🤕 eBike injuries increase 112%
Volume 125: eBike scrutiny | Des Hasler's 500th | AI-overviews smash Google's traffic | Woman linked to missing Gold Coast kids | 35,000 mangroves planted and more
G’day and welcome back to another GC Minute Thursday, a picture-perfect winter’s afternoon.
It’s July 24.
And a big congratulations to the Gold Coast Titans’ Des Hasler, leading the team into the weekend against the Warriors for his 500th game.
An incredible milestone.
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: E-bikes and e-scooters under public scrutiny
Connection, conversation and Creation at: Commune in Mermaid
Dos Amigos tackle the Shitbox: Rally 2025, raising money for Cancer Council
Dreamworld owner: Now riding high
Trending: U-shaped apartments behind Broadbeach
Around The Web: eBike scrutiny | Des Hasler's 500th | AI-overviews smash Google's clicks | Woman linked to missing Gold Coast kids | 35,000 mangroves planted and heaps more
Upcoming Events
Enjoy the weekly GC Minute? We are fully reader-supported and can only do all of this with your help.
Please sign up or gift a subscription today 🙌
Weekend Weather and Surf
🖖🛸 What the Trek: This cheeky little website is tracking just how close we are to living like we’re on the Starship Enterprise.
From universal translators to teleportation, it’s a bold mission to chart humanity’s trek to Trek.
Warp 9? Not quite. But the holodeck? Maybe soon..
Live Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: E-bikes and e-scooters go under public scrutiny
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: After years of injuries, deaths and public complaints about the dangers of e-scooters and e-bikes, the State Government has officially started an e-mobility safety inquiry on the Gold Coast.
Why It Matters: E-scooters and e-bikes have surged in popularity, but so have crashes, injuries and complaints, and this inquiry aims to guide safer policy, especially with the Brisbane 2032 Olympics on the horizon.
By the Numbers
5 deaths in Queensland this year from personal mobility device crashes.
112% rise in e-mobility-related injuries between 2021 and 2024.
1200+ public submissions received so far.
Local Impact: The Gold Coast is a hotspot for e-mobility, with schools, shopping precincts, and footpaths all under pressure from unsafe use, prompting locals to demand better enforcement and education.
What The People Say
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the inquiry was a vital step in ensuring Queensland’s transport network evolved safely and inclusively.
“We are taking action in a bid to save lives and prevent people getting hurt, and these hearings are a chance for the public to help guide the safe and reliable future use of e-scooters and e-bikes across Queensland, particularly in the lead up to the 2032 Games.”
Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber said she shared locals’ concerns about the rise in dangerous and illegal e-scooter and e-bike use on the Southern Gold Coast.
“The inquiry has a broad remit to look at changes needed to address community concern, and the rising injuries and fatalities linked to e-mobility use,” Ms Gerber said.
What To Look For Next: With public hearings being held also on the Sunshine Coast, up in Townsville and Brisbane as part of Parliamentary Inquiry into e-mobility safety, there will be plenty of discussions and likely some rule changes ahead.
💼 🧾 Smart Legal for GC Startups
Launching a business on the Gold Coast? Before you book a lawyer, check out Lawpath, Australia’s #1 online legal platform.
Whether you’re starting a side hustle in Burleigh or scaling from Southport, Lawpath keeps it simple, fast and affordable.
2.
Connection, conversation, and creation at Commune
In this space at Mermaid Beach, you are not a role, a title, a list of responsibilities. You are a woman. That’s enough.
Weekly Dream Gig
This week: Roll out the layout grids – Metricon Homes needs a Graphic Designer to elevate their Studio M experience at Robina HQ.
From signage and POS to brochures and launch collateral, you’ll shape the visual vibe of Australia’s #1 home builder with detail-driven design and tidy typography.
Paying $80,000.00+ (according to Seek filters), this full-time gig comes with housing discounts, career growth, and a supportive team that actually values great design.
💻 Starting a business on the GC?
Australia’s #1 online legal platform helps with legal docs, ABNs, and more and it’s 100% online.
[Ad]
3. Dos Amigos tackle Shitbox Rally 2025
What’s Happening: Team Dos Amigos, Dan Pittman and Justin Pries, are revving up for the Shitbox Rally 2025 Spring edition, taking on a 7-day, Alice Springs-to-Gold Coast trek in a $1,500 Proton Jumbuck, all in the name of cancer research.
Why It Matters: This isn’t a race, but a national fundraising juggernaut with every dent and dusty detour helping fund Cancer Council’s critical work, uniting Aussies through hardship, hope and horsepower in a race across a big chunk of the country.
By the Numbers
$56 million has been raised by Shitbox Rally since 2010
$5,000 is the minimum fundraising target per team each year
$25,000 has already been raised by Dos Amigos toward their $35,000 goal
Over $50,000 raised by the team across two rallies
Local Impact: Gold Coast businesses have jumped on board, with sponsors including Axima Logistics, Beko ANZ and Reload Media, with locals able to support the raffle draw at Club Robina on 23 August.
Prizes include a luxe houseboat holiday!
Rough Roads, Big Rewards: From Uluru to the Great Dividing Range, it’s a drive through breathtaking country and brutal terrain — made bearable by banter, camaraderie and cause.
What The People Say
Dan shares, “This will be the second rally for myself and the first for Justin.
For the last couple of months and with the support of a lot of businesses and organisations in our community, we have been simultaneously fundraising while also preparing our 2006 Proton Jumbuck (affectionately known as Professor Proton) for the journey.
Our participation in the rally is all to support those friends and family members in our lives who have been touched by cancer. With every dollar raised and every kilometre driven the rally is creating a better future for those impacted by cancer.”
What To Look For Next: Fundraising continues through to the October rally, follow the journey or donate at the Dos Amigos Shitbox Rally page.
4.
Dreamworld owner now riding high
Dreamworld owner Coast Entertainment Holdings has reported that its theme parks and attractions are enjoying their best results since 2016. Coast Entertainment Holdings, as it is now called, has had a tumultuous time since..
5. Trending
🕰️ Recent newsletters
6. Around The Web (Snippets)
A Starlink Mini that is: Battery-powered has hit the market
AI overviews are smashing Google’s: Traffic to websites, with people half as likely to click a link when an AI-generated answer is displayed
The Gold Coast Titan’s: Des Hasler has been acknowledged by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) ahead of the legendary coach’s 500th match this weekend
35,000 mangroves have been planted to revive: Redland Bay wetlands just past the northern end of the Gold Coast
Scientists are experimenting with: Robotic rabbits in hopes of luring the destructive snakes out of hiding so they can be euthanised
Hundreds of organisations have been: Breached my SharePoint mass-hacks
YouTube Shorts is adding an: Image-to-video AI tool
6. Upcoming Events
🏉 AFL QClash 29 – Gold Coast SUNS v Brisbane Lions: July 26, from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm; catch the fierce rivalry at People First Stadium, Carrara
🤾🏼 Netball Showdown - Hart Premier Netball League – July 27, 2–7pm, The Gold Coast Titans take on the Brisbane North Cougars in a fiery clash at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium.
🏢 ROKLive 2025 – Industrial Automation Expo: July 29–31, 9 am to 5 pm; hands‑on displays in manufacturing, mining, utilities & more at the Gold Coast Convention Centre
🏀 Australian Boomers v University of Colorado Buffaloes (Basketball): July 31 (warm‑up game), but check team schedule – curtain‑raiser show at Carrara Stadium
🏁 BLEACH Arts Festival (preview showcase)*: Opening events from July 31, running 31 Jul–10 Aug; but sneak‑peek activities may start earlier — in Surfers Paradise
 |
|