🏟️ Southport's 12,000-seat stadium green light
Volume 157: Spot the typo | New owners at GC marine industry giant | Meta's AI agent goes rogue | Qantas cancels access to lounge for Jetstar passengers and heaps more
G’day GC, and welcome back to another big weekly newsletter - it’s March 19.
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: New owners talk helm at GC’s marine industry giant
The Byron Bay Blues: After festival folds
Consortium wins right: To build Southport stadium overlooking the Broadwater
Around The Web: Smoke alert issued, Meta’s AI agent goes rogue, GC Titans get two stars back, Qantas cancels Jetstar passenger lounge access and heaps more
Trending: Spot the typo..
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1. One Big Thing: New owners talk helm at marine industry giant
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: One of the Gold Coast’s most significant marine industry businesses, the Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, has a new owner.
Why It Matters: Owned by the Gay family since its founding in 2000, the site has been sold to ASX-listed MA Financial, a Sydney-based company with billions under management, marking a major shift in ownership for one of the region’s most significant marine assets.
Zoom In: The deal brings deep-pocketed institutional backing into the Coast’s marine sector, signalling confidence in Australia’s growing superyacht and boating economy.
With a slipway for superyachts of up to 100 metres (328ft), four enclosed 50 metre superyacht sheds, and berthing for yachts up to 75 metres, as well as a 100-boat marina, the site has dry-berthing facilities for up to 280 vessels and is a key employer and economic driver, drawing international superyacht traffic to the Gold Coast.
By the Numbers:
175,000sqm: Is the size of the Coomera Marina and Shipyard
800+: Jobs are supported across what is one of the largest marina and shipyard operations in the Southern Hemisphere
90 on-site businesses: Currently operate in the precinct
Smooth Sailing Ahead: With MA Financial already owning 16 marinas nationwide, the acquisition positions the Coast as a cornerstone in a broader East Coast marine network.
What The People Say: MA Financial’s Head of Alternative Real Estate, Brad Couper, said the purchase reflected the company’s desire to buy “quality marine infrastructure assets”.
“This acquisition delivers significant capability to the d’Albora network, and represents a meaningful addition to the Fund,’’ Mr Couper said.
“Gold Coast City Marina offers operational diversification across berthing, refit and marine services, tenancy revenue and hardstand offerings.
“It is a highly complementary addition to our existing portfolio and aligns with our strategy of growing a high-quality East Coast marina platform.”
What To Look For Next: The full article below.
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2.
3. Consortium wins right to build Southport stadium
What’s Happening: A consortium of property companies and the world’s largest live entertainment company has won the battle to develop a landmark 12,000-seat stadium overlooking The Broadwater at Southport.
Why It Matters: The City of Gold Coast selected AmplifyGC to lead the project, which is also intended to be a legacy venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The consortium is made up of global infrastructure developer Plenary Group and Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, which in 2024, sold tickets to 151 million fans for 11,000 artists at 54,000 events. The company controls or has exclusive booking rights for 394 venues globally.
By the Numbers:
2030: Is the target completion of constructions, ahead of the 2032 Olympics
394 venues globally: Is what Live Nation controls or has exclusive booking right for
12,000: Seats planned for the Broadwater-front arena
Local Impact: The Southport Arena will boost tourism, jobs and nightlife, anchoring the northern Gold Coast as a major events and entertainment precinct, and, with Live Nation in the mix, we can more than likely expect to be directly on the global touring map.
What The People Say: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he was delighted at the high calibre of AmplifyGC and its global strength.
“With a single proponent, we waste no time in getting into the finer planning, investment options and detailed design,” he said.
“We can move swiftly as a designated Olympic venue to ensure the arena is delivered by 2030 – well ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Plenary Group Head of Development Sergio Calcarao said the AmplifyGC team was thrilled to be partnering with the City of Gold Coast to deliver what will be an iconic piece of legacy infrastructure for South East Queensland.
“Our collective experience here and overseas makes us ideally placed to deliver on the exciting vision for the Gold Coast Arena,” said Mr Calcarao.
Live Nation Australia & New Zealand’s Senior Vice President for Venue Development, Guy Ngata, said the arena would play a central role in the Gold Coast’s future as a live entertainment destination.
“Beyond the Olympics, the arena will position the city as a destination for global touring - driving economic growth, strengthening the region’s cultural life, and giving international and local artists a world-class stage for the next generation of live entertainment.”
What To Look For Next: Invest Gold Coast will issue a process deed to AmplifyGC, which sets out the next steps of the transaction.
It is expected that the project agreement will be executed in early 2027, and construction will start soon after.
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4. Trending
5. Around The Web
Qantas announced that from 1 July 2026, Platinum, Gold and Qantas Club members will: No longer have access to Qantas lounges when flying on international Jetstar (JQ) flights.
Mike Cron spent some time on the GC this week sharing his wisdom of the: Dark art of scrummaging, at the GCDRY Academy and the Scrum School at Bond University.
The Gold Coast Titans can breathe a sigh of relief following fullback: Keano Kini and Jayden Campbell both set to return after copping recent injuries
Meta’s AI just went rogue, accidentally exposing: Sensitive user data to the wrong employees. Even worse? A staff member followed the rogue AI Agent’s advice… and made the problem bigger.
Haunting casts preserving the Pompeii victims’ final: Moments from 2,000 years ago have gone on display in a solemn new exhibition
America’s FBI Director confirms it is: Buying local citizens’ data to help track people and aid federal investigations
Severe Queensland Tropical Cyclone Narelle is forecast to: Smash the northern region of our state and cross the coast as a category 4 or 5 👇
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Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇
Weekly Dream Gig
This week - 1KOMMA5° is chasing an Operations Manager (Renewable Energy) to run the show from around the City.
If you’re the kind of operator who thrives on turning chaos into clean systems (and doesn’t mind a few rooftop installs), this one’s got your name on it.
You’ll lead a full “Pod”, procurement, scheduling, admin and field crews, keeping installs running smoothly from warehouse to rooftop while scaling fast.
With packages around $120,000.00k + super + bonus, plus real ownership in a high-growth clean energy business, this is one where you’re not just managing… you’re building.
6. Upcoming Events
🎪 Festival of Golf – Thu 19 Mar – Sun 22 Mar, 11 am–6 pm; a full-blown lifestyle festival wraps around the WPGA Championship with food, live music and pop-up bars at Sanctuary Cove.
🏊 Gold Coast T100 Triathlon Weekend – Sat 21 Mar – Sun 22 Mar, from early morning; elite athletes hit the coastline for a huge swim-bike-run spectacle finishing in Surfers Paradise.
🎭 Giselle (Ballet at The Star) – Sat 21 Mar, evening; the classic love-and-loss ballet lands on the Coast with dramatic sets and big orchestra energy. Tickets
🍶 Madame V Sake Dinner – Thu 19 Mar, evening; a curated Japanese dining experience paired with premium sake and storytelling from Australia’s first female sake samurai.
🌸 Cherry Blossom Season at Arakawa – Thu 19 Mar onwards, various times; step into a full sakura-themed dining takeover with Japanese flavours and Insta-worthy blooms.
🥕 HOTA Farmers & Artisan Markets – Sun 22 Mar, 6 am–11:30 am; kick off Sunday with coffee, fresh produce and local makers by the lake.
🎶 Live Music at Miami Marketta (Weekend Sessions) – Fri 20 Mar & Sat 21 Mar, evening; street food, craft beers and rotating live acts bring the classic GC night-out vibes. See the line-up
