance can’t afford to rent anywhere, literally.
Why It Matters: Out of 51,238 listings nationwide, just three were affordable for someone on JobSeeker.
Just three.
And, the housing crisis is tightening its grip, with low-income Aussies forced to skip meals, meds, and healthcare just to keep a roof overhead.
By the Numbers
Only 3 of 51,238 rentals were found to be affordable for a JobSeeker
0 rentals were viable for someone on Youth Allowance
0.1% were affordable for a single parent with a child under 5
Just 352 rentals (0.7%) were affordable for a person earning a full-time minimum wage
165 rentals (0.3%) were affordable for a person on the Age Pension
28 rentals (0.1%) were affordable for a person on the Disability Support Pension
As of May 2025, the base JobSeeker Payment rate in Australia for a single person with no children is approximately $55.30 per day, or around $774.30 per fortnight.
That works out to roughly $20,130 per year, well below the poverty line.
Local Impact: From Southport to South Hedland, the pattern holds that rental stress is now a national condition, not a postcode problem.
Flat Out of Options: ACOSS is urging urgent social security reform. “People are going without food and medication,” said CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie AO.
What To Look For Next
With the federal election days away, the Raise the Rate campaign is front and centre, demanding JobSeeker rises to $82 per day to stem growing homelessness.
Weekly Dream Gig
This week: The City of Gold Coast is diving deep for a Coordinator of Commercial Aquatics Services who can turn pool lanes into profit and laps into legacy.
💦 Splash your way into a six-figure gig ($133,000.00–$150,000.00) managing the business of water—from learn-to-swim to elite squads—while shaping the Gold Coast’s aquatic future.
🏊♀️ Lead with vision, keep our city’s fitness centres afloat and thriving and make waves where it matters by applying now.
3. Nerang intersection set for $1.9M safety overhaul
What’s Happening: From May 11, the Nerang Connection Road and Nerang Street intersection will undergo a million-dollar upgrade to improve safety and traffic flow under Queensland’s Safer Roads Sooner Program.
Why It Matters: This busy intersection links to the M1, Nerang State School, and local businesses and with rising congestion and foot traffic as well, these targeted upgrades are vital to prevent accidents and future-proof local infrastructure.
By the Numbers
$1.9 million project cost
4-month construction window (weather permitting)
4 key roads getting new pedestrian safety fencing
Local Impact: Panitz Bridge will see night and weekend closures, but pedestrian access remains.
The boat ramp and skate park stay open with traffic control in place.
What They Said: Andrew Wheeler, TMR’s Regional Director for the South Coast Region, explained:
“This intersection upgrade will deliver safety benefits for local motorists, bicycle riders and pedestrians. The Queensland Government is dedicated to providing a safe environment for pedestrians and motorists, which has been illustrated through the Safer Roads Sooner Program.”
What To Look For Next: The full article, below👇
4. Trending
🕰️ In Case You Missed It - Last week’s newsletter
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
Elon Musk's private space firm SpaceX now has its own: Municipality, Starbase City, in Texas, complete with its own Mayor, Commissioner, a giant statue of Musk and a “Memes Street”
Archaeologists unearth a: 2,300-year-old sword decorated with two small swastikas (a pre-Nazi era ancient emblem of good fortune) in a Celtic necropolis
Amazon debuts a warehouse robot with a: Sense of ‘touch’ named Vulcan
Last night (May 7), emergency services were called to: Grevillea Drive near Frascott Avenue following reports of a man being located with multiple stab wounds.
‘Fake news ... might go legal’ is the: Titans’ furious Fifita response as brutal cost of split revealed
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We’ve updated our referral program to make it easier to get a few little freebies👇
6. Upcoming Events
🏄 World Surf League Championship Tour: May 3 – 13; watch the world's best surfers compete at Burleigh Heads
🏡 Gold Coast Property Networking Group Meetup: May 8 from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm; join property investors and professionals at Burleigh Heads Surf Club for networking and insights
🎭 Funny Birds – Queensland Premiere: May 10 at 10:00 am; enjoy a heartwarming film about three generations of women on a struggling egg farm, screening at HOTA as part of the Gold Coast Film Festival.
🎬 Gold Coast Film Festival 2025, April 30 – May 11; Celebrate cinema at HOTA with premieres, panels, and pop-up screenings across the city. A reel treat for film lovers.
🍷 Urban Wine Walk Burleigh Heads: May 10 from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm; explore Burleigh’s best bars on a self-guided wine tasting trail with over a dozen venues pouring premium drops.
🎉 Gold Coast Water Lantern Festival: May 10 from 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm; light up Surfers Paradise at this family-friendly lantern release event, with live music, food trucks, and creative workshops.
🎶 Blues on Broadbeach: May 16 – 19; one of Australia’s biggest free music festivals returns to Broadbeach with four days of soulful blues performances across multiple stages and venues.
Community Contributor - Thought for the week
Wesak Festival. Full Moon of May. This universal festival benefits all humanity unbeknownst, especially those of any and all faiths who are ‘consciously’ trying to evolve. It is the festival in which the two divine Leaders of East and West, the Christ and the Buddha, collaborate in the closest of spiritual union, streaming forth loving inspiration to humanity. Invoke your evolution daily, reciting with love, ‘The Worlds Prayer’, - especially in May during this unique celestial event. ‘The Great Invocation’ is allied to no creed, belonging to all humanity.
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