🦈 Shark bite shake up
Volume 151: Coca-Cola's recipe discovered | Former ALP Senator banned | Currumbin Creek Bridge's eBike complaints | Brisbane 2032's big update and heaps more
G’day GC, and welcome back to another big weekly newsletter.
It’s February 5, with what has felt like a bit of autumn in the air this week.
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Homecorp starts $210m tower construction in Surfers
Local pub trivia is heading for: Prime time following Reg Grundy Award
A former ALP Senator has been: Banned from running companies after collapse of two GC companies
Trending: Ashmore Plaza’s bird dropping disaster..
Around the web: Shark nets, drumlines and other lethal control measures relative to Queensland’s shark bite cluster | Brumby’s gets $41m | Fears for YouTuber who uncovered Coca-Cola’s secret recipe | Currumbin Creek Bridge’s eBike complaints and heaps more
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Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: Homecorp starts $210m tower construction
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Construction has officially begun on Florence Residences, a multi-million dollar, 26-storey tower by Gold Coast developer Homecorp in Surfers Paradise.
Why It Matters: With lifestyle-led living in hot demand, particularly on the Gold Coast, Florence marks a significant shift in how residential towers cater to health, wellbeing, and community connection, all key drivers for local and interstate buyers alike.
With a resident-only wellness club on-site, the development is expected to deliver over 100 high-end apartments.
By the Numbers:
$210 million is the total project value
There will be 120 apartments built across 26 storeys in total
Apartment prices start at $1,249,000.00 and, undoubtedly, go way up from there
Local Impact: The build boosts supply in a tightening local property market and supports the city and south-east corner of Queensland’s evolution ahead of the 2032 Olympics, adding premium homes with top-tier wellness features to the coastline.
Luxe Living: With a resident-only lounge featuring private dining and a rooftop bar, outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, bike parking, and pet-friendly perks, including a heated dog wash, it plans to hit all the high notes in demand with lifestyle-living seekers.
What The People Say: Homecorp founder and CEO Ron Bakir said the building was designed to meet the increasing “wellness” trend among buyers looking for.
“The wellness residential market is one of Australia’s fastest-growing sectors and we wanted to deliver a place that feels like an escape from the everyday,” Mr Bakir said.
Mayor Tom Tate said the building would be a welcome addition to the skyline.
“This city has something for everyone, and in the lead up to the 2032 Olympics, projects like this are important to provide more homes for Gold Coasters,” Cr Tate said.
What To Look For Next: With an expected late 2027 completion date, keep an eye out on their website here, or read more below.
Win a double pass to see Crime 101 at Dendy Cinemas Southport, on screen from 12 February.
Here’s how to enter:
1. FOLLOW us @thegcminute and Dendy Cinemas Southport
2. LIKE our post 💖
3. COMMENT/TAG who you’d take with you for a movie date🎥
4. SHARE this post for an extra entry ⭐
One winner will score the double pass, which we’ll on Feb 10 and message directly.
Good luck 🍀
2.
3. Former ALP Senator banned from running companies
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Former Queensland Senator Claire Mary Moore has been banned from managing companies for four years after the collapse of two Gold Coast companies.
Why It Matters: The two companies, which were both linked to Southport-based, two-time bankrupt mining spruiker David Catsoulis, raised millions from investors before collapsing into liquidation in 2024.
Ms Moore had been appointed a director of both companies on July 18, 2023.
By the Numbers:
$44 million raised from roughly 400 shareholders
2 Gold Coast-based companies in liquidation: Impact Gold Ltd and Warwick Gold Holdings Pty Ltd
Moore has been disqualified from managing companies until 17 December 2029
Local Impact: Both companies issued shares to raise funds for gold and precious metal mining operations in Papua New Guinea (Impact Gold) and Queensland (Warwick Gold).
Zoom In: Among ASIC’s findings was that Ms Moore:
failed to help the liquidator by providing the required information.
failed to take part in the management of the companies (including making relevant enquiries and identifying operational and financial risk) and, in so doing, failed to monitor and guide the companies,
failed to ensure that Impact Gold (as a public company) complied with its obligation to maintain adequate financial records, and
What To Look For Next: Ms Moore has the right to seek a review of ASIC’s decision by the Administrative Review Tribunal.
📢 Head’s up: Commencing Sunday 15 February 2026, Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 has advised that night works and temporary closures will occur between Third Avenue and Connor Street, Burleigh Heads, to facilitate overhead power lines for trams.👇
4. Trending
5. Around The Web
That’s a lot of dough: Brumby’s owner secures $41m loan
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Gold Coast-based franchisor Retail Food Group, which owns brands including Gloria Jean’s, Donut King, Brumby’s Bakery, Crust Gourmet Pizza and Beefy’s Pies, has secured a new $41.2 million loan facility.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee has delivered a progress update to the: International Olympic Committee during the IOC’s 145th session in Milan, confirming the organising committee’s first commercial partner will be announced in the second quarter of this year
Anthropic’s super cheeky Super Bowl: Ads roasted ChatGPT with fake chatbot blunders, which ChatGPT’s Sam Altman did not take well. He called the funny ads dishonest and authoritarian.
Complaints about e-Bike rider behaviour on the: Currumbin Creek Active Transport bridge have been received by Queensland Police and local Government
Bond University’s Dr Daryl McPhee, explains why: There has been a cluster of shark bites in Queensland and New South Wales
Robots doing dishes? Figure's humanoid just unloaded and reloaded a dishwasher solo. No remote control, no edits, just four minutes of AI-powered housework. Future flatmates are officially non-human…
The Hinterland’s unlicensed tour guides are: Put on notice for operating without permits, potentially disrupting fragile glow-worm conditions
24 insane images from the Natural History Museum in London’s: Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest
SeaLink SEQ has opened applications for its: 2026 Community Waves Sponsorship Program, supporting island groups just north of the Gold Coast
The pipes and drums of the Australian Defence Force came together in November 2025 to refine their performance ahead of the: Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s first-ever Brisbane season.
In Queensland, nearly four million fish are caught each year by: Recreational anglers, increasing pressure on some species.
Ever wonder what was actually in Coke? Coca-Cola’s secret formula has just been: Discovered by a young YouTuber who perfectly replicated the recipe after trying for a year, with many now having fears for his safety for uncovering the secret 👇
Recent newsletters
Weekly Dream Gig
This week - Psychwire Australia is hunting a Senior Marketing Project Manager – Digital, Content & Campaign Delivery to keep Dr Russ Harris’ ACT machine humming and their global campaigns shipping on time from Burleigh Heads.
If you love turning big strategy into tight timelines (HubSpot, Jira, automation, the whole toolkit), this newly minted role pays $110,000.00–$140,000.00 + potential bonuses, and you’ll be the calm conductor for a “team of teams” in a proper growth phase.
6. Upcoming Events
🎢 Dreamworld Night Market: February 5-6 at Dreamworld Parkway; epic food truck eats, delicious drinks, live music, entertainment and more
🎬 AACTA Industry Conference Day: Industry Update 2026 – Thu 5 Feb, 11:30 am–12:30 pm; get the inside track on what’s next for Aussie screen, with a punchy industry briefing inside HOTA, Home of the Arts (Bundall).
🏆 AACTA Awards Ceremony (Red Carpet Arrivals) – Fri 6 Feb, from 1 pm; glam hits the Gold Coast as talent and crews roll into HOTA’s precinct for the Festival’s flagship awards night (expect serious star-spotting around Bundall).
🎶 Laneway Festival Gold Coast – Sat 7 Feb, 11 am–10 pm; an all-day indie party takes over Southport Sharks with stacked live sets, food stalls and that classic Laneway buzz.
🎓 AACTA Screen Careers Expo – Sat 7 Feb, 9 am–4 pm; aspiring creatives can meet studios, training orgs and pros across a packed expo floor at HOTA, Home of the Arts (Bundall).
🖼️ Ken Done: No Rules – Sat 7 Feb, 10 am–4 pm; soak up pure colour and big Aussie energy wandering the galleries at HOTA Gallery in this bold, joy-sparking exhibition.
🎤 OneRepublic – Sweet Escape Tour – Wed 11 Feb, 7:30 pm; stadium-sized pop hooks land on the Gold Coast with OneRepublic live at HOTA Outdoors (Bundall) under the palms and lights. Tickets here.
