|
Gold Coast Connect Recent News Archives
Latest Breaking News - see www.goldcoastconnect.com.au
|
Gold Coast Goes Blue for Diabetes
GCC News November 2009
On Saturday 14th November the Gold Coast City Council Chamberswill be lit up in light blue for World Diabetes Day.
This will be one of the councils activities as they support and participate in 'Monument Challenge' and initative of Diabetes Australia.
Mayor Ron Clarke said the Gold Coast City Council Chambers would be bathed in a sea of blue light to represent the blue circle logo for World Diabetes Day.
“The United Nations chose the symbol of a blue circle because it signifies the unity of the global diabetes community in response to the diabetes pandemic,” he said.
There are 250 million people world wide now living with diabetes which has impacts on the whole family. This year’s campaign slogan is "Understand Diabetes and Take Control".
Cr Clarke said people with diabetes must deliver 95% of their own care, so it was of paramount importance that they receive ongoing, high-quality diabetes education that was tailored to their needs and delivered by skilled health professionals.
Queensland CEO of Diabetes Australia, Michelle Trute, congratulated Gold Coast City Council for participating in the World Diabetes Day “Monument Challenge”.
Mr Trute also thanked Mayor Clarke for his ongoing support. For more information on World Diabetes Day log onto www.worlddiabetesday.org. |
 |
 |
|
|
'Mates for Life' launched
Monday 9th November 2009
The Gold Coast City Council’s stormwater safety campaign, ‘Mates4life’, launches today at Southport State School.
Engineering Services Committee Chair and Divisional Councillor Dawn Crichlow said the Mates4Life program was specially designed to educate kids and their parents about the hidden dangers of stormwater drains and flooded roads.
“Mates4life helps our kids understand the dangers for people and animals around stormwater grates and drains and how to keep themselves, their mates, pets and other people safe by keeping away from them,” said Cr Crichlow.
“After a downpour, it takes only seconds for a trickle to turn into a torrent in our stormwater system and someone can easily become trapped and drown.
“Our parks and playgrounds are safe environments where our kids can have fun - not in our drainage systems.
“This program is especially important in the lead up to the summer storm season and is not just for kids, but also for parents to not take risks by attempting to drive through flooded roads.”
Queensland BMX champion Cherie Simpson who is a supporter of the program said getting kids actively involved in the campaign was the secret to getting the message across.
“Kids can learn more about Mates4life on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter or by going to the interactive Mates4life website,” said Ms Simpson.
“The Mates4life message is ‘mates look out for mates’, and encourages kids to avoid stormwater and not let their mates take risks.
“In my sport, we take calculated risks, but playing in drains and trying to drive across flooded roads are risks that are just not worth taking.”
For more information, visit m8s4life.com.au.
|
|
 |
|
|
Gold Coast Increasingly Green
GCC News November 2009
More than 3400 hectares of remnant vegetation has been added to the Gold Coast conservation network over the past decade, a new report has found.
A report by environmental consultants Chenoweth, shows the city’s Open Space Preservation Levy (OSPL) scheme and Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCAs) are helping to preserve natural areas and vegetation types.
Council’s Chair of Sustainable City Future Committee, Councillor Peter Young, said the report considered vegetation types across the city and identified gaps within the Gold Coast’s conservation network.
“It shows we have 74 different vegetation types in the city, more than one third of which are well represented in public and private conservation areas,” Cr Young said.
“But the report also identifies 46 vegetation types which are under-represented, including eight which are not present at all across the conservation network.”
He said the report showed many of these under-represented vegetation types were generally those found in coastal areas and along the city’s rivers and streams.
“The findings will help guide us when planning management works in conservation areas and when supporting VCA landholders in managing their properties.
“It could, for instance, mean we might target the conservation partnerships program toward landholders with under-represented vegetation types in order to better protect these.
“And it will help guide us when we consider possible future purchases for our open space acquisition program.”
Cr Young said Council initiatives, including the highly-successful OSPL acquisition program and VCAs had ensured almost 13,500 hectares (or 10.5 per cent of the city) were now managed for nature conservation.
“And through our recently adopted Nature Conservation Strategy, we are working to ensure a greater portion of the total city (55 per cent by 2040) is covered by native vegetation.”
“This report will help us move forward with protecting our important environmental areas.”
|
|
 |
|
|
Hinze Dam Developers Community Support
GCC News November 2009
Seqwater Executive General Manager Operations Jim Pruss has officially launched the Hinze Dam Stage 3 (HDS3) Partnership Program, which will assist the Gold Coast region with support for a range of community projects.
The Hinze Dam Stage 3 project is being delivered by the Hinze Dam Alliance, which comprises Seqwater, Sinclair Knight Merz, Thiess Pty Ltd and URS.
“In addition to raising the height of the dam wall by 15 metres, the Hinze Dam Alliance has a strong commitment to providing the community with a lasting legacy, once the Project is complete in 2010,” Mr Pruss said. “The Hinze Dam Stage 3 Project has already partnered with the Southport Surf Life Saving Club to support its Nippers program and is partnering with the Gold Coast Titans to assist in the Titans’ Learning Centre program.”
Hinze Dam Stage 3 Project Alliance Manager Peter Kinsella said the Hinze Dam program would offer three levels of community partnership:
Bronze – Up to a value of $2000
Silver - $2001 to $5000
Gold - $5001 to $10000
“The Alliance will give priority to those applications for partnership in activities that are sustainable and support community growth,” said Mr Kinsella
Applicants must complete a ‘partnership request form’ for their application to be considered.
The Stage 3 project involves raising the height of the dam by 15 metres to 108.4 metres above sea level, which will increase storage capacity from the current 161,070 ML to 309,700 ML.
Due for completion in late 2010, the $395 million project will almost double the water capacity of the Hinze Dam and reduce flooding in the lower Nerang River catchment.
For more information please call FreeCall 1800 993 413 or visit www.hinzedamstage3.com for more project related information.
|
|
 |
|
|
QLD Business Confidence - An all time low!
GCC News November 2009
A new report shows 84 per cent of businesses in Queensland predict they will hold back on employing additional staff in the next quarter.
In a further blow to the Bligh Government the report also found that while 60 per cent of businesses expected the national economy to improve over the next year, almost 60 per cent did not expect the Queensland’s economy to improve.
These findings will be unwelcome news to the thousands of job seekers on the Gold Coast who are looking for jobs presently with Christmas just around the corner.
The findings are contained in the ‘Pulse Survey of Business Conditions” prepared by the Commonwealth Bank and Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland.
The LNP oppositin leader Mr Langbroek said the sharp drop in business confidence was a direct result of Bligh and Labor’s ad-hoc and panic-stricken economic policies that had led to record debt, the loss of Queensland
’s once cherished AAA credit-rating and the fire-sale privatisation agenda.
“This report essentially says that any remaining atom of economic credibility that Bligh and Labor claimed they still had, has now been stripped away,” Mr Langbroek said.
Mr Langbroek said the report meant that Bligh and Labor had no chance of creating 100,000 jobs as the Premier promised on the eve of the election.
Report Findings:
The report released today is the ‘Pulse Survey of Business Condition’ released by the Commonwealth bank and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and can be found at this link: http://www.cciq.com.au/docs/pulse_report_jun09.pdf;
60% of businesses believe the national economic conditions will improve over the next year while 58% of businesses think Queensland’s economic conditions will not improve;
84% of Queensland businesses did not hire new staff in the September quarter and do not believe they will in the December quarter either.
|
|
 |
|
|
Community Centre Fun Day
GCC News November 2009
Northern Gold Coast residents are being urged to contribute their ideas and suggestions for a community centre that will be built as part of a new community hub at Upper Coomera.
A Community Fun Day at the site of the Upper Coomera Hub on Sunday (15 November) will be held to give people the opportunity to find out what was being proposed for the hub and to put forward their ideas.
“It is proposed that the hub, on the corner of Reserve and Abraham Roads, will include a library, community and youth centre, aquatic centre, Council customer service centre, the Divisional Councillor’s office and public parklands,” said GCCC Cr Donna Gates.
“It is important we obtain residents’ thoughts and ideas on this project because we want to make sure we meet the social and recreational needs of the local community.”
“Construction is planned to start early in 2011 and in the meantime, a temporary community facility is being created at the site in an existing house.”
The Family Fun Day starts at 10am and will run through until 1pm.
Free entertainment will include a bouncing castle, face painters, music, games and races. Food and drinks will be available.
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
goldcoastconnect.com.au - goldcoastconnect.bigpixie.com.au
Gold Coast Connect © Jameszon Pty Ltd 2004-2010, An Australian Owned Family Company, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
|
