💥 The stars at this weekend's GC Supanova
Volume 160: GC rail line closures | Kindle support ended | 250 new homes for Varsity Lakes | Pokémon card crime spree and heaps more
G’day GC and welcome back to another (really) big weekly newsletter.
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: SupaNova returns to the Gold Coast
Eager buyer: Slams into GC car market
A Varsity Lakes site has been: Earmarked for 250 new homes
Around The Web: GC rail line closures, Kindle support ended, new signage at the Spit, Pokémon card crime spree and heaps more
Trending: Local drivers that can’t use roundabouts..
Upcoming Events
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1. One Big Thing: Supanova returns to the Gold Coast
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Gold Coasters, it’s time to get your freak on with the SuperNova Comic Con & Gaming festival running at Broadbeach this weekend.
Why It Matters: While some would argue that the fans wandering through Broadbeach streets in fancy dress are the true stars of the show, some stars of the silver screen will also be appearing at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
By the Numbers:
5 major international screen stars are on the Broadbeach bill.
2 Australian genre titles, It Will Find You and Residence, add local industry flavour.
1 packed weekend puts Broadbeach at the centre of Australia’s pop-culture map.
Zoom In: This year’s event will include:
Karl Urban (The Boys, Mortal Kombat 2, Star Trek)
Bonnie Wright (Harry Potter)
Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things)
Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), and;
James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Cape expectations..: Karl Urban first appeared on global television screens in the hit series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and its spin-off Xena: Warrior Princess.
After that, the Kiwi appeared in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King as Éomer.
More recently, he appeared as Dr “Bones” McCoy in the reboot of the Star Trek film series and in 2017, he joined the Marvel Universe in Thor: Ragnarok in which he played the villain Skurge.
Local Impact: The cast and crew of Indigenous Australian horror film It Will Find You will provide a fresh take on a tried-and-true supernatural genre, alongside talent from comedy horror Residence, who return to Supanova after showcasing across the country in 2025.
What To Look For Next: More about what the big names were in at the full article or event website below.
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2.
3. Varsity Lakes site earmarked for 250 homes
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: The State Government is looking for a property partner to develop a massive site for housing near the Varsity Lakes train station.
Why It Matters: The Government intends to release the land to a developer to build well over 200 homes through its Land Activation Program.
For a city still wrestling with housing affordability and supply, this is the kind of well-located infill site governments love to talk about and rarely move on.
Now, after more than a decade sitting fenced off, it is officially in play.
By the Numbers:
1.1 hectares of government land is being opened for development
Up to 250 homes could be built near the station
1,150 homes is what the broader program has already released land for
Local Impact: Located across the road from Varsity Lakes Train Station and close to Robina Town Centre, Christine Corner Shopping Centre, leading schools and major employment hubs, it is in a prime position for convenience to those who it would house.
What The People Say: Member for Burleigh Hermann Vorster said the announcement would help deliver more affordable housing and protect land for a future upgrade at Stapley Drive.
“This land release will deliver more homes for our key workers right on the doorstep of schools, employment centres and major transport links, and within minutes of a beautiful wetland reserve and a quick trip to Burleigh Heads,” Mr Vorster said.
Hermann Vorster said the release would help deliver more homes for key workers near major transport links.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said unlocking land was central to fixing the Housing Crisis.
“Labor’s Housing Crisis won’t be solved by talk, which was exactly what caused it in the first place – it will be solved by action, and that means unlocking land and boosting supply,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
“The Crisafulli Government’s Land Activation Program is doing exactly that, unlocking government land that has been left to just sit there, now to deliver homes in the future.
What To Look For Next: The full article, including a video flyover of a proposed development below.
4. Around the web
GC developer plans 700 more homes at Highfield
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Gold Coast-based property developer Creative Wealth has lodged plans with Toowoomba Regional Council for an additional 700 dwellings at its Botanic project at Highfields.
The surging value of Pokémon cards (up 145% in the last 12 months) is: Igniting an international crime spree
Ever wonder what emotion is driving the market right now? Well, you need to: Check out this Fear and Greed Index
In a new documentary, one of Britain’s most famous historians is: Reframing the American Revolution, looking back to a time when the USA was proud to be British
Lego is set to mark the completion (finally..) of Gaudí’s: Sagrada Familia with its largest ever model set created
Amazon announces that it is ending support for: Older Kindle e-readers and Kindle Fire devices
5. Trending
Recent newsletters
Last week’s top-clicked link was 👇
The Star keeps hope afloat with $500m lifeline
The owners of The Star Gold Coast casino and resort are close to securing a $500 million lifeline as it battles to remain afloat.
Weekly dream gig
This week - Cut to the career move. Infinity Group is chasing an editor-first Videographer / Editor in Southport, with a tidy $90,000.00k–$105,000.00k plus super on the table.
This one’s for the storytellers who know how to turn raw footage into scroll-stopping social clips, polished podcast content and event videos people actually watch to the end.
There’s also some shoot-day action, event travel and the odd after-hours production sprint, so it suits someone who doesn’t mind a little hustle with their hard cuts.
Big brand, growing team, and plenty of content to sink your timeline into.
6. Upcoming events
🎤 Boney M feat. Maizie Williams – Fri 10 Apr, 8 pm; disco royalty rolls into Broadbeach for a big glittery throwback night at The Star.
🎪 Ultra Beach Gold Coast – Sat 11 Apr–Sun 12 Apr; Broadwater Parklands is in full festival mode for a huge waterfront EDM weekend.
🦸 Supanova Comic Con & Gaming – Sat 11 Apr–Sun 12 Apr, 10 am–6 pm; cosplay, collectibles and pop-culture chaos take over the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
🌊 Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets – Fri 10 Apr, 4–9 pm; sunset browsing, live tunes and a breezy foreshore wander make this an easy Friday-night starter. Markets
🍔 Street Food Festival at Dreamworld – Thu 9 Apr–Wed 15 Apr; rides, global bites and live entertainment are a pretty solid combo for school-holiday energy.
🎬 The Drama – Thu 9 Apr, Fri 10 Apr, Sat 11 Apr, Sun 12 Apr, Tue 14 Apr or Wed 15 Apr; HOTA’s cinema program is serving a fresh date-night pick with Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Tickets
🎨 Inside Pompeii: Origins of a European Way of Life – Thu 9 Apr–Wed 15 Apr; wander ancient streets by way of Luigi Spina’s striking Pompeii photography at HOTA.
🌀 TRICKD Gold Coast – Thu 9 Apr–Wed 15 Apr; if the crew wants something weird and playful, this reality-bending immersive attraction in Surfers is nicely off-kilter. Tickets
