Council meetings are now back in full swing and it’s timely to thank those of you who have made contact and kept me up to date with issues over the Christmas/New Year period. As school returns, please drive carefully and look out for the 40km zones so that we keep our school students safe.

The holidays always seem to see an increase in graffiti and vandalism and Division 3 has seen damage to bins, signs, walls, playgrounds and fences. It is incredibly disappointing to have our area defaced when we all work so hard to keep it looking good.

On a more positive note, when you do raise graffiti vandalism with me, the removals team are normally fast to respond - so please continue to bring graffiti issues to my attention so that they can be addressed without delay. Especially the service box at the front of the Upper Coomera Centre which I always seem not to see … maybe because I'm concentrating on the traffic lights.

Welcome to Hong Kong Passengers

I had the honor as Acting Mayor to join the Hon Andrew Powell, Tourism and Events Qld to welcome our first visitors from Hong Kong, after Hong Kong Airlines’ absence from the city for six years.

Visitors have welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the Lunar New Year here on the Gold Coast and let’s hope this five-week temporary service becomes permanent.

Gold Coast Film Industry

At Pinnacle Studios Helensvale, Season 2 of The Monarch Legacy of Monsters is being filmed and I had the opportunity to visit. I wish everyone could have been there to get a sense of the enormity of these productions and the great value they bring to our city.

I met Kurt Russell out on set who told me that he was last on the Gold Coast in the early 90’s, along with Goldie Hawn, for the opening of Movie World. The show’s creators and producers are from the USA and they were incredibly complimentary of our city, and the investment we are making in film.

The industry uses Gold Coast crews and provides jobs in construction, production, set decoration, catering etc – all fantastic for Gold Coast residents. We remain the only Council in Australia with a film incentive program and the city is benefitting from the current exchange rate, Federal tax incentives, and amazing Gold Coast film locations, that make filming in Australia particularly attractive.

Image: City of Gold Coast 2025
Left to right (with me in the middle): Executive Producer/Showrunner/Writer Chris Black Gold Coast Film Commissioner Gina Black Executive Producer Jen Roskind Production Manager Wayne Savage

Magic Millions

... then there was the Magic Millions. Credit to Katie Page Harvey, Gerry Harvey and the Board of the Gold Coast Turf Club for an incredible two weeks celebrating racing in our city.

This was despite the deliberate sabotage of the turf at the Club and the transfer of racing to the Sunshine Coast on 4/1 – and then the washout on 11/1 – and the finale on 17/1, where the remaining seven races were run.

This is the world’s richest sales based incentive race day. Magic Millions has everything from high glamour and fashion to high stakes. If you missed the experience this year, then I urge you to check it out next time.

Residential bin days and times are changing

Growth in the city has meant that residential bin day collections must be changed to help reduce truck time on the roads and create a more sustainable service. If you have a wheelie bin, changes will begin from 17 March 2025. Even if your day isn’t changing, your collection time may.

Below are the four ways your bin services could change:

• Time of service change only (always place your bins out the night before)
• Change to collection days
• Change to collection week for your recycling and green organics bin
• Change to both collection day and collection week

This is the first significant change to bin collection schedules in 20 years and you can prepare for the change via the Find my bin day page.

Wongawallan bollard replacement

Unfortunately, damage to the bollards at Running Creek Reserve, Wongawallan has only recently been recognised by Council.

The new bollards will be replaced as soon as possible and thanks to residents for being so patient.

Catalina Way give way sign

Installation of a new give way sign and line marking on Catalina Way Upper Coomera will provide clarity to motorists regarding priority at the Heathwood Drive intersection.

Work to install the sign and lines will be completed as soon as possible.

Grammar Street indented carparking

It's good to see the Grammar Street Upper Coomera indented car parking completed. It seems that this improvement has been welcomed by residents – so please keep me informed if your street is wide enough for improvement and requires assessment.

Tallowwood Park

The barrier fencing along Rose Valley Drive Upper Coomera has received a lick of paint along with the toilet block and seats throughout the park.

I was happy to see this work completed prior to relocation of the Upper Coomera Cenotaph to Tallowwood Park which is still underway.

Pecan Drive footpath

A concept design for a small footpath adjacent to 18 Pecan Drive Upper Coomera is underway. The path would connect the existing footpath on Pecan to Old Coach Road near the bus stop.

While the proposed path is supported, the investigation determined that there is insufficient space for lighting. This should not be a problem since the bus stop is inactive after 5pm.

Kleinschmidt Oval waste bins

Overflowing bins during and after weekend sports events at Kleinschmidt Family Sports Park Maudsland resulted in a request for additional bins.

Initially, this was not supported, however persistence pays and the addition of two new bins has been confirmed for Rivermill Terrace. Installation will be completed as soon as possible.

New school signs for St Joseph’s College

Installation of 2 new 40km school zone signs have been installed on Kerkin Road and Finnegan Way. The signs will alert drivers to slow down when entering the school zone, ensuring a safer environment for children while providing peace of mind for parents.

When you are entering a school zone you must reduce your speed limit to that shown on the sign and note the times when this limit is in place. Beware of the State trial speed cameras on some of our flashing 40k signs.

Still at St Joseph’s …

Work is underway to assess the possibility of an indented bus lane on Kerkin Road South to alleviate the problems that exist within the car park and exiting/congestion at the adjacent roundabouts.

The cost is likely to be high and the improvements would need to be divisionally funded, so I’ll keep you posted on progress.

Roe Street rubbish bin

A request for a rubbish bin at the bus stop, adjacent to 38 Roe Street Upper Coomera, was raised following issues with rubbish being discarded when people depart the bus.

A new bin will be installed as soon as possible at the bus shelter.

Two wheels up/two wheels down

Last year, I presented a General Business Item to Council requesting a review of the local laws in an attempt to have the parking of two wheels up/two wheels down approved in streets under 6m wide. However, the subsequent report to Council indicated it would be unlawful for Council to override the State Government’s Transport Operations Road Use Management Act.

Perhaps the State Government may consider a process to change this regulation and I’ll take it up with State Member, Mr Mark Boothman MP who had supported a Council review and I know is keen to assist.

Bushfire safety and alerts

Living in a bushland setting poses a risk from bushfire, no matter where you live in Australia. Even here on the Gold Coast the bushfire risk is real and many homes and communities in bushfire-prone areas are also at risk.

For bushfire alerts please visit the QFES alerts page.

The QFES website provides essential tips on what you can do to deal with the threats of bushfire at home, including:

• emergency warnings
• fire danger ratings
• bushfire survival plans
• preparation for you, your family and property
• actions to undertake if you decide to stay
• surviving a fire event
• fire bans
• fire wardens and rural fire brigades

Join Coomera Parkrun

A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate – it's up to you!

Every Saturday 7AM at Tallowwood Park, Highland Reserve, Rose Valley Drive Upper Coomera.

It's free to join but please register before you first come along.

Contact me

Please continue to contact me regarding issues of interest or concern. Whatever the issue please call 07 5581 6598 or email division3@goldcoast.qld.gov.au so that I can action your request.

You can also report after-hour matters that might be more urgent to Council on 1300 465 326.

It’s helpful when you alert me to things that require attention, and raise issues of interest or concern with me, because sometimes it’s hard to be across what’s happening throughout the entire area.

The best community is an informed community and I want you involved in making sure our area is up to scratch for the benefit of us all. I am always available to answer any questions you have and I'm just an email or phone call away.

Newsletters archive

For previous editions, please contact my office.

Disclaimer

While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in this newsletter is correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances may impact on the information provided.

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