🏢 Gold Coast Trump Tower plans slump
Volume 165: Human meat in a can on Temu | Historic SEQ Expo 88 landmark farewelled | GC housing approval slowdown | Kollosche x Mermaid SLSC and heaps more!
G’day, GC, and welcome back. It’s May 14.
The 30-day countdown is officially on until the 2026 World Cup, where the Socceroos will be kicking off their campaign in the Group Stage with these three matches 👇
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Gold Coast Trump Tower plans slump
An historic Expo 88 landmark just: Up the coast has been farwelled
New yacht partnership sails: Into Sanctuary Cove Boat Show
Around The Web: Temu caught selling human meat in a can?, GC housing approval slowdown, Amazon eBooks triple, Kollosche join Mermaid Beach SLSC and heaps more
Trending: That scene from the epic, new Aussie outback thriller..
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1. Gold Coast’s Trump Tower plans slump
What’s Happening: Plans to build a mega Trump Tower in the heart of Surfers Paradise have collapsed before the high-rise gained Council approval.
Why It Matters: In February, the David Young-led Altus Property Group announced it had signed a deal with the Trump organisation to build a Trump tower on Trickett Street on the former site of the now-demolished Iluka Resort.
The plan immediately sparked massive opposition, with thousands of people signing a petition opposing the project within weeks of its announcement.
By the Numbers:
More than 50,000 people signed a petition opposing the proposed Trump Tower within weeks.
The tower was planned to rise 91 storeys above the former Iluka Resort site on Trickett Street.
Developer David Young’s previous company once held a pipeline of 2,000 homes before collapsing during the Global Financial Crisis.
Zoom In: The Gold Coast thrives on big personalities and bigger towers, but this saga showed there’s still a limit to what locals will embrace, particularly when politics enters the skyline.
What They Said: Now Mr Young says the deal is off, saying the Trump name has grown increasingly toxic.
Reportedly, the Trump group has hit back, criticising the developer.
Zoom Out: Mr Young is a well-known property figure on the Gold Coast. Originally from Central Queensland, Young first rose to fame as the founder of Young Land Corporation.
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.
“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.
What To Look For Next: Altus Property Group is still spruiking the project on its website, saying the tower will be the “first ultra-luxury address” for “Australia’s iconic Gold Coast”.
“Framed by world-renowned beaches and the city’s celebrated coastal lifestyle, this landmark destination will deliver an exceptional residential and globally renowned hospitality and service experience unlike anything seen in Australia,” the company says.
That’s cool: Here’s a website with an interactive map that shows you all the walls where it’s legal to graffiti.
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3. New Australian partnership brings Dufour to SailTime in time for the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show
What’s Happening: The Yacht Sales Co and SailTime Australia have signed a May 2026 partnership that will add selected Dufour Yachts to SailTime’s managed fleet.
Why It Matters: For Australia’s sailing market, this is a neat middle lane between buying a yacht outright and just admiring one from the marina bar.
The deal gives SailTime Owner Investors and Members access to French-built cruising yachts without taking on the full cost and admin of traditional ownership.
In short, members get access to new Dufour yachts through a monthly programme, while investors can offset costs like berthing, insurance, servicing and maintenance.
By the Numbers:
Members can enjoy more than 36 days of sailing each year through SailTime’s programme.
Monthly fees usually range from $900 to $1,380, covering major operating costs.
There are more than 30,000 Dufour vessels are sailing worldwide.
Local Impact: The first rollout focuses on Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, Pittwater and Port Stephens, with South East Queensland flagged as a possible future base.
The partnership will also be promoted at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, where the Dufour 41 and Dufour 54 will be on display.
A Yacht Without the Spreadsheet Headache: The model is built around a “walk-on, walk-off” format, letting sailors spend more time sailing and less time pretending maintenance is relaxing.
What The People Say: Graham Raspass, Founder of SailTime Australia, who will co-exhibit with The Yacht Sales Co on the Dufour stand, said the Dufour range fits SailTime Australia’s expansion plans.
“As SailTime Australia looks to expand its fleet, the versatile Dufour range, particularly in the 37 to 44 foot category, is an ideal addition,” Mr Raspass said.
“These yachts offer our members quality, comfort and performance, while also being designed for ease of handling. This collaboration further strengthens our ability to deliver modern, SailTime-specific luxury yachts, supported by an experienced vessel management team.”
What To Look For Next: More details at the full artilce below, and a few of the Dufour yachts on display at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show May 21-24.
4. Around the web
Since the release of ChatGPT back in late 2022, the monthly: Release of e-books on Amazon has tripled
Community groups granted life-saving devices
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More than 40 community groups have received funding to buy potentially life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
Google has announced its Chromebook successor, which will include a: New operating system and laptop platform, known as the Googlebook.
The Penrith Panther’s Ivan Cleary will be: Ending his NRL coaching career after the 2027 season
Here’s how the world’s largest stack of: Malware saved to external hard drives compares in height to some of the tallest things you know. (way higher than we expected..)
The mystery behind why Temu was selling: Human meat in a can that was being advertised on Google 🤢👇
5. Trending
That scene from the new edge-of-your-seat Aussie outback thriller, Apex.. 👇
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇
Weekly dream gig
This week - Some jobs ask for content skills. This one hands you a camera and points you at pit lane.
Dick Johnson Racing is hiring a Media & Visual Communications Officer for the Shell V-Power Racing Team in Stapylton. The full-time role pays $90,000 to $120,000 and puts you inside one of Australia’s most iconic Supercars teams.
You’ll film race weekends, edit video, manage social media, write race reports, pitch media stories, and interview race personnel. Basically, turn speed, noise and tyre smoke into content people actually stop scrolling for.
The best bit? You attend all Supercars rounds and events. Your office occasionally comes with a pit crew.
6. Upcoming events
🎶 Blues on Broadbeach 2026: Thu 14 May–Sun 17 May, various times; free multi-stage blues music festival featuring live bands and performances across the Broadbeach precinct, Gold Coast.
🏊 Cooly Classic Ocean Swim: Sat 16 May–Sun 17 May, morning sessions; annual open water swimming event attracting competitors of all abilities at Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Gold Coast.
🚤 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show: Thu 21 May–Sun 24 May, daily sessions; major marine lifestyle and boating exhibition at Sanctuary Cove Marine Village, Hope Island, Gold Coast.
🎭 Flotsam Festival 2026: Fri 15 May, final festival events; surf-inspired photography, film, exhibitions, and creative arts programming across Coolangatta, Kirra, Currumbin, and Burleigh Heads.
🎤 Ross Noble – Cranium of Curiosities: Sat 16 May, evening; live stand-up comedy performance by Ross Noble at HOTA, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.
🏢 Gold Coast Careers Festival: Wed 20 May–Thu 21 May, daytime; careers and education expo featuring universities, employers, and training providers at Gold Coast Sports & Leisure Centre, Carrara.
🎶 James Alexander’s Soul Sundays: Sun 17 May, evening; live soul music jam session featuring local musicians at Den Devine, Broadbeach, Gold Coast.
🎨 Paint & Sip Workshops – Gold Coast: Mon 18 May–Thu 21 May, various times; guided painting workshops and creative social sessions across Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, and Surfers Paradise venues.
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