🏢 Gold Coast set to get a Trump Tower
Volume 154: F1 changes fuel local company growth | Burleigh Mum wins $1m | GC Faster Rail design updates | Varsity Lakes childcare giant reports $303m loss and heaps more
G’day GC, and welcome back to another big weekly newsletter.
It’s February 26, our last newsletter of summer, already 🥲
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Formula One changes fuel local’s PWR profit growth
Varsity Lakes-based: Childcare giant G8 Education reports $303m loss
The Gold Coast is set to get: A Trump Tower
Trending: Design ideas for Trump Tower..
Around the web: Burleigh Mum wins $1m | Samsung launches new S26 with anti-shoulder surfing tech | Tweed’s new Kings Forest estate sees first family settle into masterplanned community | Update designs for GC Faster Rail project and heaps more
Upcoming events
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1. One Big Thing: Formula One changes fuel local’s PWR profit growth
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Changes to the Formula 1 racing rules have driven an acceleration of earnings for Gold Coast cooling technology specialists PWR.
Why It Matters: When the world’s fastest sport tweaks the rulebook, the ripple effects can land in unexpected places, with the Stapylton-based company, which was supplying cooling solutions to every Formula One team in the world, reporting a significant jump in sales in the six months to the end of December.
By the Numbers:
$80.4 million: PWR’s reported jump in sales, to 31 December
Up $1.6m, to a total of $5.7m: Was the company’s net profit
Up 40%: Was PWR’s motorsport revenue during the same period to 31 December
Local Impact: Founded by Kees Weel and his son Paul Weel in 1998, the company, which started life manufacturing performance radiators for racing cars, now employs more than 120 people in Australia, Europe and the USA.
What They Said:
“Growth was driven by the new Formula 1 regulation cycle, with race testing commencing earlier than the prior period, providing incremental support to second quarter activity,’’ the company said.
“The F1 regulation changes contain technical changes of unprecedented complexity the impacts both power units and chassis cooling systems.
What To Look For Next: Following the company’s decision in 2020 to expand into the Aerospace and Defence sector, where last month it announced it had won a mystery $15.3m project with the US Government, it’s a company in the fast lane that’s worth keeping an eye on.
2.
3. Gold Coast set to get a Trump tower
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: The Gold Coast looks set to get its own Trump Tower in a move that will divide the community, with President Trump’s son Eric confirming on social media that plans were well advanced to develop the Trump International Hotel & Tower Gold Coast on Trickett Street in Surfers Paradise.
Why It Matters: The tower proposal, already facing public outcry, and yet to be lodged with the council, let alone gain Council approval, is reportedly set to comprise a mix of apartments, hotel rooms and shops.
By the Numbers:
The height of GC’s Trump Tower will be: 91 storeys as proposed
Two petitions have been launched: One for and one against the project on change.org.au.
50,000 signatories (so far): Is what the anti-Trump petition has received
Zoom In: The Trumps will be teaming up with Altus Property Group, led by property industry stalwart David Young, to build a 91-storey tower in Surfers Paradise on Trickett Street.
The site was previously home to the now-demolished classic old Gold Coast Iluka Resort.
Local Impact: So far, the announcement has sparked an outcry from both sides, with two petitions posted on the website change.org.au.
One petition offers support for the development, while the other is calling on the Council and the State Government to reject the project
What The People Say: Earlier this year, Mr Young said Surfers Paradise needed a dramatic overhaul.
“I live in Surfers Paradise, and it looks like a dump,’’ he wrote.
“It’s filled with crappy shops and nick-nack stores, and there’s a constant turnover of tenants as landlords try to claw as much rent as they can.
“Why is this happening? Surfers is one of those iconic parts of Australia that visitors like to see: Uluru, Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, Bondi Beach… and Surfers’ Paradise.
“We have this jewel on the Gold Coast: beautiful beaches, serviced by lots of hotel rooms and apartments, and filled with restaurants and bars. Even the Surfers Paradise surf lifesaving clubs are fantastic places to grab a meal and a drink. And yet we let the whole place become rundown and unloved?
“I’m pushing for a revamp, a do-over of Surfers Paradise. To achieve this, we’ll need the input of the Queensland government, Gold Coast City Council and all the businesses that rely on this famous area.”
What To Look For Next: All eyes will be on the development application and how Gold Coast City Council and the State respond once the proposal is formally on the books.
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4. Trending
Some design adjustments..
5. Around The Web
Major rail improvements on track for Logan
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What’s happening: Major rail upgrades in Logan are gathering pace, with visible progress on the new Loganlea station and fresh designs released for Edens Landing.
Along the same corridor, updated precinct designs for Edens Landing station have been released for community feedback as part of the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project.Someone bought a $13 camera at a: Vinnies type store, in England, and found 70-year-old film inside - anyone recognise the faces in the photos?
Samsung just launched it new Galaxy S26 with a: New display technology that allows users to turn on a new type of privacy mode to stop shoulder surfing
The maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, is laying the groundwork for an IPO (initial public offering on the stock market), which could see the company being valued at: $1,000,000,000,000.00 - yep, that’s $1 trillion USD, or, a million million..
Bad Bunny was spotted in Sydney: Yesterday and even left a lucky waitress a US$100 tip
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇
Weekly Dream Gig
This week - Acton Metals is hunting a General Manager in Ashmore to steer a heavy-duty operation with serious China import/export chops.
Paying $180,000–$200,000.
6. Upcoming Events
🎷 The Jazz Room: Sinatra & Armstrong Tribute – Fri 27 Feb, 6–8 pm; a smooth, intimate live tribute at Broadbeach Cultural Centre (Hooker Blvd & Sunshine Blvd, Broadbeach Waters) reimagines jazz classics with a full band.
🎸 Regurgitator: Jukeboxxin’ Tour – Fri 27 Feb, 6–10 pm; the legends roll into Miami Marketta for a sweaty, sing-your-face-off night of alt-rock anthems and nostalgia. Tickets
😂 Every Friday night, upstairs at Madocke, a lineup of the best comedians - 27 Feb, from 7pm; hits one of the Gold Coast's newest and coolest little breweries. Belgian beers, big laughs and the perfect way to knock off for the week.
🎤 Josh Pyke: Feeding the Wolves (Solo Tour) – Fri 27 Feb, 7 pm; settle in for an intimate storyteller set at 165 Duringan St, Currumbin, with stripped-back favourites and deep cuts. Tickets
🔥 Flaming Heart Fest – Sat 28 Feb, 3–10:45 pm; Iron and Resin (6 Stewart Rd, Currumbin Waters) turns into an all-day rock-and-alt takeover with live bands, tattoo artists and pop-up stalls. Tickets
⚽ AFC Women’s Asian Cup: Korea Republic v IR Iran – Mon 2 Mar, 7 pm; international football under lights in Robina’s stadium precinct (Centreline Pl, Robina) as group-stage action hits the Gold Coast.
