🩺 Tweed Hospital to close permanently | GC crypto scam charges | Maternal mental health | Flotsam Festival 2024 | An AI 'ex' remover | Property prices push QLDers over the border and more!
🩺 Tweed Hospital to close permanently | GC crypto scam charges | Maternal mental health | Flotsam Festival 2024 | An AI 'ex' remover | Property prices push QLDers over the border and more!
Volume 61: Today’s newsletter is 1,638 words, a longer read than usual.
Welcome to May 2, a wet GC Thursday, as we head toward another Queensland long weekend ☔️
In today’s email
One Big Thing: Flotsam Festival 2024 Arrives
Nurturing maternal: Mental Health on the Gold Coast
Peak emissions will hit: In 2024?
GC property prices are: Pushing people toward regional NSW
Trending: Local scam alert
Around The Web (Snippets): Tweed Heads Hospital to close permanently, Bonza bellyflops, The ex-terminator - an AI tool that removes your ex.., NFL academy to open on the GC, local cryptocurrency scam and charges laid and more
Councillor’s Corner
Upcoming Events
Weekend Weather and Surf
Live Gold Coast Housing Price Index
1. One Big Thing: Flotsam Festival 2024 Kicks Off
What’s Happening
In a flurry of pixels and colour, the Flotsam Festival has kicked off its third year on the Gold Coast, promising 12 days of surf culture celebration through film and photography from May 1 to May 12.
Why It Matters
London, Berlin, New York, and Madrid all have surf film festivals.
Yet despite being home to many of the world’s most iconic surf breaks and surf-inspired filmmakers, unlike the cities mentioned above, the Gold Coast didn’t – until now!
By the Numbers
Over 40 world-class surf photographers are participating.
The festival spans 12 days with activities across multiple Gold Coast locations.
The first cinema screening of the 'Occumentary', The 25th Anniversary.
Local Impact
The event bolsters local business by integrating with venues from Coolangatta to Burleigh, enhancing community engagement and cultural tourism.
What The People Say
"Entering year three, the Flotsam lineup is set to deliver one of the largest ocean-inspired arts festivals of its kind," said Carolyn Emge, Festival Director.
"Every year, this festival captures the spirit of the Gold Coast, showcasing world-class talent and our unique surf culture," remarked legendary photographer Ted Grambeau.
“What an epic event and lineup of things to do. Absolutely perfect timing with the WSL’s GC Pro in town and this weekend’s swell forecast” - The crew from The Gold Coast Minute
What To Look For Next
The complete 2024 event program, here.
2. Rebuilding the Village – Nurturing Maternal Mental Health on the Gold Coast
By Courtney Mulder
What’s Happening
In a bid to reinstate traditional community support, The Nurtured Village Hampers charity, founded by Emma Gray in 2019, is providing crucial aid to new mothers across the Gold Coast, distributing monthly hampers filled with locally sourced essentials.
Why It Matters
Amidst increasing maternal mental health challenges, this initiative seeks to combat the isolation felt by new mothers by reintroducing a network of support reminiscent of the traditional 'village'.
By the Numbers
The charity engages over 60 volunteers.
More 160 families are currently being assisted.
Distributes goods and services valued at over $100,000.
Local Impact
Centred in Mudgeeraba, the charity fosters community spirit and supports local mothers, enhancing both mental health and communal bonds in the region.
A Fresh Breath of Community Spirit
As The Nurtured Village grows, it promises to bring a substantial change in maternal support, potentially inspiring nationwide policies to better support new mothers.
What The People Say
Emma Gray adds, "We aim to lessen the burden for new mothers, offering a network that truly understands and assists in their journey."
What To Look For Next
For more information about becoming part of The Nurtured Village, read the full article here, by Courtney Mulder.
3. 2024, A Turning Point for Global Emissions?
What’s Happening
Recent reports suggest global greenhouse gas emissions may peak in 2023/24, propelled by rapid advancements in clean technologies and robust international climate commitments.
Why It Matters
Achieving a peak in emissions is pivotal for initiating a sustained decline, essential to meeting the Paris Agreement’s goal of capping warming at 1.5°C.
What even is the Paris Agreement?
You can check it, here.
By the Numbers
There was a record high installation of solar panels and electric vehicle sales last year (Last year, more solar panels were installed in China — the world’s largest carbon emitter — than the US has installed in its entire history)
In this report, it has been found that there’s a 70% chance emissions will start to decline in 2024.
Major emitters like the USA and China have shown significant shifts in emissions trends.
Triple peaks are suggested here - Peak coal in 2023, peak gas in 2024 and apparently continued growth in electric vehicles could lead to peak oil in 2025
A New Climate Narrative
As optimism cautiously rises, with technology and policy appearing to be hitting the mark, it will be worth keeping an eye on how the narrative evolves.
4. Gold Coast Booming Prices Drive Buyers South
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening
The escalating property prices on the Gold Coast are steering buyers towards more affordable options in northern New South Wales, as highlighted in Herron Todd White’s latest property report.
Why It Matters
This trend underscores the shifting dynamics in the regional property markets, as buyers seek better value without sacrificing lifestyle.
By the Numbers
Properties under $950,000 on the Gold Coast are in high demand, often selling above the asking price.
A property in Pimpama recently fetched $749,500 with 44 offers.
Northern NSW locales like Tweed Heads and Kingscliff are now prized for their affordability and lifestyle.
Local Impact
This buyer migration is enhancing property interest in northern NSW, that will undoubtedly reshape its economic and demographic profiles.
Looking South for Value
As affordability drives Gold Coast buyers south, northern New South Wales gains momentum as a desirable, economical alternative.
What To Look For Next
The full article here, by Marshall Hall.
5. Trending
📝 Like your local area and writing about it?
We’re looking for some locals to help cover the:
Coolangatta/Kirra/Elanora/Tallebdugera/Currumbin area
Parkwood/Labrador/Southport area
6. Around The Web (Snippets)
America’s NFL is opening a Gold Coast: Academy in September 2024 to service the Asia-Pacific region
Budget Bonza Airline: Bellyflops its landing, entering administration and has all flights cancelled until Friday (at least)
Bumble will now allow men to: Initiate conversations with women for the first time in the app’s 10-year history
Titans in talks with Wallabies: Playmaker who is weighing up a footy code switch
Elon Musk told Tesla staffers that: The company will go “absolutely hardcore” with workforce and cost reductions, which has already laid off 14k+ employees in recent weeks
Aston Martin keeps the V12 dream alive, having announced: That it’s keeping the V12 engine around for another generation in a new flagship model
GC Health researchers have proven a: New diagnostic tool for sepsis in children
Ex-terminator.. A new AI tool that: Removes your ex from your best photos
Australian businesses have jumped on board to join: World Boating Day on 25, with a series of free events being held at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on the Gold Coast
The Financial and Cyber Crime Money Laundering Unit have: Charged four Gold Coast people for cryptocurrency investment fraud (fraudulent companies including ‘Crypto Advisers Australia’, ‘Strategic Capital’, ‘Active Marketing Solutions’ and ‘Alternative Capital’)
The Tweed Heads Hospital is: closing permanently and moving to Cudgen 👇
7. 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
8. Upcoming Events
🌊 Flotsam Film & Photography Festival: from May 1 to May 12; pop-up film nights, photo exhibitions, live music, projection art, workshops, and immersive photo walks at Various locations across the southern GC
May 3 | Ozzie Wright’s Enter The 69th Dimension Film Night | 6 pm at Love St Cafe, Kirra
May 4 | Flotsam Next Wave Youth Showcase | 2:00 pm- 7:30 pm at Palm Beach Parklands
May 5 | Flotsam (Surf) Girls On Film | 5 pm at Tugun Community Hall
✈️ Travel Trend Summit: May 3 from 9 am onwards; annual live summit for digitally savvy & aspiring travel business owners at Rydges Gold Coast Airport Hotel
🥋 Gold Coast International Open – Taekwondo: May 4 to May 5 from 9 am onwards; 15th edition of the Gold Coast Open Taekwondo Championships at Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium
🏉 Gold Coast Titans vs. Melbourne Storm: May 4 from 3:30 pm; Round 9 at Cbus Super Stadium
👠 Queensland Arts & Fashion Festival: from May 4 to May 11 at Broadbeach Cultural Centre
🏄🏽 Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro: May 4 from 8 am onwards; top surfers battling it out for a qualifying position on the 2025 Championship Tour at Snapper Rocks
📣 Rotary Youth Sport & Rec Expo: May 4 from 11 am to 3 pm; various activities and win some great prizes with a free sausage sizzle and soft drink at Mermaid Beach Bowls Club
🫵🏽 Star Wars Theme Activity: May 4 Be With You: May 4 from 9 am onwards; face painting, balloon twisters, dress up as your favourite Star Wars character at Casurina Grove
🦚 Birds of Paradise: A Comedy Birdlesque: May 4 from 7 pm onwards; spectacular and hilarious displays of feathered cabaret at Miami Marketta
🚘 Gold Coast Dub Club Show and Swap: May 5 from 8:30 am onwards; display of vintage and modern Volkswagens, including the Antarctica 1 replica at South Coast Restoration Society
🎺 Surfers Paradise Brass in the Mall: May 5 from 2 pm onwards; free concert in Broadbeach Mall
📋 Tax for Creatives: May 7 from 6 pm to 9 pm; open to all creative industry professionals, all ages and art forms at HOTA Gallery
🤸🏽♂️ Australian Gymnastics Championships: from May 9 to May 22; athletes prepare for their campaigns in Paris for the 2024 Olympics at Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre
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Regarding the EV poll, regardless of your position on climate change, the fact of the matter is that fuel is just so GD expensive and you know the costs are not going to go down. The days of less than $1.80/l is numbered and $2+ will become the norm in the next year. I answered 'not yet' because I don't think the infrastructure for my needs is quite there yet. I do have a hybrid car on order and am looking forward to needing less fuel. My current wheels are too thirsty for the type of driving I do. I anticipate the car after the one on order will be an EV, or perhaps hydrogen or some other technology, but the future of pumping 'dead plankton' into your car's fuel tank is limited.