Volume 146: GC's best Christmas lights | Special Gold Coast vigil for Bondi terrorist attack victims | AI's astounding 2025 water consumption | A free Santa finder game and heaps more
It’s 18 December, and with Christmas falling next Thursday and New Year’s Day the one after, today marks our final big weekly newsletter for 2025.
We’ll keep things ticking over on the website and socials during the break, and we’re looking forward to kicking off again in early January for what’s shaping up to be an even bigger 2026.
As we reflect on a huge year that saw a huge number of new readers join the GC Minute community, we want to say a big thank you to everyone who’s stuck with us, supported us, and shared us since we kicked off in 2023, especially to those who’ve opted to help that little extra by becoming paying subscribers.
It’s been quite a climb building a locally-focused media option that works for readers and stays sustainable, but your encouragement and feedback fuel us to keep digging in.
We couldn’t do it without you, the readers, and of course, our incredible contributors.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🎆
The Gold Coast Minute team
In today's newsletter
One Big Thing: Two new major projects add to The Spit and polish
A new Coles opens in: The GC’s Varsity Lakes area
The revolving management table spins once: Again at The Star
Giant white elephant hospital site in Coomera: To lie dormant until late 2026
Trending: Dumping rubbish on footpaths..
Around the web: Where to find the best GC Christmas lights in 2025, YouTube wins exclusive Oscars streaming rights, Special Gold Coast vigil to honour the Bondi terrorist attack victims, the amount of water consumed by AI in 2025 and more
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1. One Big Thing: Two new projects add to The Spit and polish
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: Two major new developments have been announced for tired properties on The Spit.
Why It Matters: The Gold Coast’s northern tourism precinct has been waiting for its next act with these redevelopments promising new energy, more visitors, and better public amenities, while still keeping one eye on environmental preservation.
Zoom In: Firstly, Carter’s Basin, which sits just north of the resort formerly known as Palazzo Versace, will be redeveloped to include hotel rooms, shops and more than 100 commercial marina berths.
Secondly, the Golden Door Spa, adjacent to the Sheraton Mirage, will be demolished, allowing the site to transform into “a vibrant coastal resort featuring hotel rooms, short-stay villas, ground-floor dining, and spaces for community events and markets”.
Both developments fall under the State Government’s The Spit Master Plan, which is designed to balance the city's economic needs with the area's environmental assets.
By the Numbers
Carter’s Basin covers7,000 sqm of State Government leasehold land and a 20,000 sqm seabed lease
$300m is the price tag on the Mantaray project, which has already started at the southern end of The Spit
A $500m redevelopment of Marina Mirage and the proposed Ritz Carlton Hotel on the Mariner’s Cove site have both been approved.
What The People Say: Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek said the projects were great news for the Gold Coast.
“This plan is a game changer, and it sends a clear message that the Gold Coast and Queensland are open for business,” Mr Langbroek said.
Managing Director of Vitale Property Group Chris Vitale said the Village East project reflected his company’s long-term commitment to deliver a world-class resort that balanced tourism, public access and environmental considerations.
“The focus is on creating a well-considered global destination that enhances the public realm and integrates thoughtfully with its setting,” Mr Vitale said.
What To Look For Next: Withconstruction to start once approvals are inked, find out which developers will be involved at the full article below.
What’s happening: Varsity Lakes has welcomed a brand-new Coles and Liquorland, opening today, Wednesday, 17 December, just in time for Christmas.
Located at 1 Bellvue Drive, Varsity Lakes, QLD 4227, the store trades Monday to Saturday from 7 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.
Liquorland Varsity Lakes is located adjacent to Coles and is open 9 am to 8 pm Monday to Wednesday, 9 am to 9 pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays.
3. Revolving management table spins again at The Star
By Marshall Hall
What’s Happening: The fast-spinning roulette wheel that is the Board and senior management table of The Star Entertainment Group has had another spin, leaving spectators dizzy.
Why It Matters: On Tuesday, the company, which owns The Star Gold Coast and employs almost ten thousand people, announced that Steve McCann would immediately leave his role as Group CEO and Managing Director.
The company said chairman Bruce Mathieson Jnr, the son of the Hedges Avenue-dwelling pubs baron Bruce Mathieson Snr, would take on the role of acting CEO “while a search for a permanent CEO is conducted”.
But less than 24 hours later, the company announced that Mr Mathieson Jnr had stepped down as chairman and Bally’s Corporation’s Soo Kim would take on the role.
And in a surprising twist, Mr Mathieson Jr has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of The Star, while also remaining on the Board.
By the Numbers
A $300 million: Lifeline injected by Bally’s Corporation and the Mathieson family.
There are 9,000: Employees across The Star’s Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Sydney operations.
$15 million: Fine issued to The Star following money-laundering investigations.
Local Impact: Earlier this year, US casino giant Bally’s Corporation and the Mathieson family-controlled Investment Holdings teamed up to save The Star from the scrap heap.
The Star Entertainment Group had been trapped in a financial black hole, threatening to suck the life out of the company that owns casinos on the Gold Coast, in Brisbane, and in Sydney and employs thousands.
What The People Say: Mr McCann agreed to remain available to help the company through a handover period until July 8 next year.
“On behalf of the Board I want to thank Steve for his strong leadership and hard work during one of the most complex and challenging periods for The Star,’’ Mr Mathieson Jnr said on Tuesday.
“Steve joined at a time of crisis for The Star and has helped to deliver a critical financial reset for the business and successfully progressed our remediation plan, which have laid the foundations for The Star’s long-term future success.
“We wish him well in his next endeavours.”
What To Look For Next: A 2022 Queensland inquiry that Star was “unsuitable to hold a licence”.
The Star Gold Coast was due to have its casino licence suspended for 90 days from December 20, 2024, but the Queensland Government postponed its decision.
In 2025, AI created as much carbon pollution as the whole of New York City and:Drank up as much water as people consume globally in water bottles, according to new findings
This week: Woods & Co is hunting a Project Manager to steer design-led residential and mixed-use builds from Broadbeach, Gold Coast QLD.
If you like having real autonomy (as in, you actually run the project..), you’ll own the whole show, programme, budget, risk and stakeholders, while still getting sharp mentorship from a Director (best of both worlds). The numbers stack up too: $150,000.00–$180,000.00 + super, so bring your best commercial judgement and have the chat.
Ideal fit: 3–5+ years client-side/consultancy PM experience, confidence with complex built-form, and the kind of organisation that makes a Gantt chart look sexy.
6. Upcoming Events
🎄 Christmas in Broadbeach: December 18 from 10 am to 10 pm;Broadbeach Mall turns into a candy-cute gingerbread village beside The Oasis, with free workshops, Santa selfies and festive night vibes for the whole fam 🛍️ Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets: December 19 from 4 pm onwards;sunset browsing hits different on The Esplanade at Surfers Paradise, with 100+ stalls, local makers and live tunes by the foreshore 🎭 Christmas Actually: December 19 at 7:30 pm; a cheeky Love Actually-inspired cabaret lands in Theatre 1 at HOTA, with a live band, big vocals and plenty of silly-season sparkle 🎅 Christmas in Coomera: December 20 from 2 pm to 8 pm;roll into the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre forecourt for snow machines, pop-up performances, food stalls and roaming Christmas characters (hello, Grinch) 🎨 Ken Done Christmas Craft: December 20 at 10 am; drop into the HOTA Gallery for bright-and-bold festive cardmaking inspired by Ken Done’s colour-bomb style 🕯️ Gold Coast Unity Vigil: December 22 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm; gather at HOTA’s Outdoor Stage for a respectful community vigil with space to sit, reflect and stand together 💃 A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland: December 23 from 7 pm; Irish dance, live music and holiday energy light up Theatre 1 at HOTA in a fast-paced Christmas spectacular
