🔥 The GC's SeaFire returns
Volume 169: Apple cures car sickness | Qantas returns to the Goldy | A free Hinterland event | Tom Tate gets a tinnie and heaps more
G’day GC, and welcome back to another big weekly edition. It’s June 18.
How’re those Queenslanders and Socceroos… just incredible!
And while the Socceroos’ Saturday morning clash with the USA is huge, next Friday might be the real national event: Australia v Paraguay at midday.
A World Cup game. On a Friday. At lunch. This never happens.
Pubs will be packed around the country, and plenty may mysteriously fail to make it back to the office that afternoon...
In channelling the late Bob Hawke, “Any boss who sacks anyone for not making it back to the office after lunch next Friday is a bum...”
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: SeaFire returns to light up Surfers Paradise
The GC’s Hinterland is getting a: Free disaster resilience event
Rates, borrowings surge in: The GC Council budget
Tom Tate gets his: Own tinnie
Around The Web: Apple cures car sickness, local apartment construction market recovers, Qantas returns to the Goldy and heaps more!
Trending: The state of the Spit…
Upcoming Events
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Weekend weather and surf
Live housing price index
1. SeaFire returns to light up Surfers Paradise
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: SeaFire will return to Surfers Paradise Beach this weekend, bringing a night of world-class fireworks and family-friendly entertainment to the Gold Coast, perfectly coinciding with the start of the school holidays.
Why It Matters: SeaFire is one of the Gold Coast’s signature free events, drawing big crowds into Surfers Paradise and giving families a major night out without a ticket price.
The free annual event will light up the beachfront with displays from international teams, followed by an Australian-themed finale.
It also brings extra foot traffic to local restaurants, bars, hotels and tourism businesses.
By the Numbers:
• Saturday, 20 June is when SeaFire returns to Surfers Paradise Beach
• 40,000 people are expected to gather along the beachfront.
• Three fireworks displays will take place across the evening at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm.
Local Impact: Surfers Paradise will be the centre of the action, with the foreshore set to transform into a night of light, colour and sound.
The event is expected to draw large crowds to the precinct during a key weekend trading window.
What They Said: “SeaFire is set to ignite the Surfers Paradise foreshore once again,” Mayor Tom Tate said.
“We are excited to welcome teams from Canada and Poland to this year’s event who will compete for the title before a spectacular Australian-themed finale.”
What To Look For Next: Crowds are expected to build early along the beachfront, with the first fireworks display scheduled for 6pm.
2.
3. Rates, borrowings surge in Council budget
What’s Happening: Gold Coast homeowners have escaped with rate increases around inflation, but it appears investors and commercial property owners won’t be so lucky.
The City of Gold Coast has handed down its $2.7 billion budget, with owner-occupiers set for an average general rate rise of 4.7 per cent.
Why It Matters: The gap between the owner-occupier rise and total rates revenue suggests investors and commercial property owners may carry more of the increase.
The budget also points to asset sales, higher debt and major spending across core city services.
By the Numbers:
$2.7 billion is the total City of Gold Coast budget for 2026-27.
4.7 per cent is the average general rate rise for owner-occupier principal place of residence properties.
More than 7 per cent is the increase in total rates revenue, rising from $1.66 billion to $1.782 billion.
$333 million in asset sales is planned across the next four years, including $81 million in 2026-27.
$1.9 billion is the projected level of council borrowings by 2030-31, up from just over $1 billion in 2025-26.
$1 billion is allocated to capital investment, with $119 million listed for debt repayments.
Local Impact: The City says the budget supports services and planning for 680,000 residents, 83,200 registered businesses and 14.4 million annual visitors.
Spending includes hundreds of millions for infrastructure, safe drinking water and recycled water, sewage, and waste services.
The Rates Balancing Act: The budget keeps owner-occupier rate rises at Brisbane CPI, but the broader numbers show a heavier revenue lift across the rates base.
What The People Say: The City of Gold Coast handed down its $2.7 billion budget this week, with Mayor Tom Tate saying he had restricted rate increases for owner-occupiers to 4.7 per cent.
“As mayor and Chair of Special Budget for 14 years, this has been the most challenging budget to frame,’’ Mr Tate said.
“Since 2012, I have worked tirelessly with successive councils to ensure any general rate increase is at or around Brisbane’s Consumer Price Index.
What To Look For Next: More numbers and the full article below
4.
5. Around the web
Researchers accidentally discover that humans refer to: Turn counterclockwise
Apple’s weird anti-nausea dots are said to be able to: Cure car sickness
A real slowtech revolution is picking up steam that will kill your: phone addiction and save your attention span
At a well-rounded 38 years old and in his sixth World Cup appearance, here’s how to watch the highlights from: Lionel Messi’s hat-trick yesterday in Argentina’s opener against Algeria
Not your average: Interview… 👇
6. Trending
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇🏼
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Think full P&L control, manufacturing or e-commerce businesses with real moats, and principals beside you rather than a distant board.
The package is serious too, with $160,000 to $200,000, plus meaningful phantom equity tied to actual value creation. No capital required, no forced exit, no fund clock ticking.
7. Upcoming events
🎨 The Doyles Art Award: Friday 19 to Thursday 25 June 2026, 10 am–5 pm daily; free annual art exhibition at Firth Park Community Centre, Mudgeeraba.
🥋 Australian Open and World Taekwondo Presidents Cup: Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June 2026, 8 am–7 pm; elite athletes compete for ranking points at this international tournament in Carrara.
🛍️ Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets: Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Wednesday 24 June 2026, 4–9 pm; browse local crafts, fashion and food at the beachfront markets.
🏉 Gold Coast SUNS v Hawthorn Hawks: Friday 19 June 2026, 7.40 pm; the SUNS host Hawthorn in AFL Round 15 at People First Stadium.
✨ Burleigh Heads Winter Solstice Festival: Saturday 20 June 2026, 3–8 pm; free street festival with live music, lanterns, food and performers along James Street.
🏉 Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Panthers: Saturday 20 June 2026, 5.30 pm; the Titans face the Panthers in NRL Round 16 at Cbus Super Stadium.
🎆 SeaFire: Saturday 20 June 2026, from 6 pm; international teams compete in a free fireworks display at Surfers Paradise Beach.
🎤 Paul Dempsey, Shotgun Karaoke Vol. II: Saturday 20 June 2026, 7.30 pm; the Something for Kate frontman performs singalong covers at HOTA.
👗 Fashion Thrift Society: Sunday 21 June 2026, 10 am–3 pm; shop vintage, preloved and designer clothing at the large fashion market at Gold Coast Turf Club.
🌿 Hinterland and Community Connector: Sunday 21 June 2026, 1–4 pm; free community resilience event with local speakers and family activities in Nerang.
💼 Multicultural Employment Expo: Monday 22 June 2026, 10 am–2 pm; meet employers and access job support at the free employment expo at JW Marriott.
🎨 After Glow Group Exhibition: Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 June 2026, 10 am–4 pm; free group exhibition featuring paintings, ceramics, textiles and glass in Currumbin Waters.
🎭 Drag Queen Bingo: Wednesday 24 June 2026, 6.30–9.30 pm; enjoy bingo, comedy and drag performances at this ticketed event at Miami Marketta.
🔮 Magik Markets: Thursday 25 June 2026, 5–9 pm; free night market with tarot readings, crystals and handmade goods at Miami Marketta.
🎨 Mamma Mia Sip and Paint Night: Thursday 25 June 2026, 6.30–9 pm; enjoy ABBA music, a drink and a themed painting session at Miami Marketta.