🚔 The first Cyber Truck police vehicle | QLD and GC budgets in a nutshell | Baseline Active shuts up shop | Gambling with credit cards banned and more!
🚔 The first Cyber Truck police vehicle | QLD and GC budgets in a nutshell | Baseline Active shuts up shop | Gambling with credit cards banned and more!
Volume 67: Today's newsletter is 1,236 words, a 5-minute read.
Welcome to Thursday, June 13!
In today's email
One Big Thing: Gambling with credit cards banned
Ashley Bine’s: Baseline Active shuts up shop
The Queensland and Gold Coast budgets: In a nutshell
Trending: Dobbing in your neighbour
Around The Web (Snippets): The first Cyber Truck police vehicle, GC surf legend thanks blood donors, Nerang crime spree and more!
Councillors’ Corner
Upcoming Events
Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Gold Coast Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: Nation-wide credit card gambling ban begins
What's Happening
Just yesterday, a ban on the use of credit cards, digital currencies, and related products for online and telephone betting came into effect across the nation.
Why It Matters
For Aussies, who are unfortunately known as the world's biggest gamblers per capita (mainly due to the pokies), the ban aims to reduce gambling harm by preventing betting with borrowed money.
By the Numbers
Fines of up to AU$234,750 for non-compliance will be served
Australia has 20+% of global poker machine inventory, for just 0.0032% of the worldwide population (26 million people)
22,000 Aussies have self-excluded since August
$25 billion is lost on legal forms of gambling in Australia every year
Zoom In
Moving forward, you will no longer be able to deposit money to your betting account using:
a credit card
funds linked to a credit card (including digital wallets)
digital currency (such as cryptocurrency).
What To Look For Next
A potential extension of the credit card gambling ban to other areas such as lotteries and keno, where it is still allowed, and lots more advertising by bodies such as BetStop.
2. Baseline Active by Ashley Bines closes
By Marshall Hall
What's Happening
Gold Coast fitness mogul Ashy Bines is closing her activewear brand, Baseline Active, just months after being diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
Why It Matters
Bines announced the closure on Instagram, expressing mixed emotions but acknowledging it's the best decision for her health.
The company’s website is hosting a Closing Down sale.
By the Numbers
Closing down after 4 years in business
Over 500,000 orders shipped in that time
Local Impact
Ashy Bines, a prominent figure in the fitness industry, has greatly influenced the Gold Coast and beyond.
Her decision underscores the importance of prioritising health and well-being, even at the cost of a successful venture.
What To Look For Next.
The full article, below.
3. The Queensland budget and Gold Coast's largest ever budget, announced
By Courtney Mulder and Marshall Hall
What's Happening?
Queensland and Gold Coast budgets have been announced.
The City of Gold Coast Council, in particular, unveiled a record-breaking $2.5 billion budget for 2024-2025, marking the largest in its history and the second-largest local government budget in Australia.
Why It Matters
In a period of high inflation and rapid population growth in Queensland and key regions like the Gold Coast, these budgets are crucial for understanding the future trajectory of our livelihoods.
Zooming in on Queensland
Electricity Rebate: All households will get $1,300 off their bills in 2024–25 ($1,000 from QLD Govt, $300 from Aus Govt)
Public Transport discount fares: Temporary 50 cent fares across Translink network for six months from August 5 2024
Vehicle Registration: 20% off car registration costs for 12 months.
FairPlay Vouchers: Up to $200 for children (aged 5-17) to participate in sports and activities.
First Home Concession: Extended to homes valued up to $800,000 (up from $550,000).
Zooming in on the GC
The new budget will see rates rise by 4.24%, below the current inflation rate of 4.80%, translating to a small weekly increase for average homeowners.
Core services like drinking water, sewerage, waste collection, and recycling will receive significant funding.
The budget also addresses the expected population growth, with the city's population projected to hit 1 million by 2041.
By The Numbers
Light Rail Stage 3 and 4: $42 million and $14 million, respectively, aiming to improve connectivity from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads.
Coomera Connector (Stage 1): $650 million for 2024-25 out of a $3.026 billion total, enhancing transport between Coomera and Nerang.
New Coomera Hospital: $120 million for 2024-25 out of a $1.3 billion total, providing 404 new beds and comprehensive medical services.
Gold Coast Light Rail Extension: $308.2 million for 2024-25 out of a $1.219 billion total, connecting communities to essential services and businesses.
New Train Stations: $168.3 million for 2024-25 out of a $500 million total, improving accessibility in Pimpama, Hope Island, and Merrimac.
M1 Upgrade: $165 million for 2024-25 out of a $1.5 billion total, widening 10 km between Varsity Lakes and Tugun.
Environmental Initiatives: $207 million for parks and natural areas, $35 million for beaches, and $30 million for conservation.
What To Look For Next
Go deeper into the Gold Coast's budget here, and find out more about Queensland's budget here.
4. Trending
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
Gold Coast surfing legend's medical evacuation from: Bali has led to him personally thanking blood donors in this year's Nationa Blood Donor Week
The first Cyber Truck police: Vehicle has just rolled off the production line
Attwood Marshall's new Gold Coast office has: Opened in Southport
Restaurants will no longer be able to: Charge customers surcharges or service fees in California as of this week, something we think the people would like here, following feedback from our Sneaky Surcharges edition
Police seek help to: Solve a crime spree in Nerang, which started on June 99
The famous Winter Harvest Festival in the: Scenic Rim starts soon, with a full rundown out now
Apple finally introduced its: Chapter in AI, Apple Intelligence, to mixed reviews 👇
6. Councillors’ Corner
Div 4 | Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Sovereign Island, South Straddie +3 I Cr Shelley Curtis
Div 11 | Burleigh Waters, Robina, Varsity Lakes, Cr Dan Doran
7. Upcoming Events
🤸🏼♀️All Star Cheerleading Winterfest: June 14, 07:00 am - 07:00 pm;" The first official championship where cheerleading teams can show their routines at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre
🎨Painting to Pattern: June 14, 09:00 am - 04:00 pm; Painting to Pattern Art Retreat at QT Hotel
⚫️ Australian Open Bowls: June 14, 09:00 am - 05:00 pm; Festival of bowls, with 14 days of action played across the 14 host clubs on the Gold Coast at Broadbeach Bowls Club
🏉 Gold Coast Titans versus Wests Tigers: June 15, 3 pm at Leichhardt Oval
🧺Palm Beach Farmers Market: June 15, 06:00 am - 11:30 am; Enjoy the great atmosphere, amazing food, live entertainment and community spirit at Palm Beach Farmers Market
🤝Burleigh Beach Blast: June 15, 07:00 am - 09:00 am; Event aims to raise vital funds to aid the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital at Burleigh Heads Beach
🌱Tallebudgera Valley Creek Care Tree planting: June 15, 08:00 am - 10:00 am; Planting native trees along the banks of Tallebudgera Creek to improve water quality, create habitat and reduce erosion at Tallebudgera
🚴Better Bike Maintenance: June 16, 09:30 am - 11:00 am; Family-friendly workshop covers cleaning, puncture repairs, chain and brake maintenance and more! at Central Park Basketball Courts
🇵🇭 Philippines Festival: June 16, 10:00 am; Come along to see Filipino cultures and traditions through folkloric dances, performances, music and food at The Great Lawn
🚒Emergency Services Safari: June 16, 10:00 am - 02:00 pm; Bring the kids to meet the hard-working heroes at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre