Turbulent Skies Cloud Qantas | Calls To Build Light Rail Faster | A Filmmaking Epicentre | The Stinkiest City in Australia and more!
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Turbulent Skies Cloud Qantas | Calls To Build Light Rail Faster | A Filmmaking Epicentre | The Stinkiest City in Australia and more!
Today’s newsletter is 1080 words: 4 minute read.
Happy Thursday, 7 September!
Springtime on the Gold Coast 🌿
📚 Need a read? Here’s a timeless classic called The Richest Man In Babylon
In today’s email
Week-long Turbulence: For Qantas and ex-CEO Alan Joyce
Expedited Light Rail: Calls by local business to build faster
A Coast’s Call: To the World for Film Producers
Trending: Special Coles and Woolies ticketing
Around The Web (Snippets): The stinkiest city in the country, HMAS Maryborough II at the Southport Yacht Club, Australian-made drones and more!
Local Legend Callout: 🌵Nacho Baby
A NEW Section: Upcoming Events
GC Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Gold Coast Housing Prices
1. One Big Thing: Qantas' Bumpy Landing
Not So Friendly Skies
After another tumultuous week for Qantas, which abruptly saw the end of CEO Alan Joyce’s tenure, the nation's air travel stalwart also found itself in hot water with the ACCC over some questionable flight cancellation practices.
What's Happening?
The ACCC has launched a court case against Qantas for misleading advertising practices.
More than 8,000 flights were sold despite being already cancelled.
Qantas failed to notify ticket-holders of cancellations for an average of 18 days.
Approximately 70% of the cancelled flights had either continued ticket sales, delayed notification, or both.
Why It Matters
The conduct affects many Australians, especially those in far-flung locales like the Gold Coast, where flights are crucial for social and business connections.
Zoom In
Focusing on statistics, the ACCC reveals that Qantas cancelled nearly 1 in 4 flights from May to July 2022.
That’s heaps.
Specifically, a flight from Gold Coast to Sydney was cancelled and remained on sale for nearly a month before informing ticket-holders.
The Big Picture
Qantas’ practices affect the airline's credibility and cast a shadow over Australia's more significant travel industry, essential for bridging the nation's vast distances.
What the People Say
"Cancelled flights can have significant financial, logistical, and emotional impacts," says ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb.
The ACCC received more than 1,300 complaints about Qantas cancellations last year.
Locals could find themselves $600 out of pocket, as in one cited case.
What to Look for Next
Keep an eye out for ACCC’s legal action and its outcomes.
The actions taken now against Qantas could redefine industry standards, impacting the lives of locals and how they rely on air travel ticket information and also set a precedent for others to follow.
2. Local Business Calls For Light Rail Build To Speed Up
What’s Happening?
As the Gold Coast's latest light rail extension pushes through its timeline, locals and businesses face ongoing disruptions, and the term "fast track" feels like an ironic joke.
Stage 3 of the Gold Coast light rail project is causing more than a minor inconvenience.
Noise and traffic chaos have been the norm, affecting businesses along the construction route.
Testing by GoldLinQ has been said to only begin by late 2025.
The cost has escalated to over $1.2 billion, a sharp rise from the initial $709 million.
Why It Matters
This isn't just a Gold Coast issue; it's a ticking clock that impacts local businesses, tourism and the broader Queensland infrastructure strategy.
Businesses are demanding that Council pull their finger out and get on with the job so that the disruption ends sooner rather than later.
Zoom In
Statistics tell a deeper story of the works causing the build to be so slow:
The 6.7-kilometre extension along Gold Coast Highway will eventually introduce eight new tram stops.
The construction involves 12 kilometres of stormwater pipe, 8 kilometres of water main, and 6 kilometres of sewer pipe.
The Big Picture
It's not just Stage 3 that hangs in the balance.
Uncertainty looms over stage 4, extending towards the Queensland/New South Wales border, as both state and federal governments dilly-dally with approvals.
What the People Say
Colin Brown, a local property manager, echoes the general sentiment.
"Traffic chaos."
"Inordinately slow."
"Long-term approach. We're looking at another two years of all this chaos."
What To Look For Next
Eyes are on the yet-to-be-released preliminary business case for stage 4 and whether construction for this stage could be expedited in time for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
They may even start building at the end of Stage 4 and meet in the middle to get it done sooner.
3. Funding A Filmmaking Epicentre
What’s Happening?
A dramatic 300% funding boost aims to transform our coastal city into Australia's filmmaking epicentre.
The GC city is pivoting towards becoming a film industry powerhouse.
Why It Matters
This marks a significant shift, adding not just reels but also real economic benefits for local residents.
Zoom In
In the last fiscal year, the local screen sector contributed more than $500 million to our local economy.
This massive funding injection aims to break that record with:
A 300% funding surge elevates the Screen Attraction Program to over $1 million annually.
The newly established Film Commission joins the prestigious Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).
An 85-hectare screen industry project in Yatala edges closer to reality, with two operators shortlisted.
The Big Picture
As the only Council in Australia offering exclusive film incentives, we're pioneering a trend offering great promise to our community.
What the People Say
"Increasing the overall funding will attract more filmmakers and bolster our economy," shares Mayor Tom Tate.
Praise from AFCI highlights our unique governmental support for the industry.
Residents eagerly await new job opportunities and a bustling creative sector.
What To Look For Next
With tender processes in motion for the Yatala project, expect a key announcement by early 2024 that could further solidify our standing in the film industry.
4. Trending
5. Around The Web (Snippets)
HMAS Maryborough II just docked: At the Southport Yacht Club Mega Yacht Berth
Australia’s Stinkiest City: Has had 30,000 complaints and isn’t far from the Gold Coast
40 NBA Reps: Are coming to the Gold Coast for the 2023 NBL Blitz
Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden: Suspended on full pay under government plan
Australian Made Drones: Are kicking Bolshevik butt over in Europe, it appears
Nobel Prize: Foundation reverses its invitations to Russia, Belarus and Iran
City of Gold Coast Libraries: Are reinforcing the benefits men bring to children’s language development, given research shows that by the time a child is two years of age, 59% of mums read with them daily, while only 26% of dads do
Local Legends Callout:
🌵Nacho Baby: After years of toughing out COVID-19 and local Tweed Shire Council restrictions and hold-ups, the legends at Nacho Baby are finally open!
Upcoming Events:
The 21st Annual: Swell Sculpture Festival starts tomorrow and is a FREE 10-day outdoor sculpture exhibition
GC Innovation Hub: Bring you the Founders Roadshow
The Suns Women’s AFL Team: Take on West Coast Eagles on Saturday at Carrara
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