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Rental Accommodation
The Gold Coast has gone through a property boom in recent years and this has forced up house prices and subsequently rents.
Competition for good rental properties is fierce and a "rental auction" is not unheard of when two tenants will
try to outbid each other for the house. But there are other options.
Growth areas
Many people are drawn to the bright lights of the Gold Coast while they are on holiday in Surfers Paradise, Main Beach,
Broadbeach or Burleigh Heads. But that's not all there is to the Gold Coast. The fastest growing suburbs are in the north
of the city around Coomera, Oxenford, Pacific Pines and Ormeau. Go for a drive through these areas and see the community facilities
and open spaces they offer. Many families prefer that to the generally more expensive and densely populated beach-side suburbs.
Education
This is one thing you don't have to fret about. With four universities, all of them growing in size and curriculum, and
over 100 high schools, the Gold Coast boasts a quality and quantity of educational facilities to meet your needs.
THE relentless population boom has made the Gold Coast the nation's sixth largest city and pushed Brisbane's south-west
into one of the highest growth areas in Australia.
Last year's gross revenue from tourism accommodation on the Gold Coast totalled $426 million, not including the tourist
expenditure in the region.
Development leading Gold Coast into a new era
Colliers International Media Release, 2007-12-05
by Sarah Stewart
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
The Gold Coast is riding a massive $66 billion wave of new development as its population continues to swell with thousands
of new residents deciding to shift here each year, according to comprehensive research released today.
The biennial research, which was compiled by Colliers International's Gold Coast research analyst Lynda Campbell, is the
most exhaustive to be undertaken in any region of Australia and shows there has been a staggering increase in development
of 381 percent since 2001.
The research reveals there is currently $66.358 billion worth of residential, commercial, infrastructure, industrial developments
and major refurbishments underway or planned from the Gold Coast's tip of Beenleigh south to Pottsville in northern New South
Wales.
The analysis comprises new projects valued at more than $10 million and their combined total has soared since 2005 when
it equated to $42 billion.
In 2003 the total was $22.8 billion and prior to that, in 2001, it was a more sober $13.7 billion.
Ms Campbell said this latest research is arguably the clearest indicator yet of the magnitude of the region's growth.
The Gold Coast has seen new development surge by 58 per cent, or 115 extra projects, compared to 2005 figures and by a
massive 381 per cent compared to 2001 figures,” she said.
The largest increase since 2005, at 429 per cent, is in the refurbishment, extension or renovation of existing amenities,
such as the current extension of Robina Town Centre, and similar plans for the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and Gold Coast
International Airport.
New retirement facilities and commercial, industrial or retail projects have both risen sharply by 263 per cent, and infrastructure
commitments by 140 per cent.
Ms Campbell said the research revealed 17 projects have a gross end value of $1 billion or more.
Leading the charge is the Queensland State Government's $2.5 billion Gold Coast Marine Development at The Spit and two
master-planned residential developments, the waterfront Marina Quays at Hope Island and the impending Cobaki Lakes in northern
New South Wales, each valued at $2.5 billion.
Infrastructure is also being spearheaded by the State Government with numerous initiatives to support the region including
the new $1.23 billion University Hospital at Parkwood, a $1.2 billion desalination plant at Tugun, a $1 billion upgrade of
the Pacific Motorway and a $920 million extension of the rail line to Coolangatta.
Tony Boyd, director of Colliers International Gold Coast, said the research confirms the Gold Coast is hurtling into a
new era.
Major developments are under-way in every sector of the market which, on completion, will see the Gold Coast become Australia's
most sophisticated city, he said.
The region's population growth of 3.5 per cent per annum is largely due to those migrating from southern states.
The city is thriving with a healthy local economy and geared towards a prosperous future, which is reflected in the rate
of development planned and under-way.
The State Government has recognised the need of vital new services in the region, major national and international developers
are actively banking land and construction groups, like Grocon which in the past has focused on Melbourne projects, are making
their presence felt by taking on some of our largest developments.
The Gold Coast has experienced 30 years of sustained growth, however this development wave signals a new era, one which
will secure our position globally as not just a tourist destination but a thriving, progressive city in its own right."
The northern corridor of the Gold Coast, from Beenleigh to Biggera Waters is receiving the largest injection of development
at $25.459 billion, just pipping Biggera Waters to Burleigh Heads at $24.554 billion.
Burleigh Heads south to Pottsville recorded $16.346 billion, which is largely made up of large-scale residential subdivisions
including the $2.5 billion Cobaki Lakes, $1.5 billion Casuarina Beach and $1 billion Salt Village.
Gold Coast Salary Survey unveiled
THE Gold Coast is experiencing an unprecedented era of prosperity with record unemployment set to continue, according
to the inaugural 2007 Gold Coast Salary Survey.
The report, conducted in conjunction with Gold Coast Business News, survey specialist Neilsen, Commerce Queensland and
recruitment agency Kelly Services, surveyed a broad cross-section of professions on the Gold Coast. All four companies recognised
the need within the region to identify dramatic salary shifts based on work place reform, record low unemployment and skills
shortage, underpinned by a strong economy.
Reflecting the increase in positions available within the job market, employers greatest concern is skills shortages,
which negatively impacts upon business growth.
Gold Coast is a city and local government area in the south-east corner of Queensland, Australia. It is the second most
populous city in the state and the sixth most populous city in the country. Gold Coast City is renowned for its sunny subtropical
climate, popular surfing beaches, expansive waterway and canal systems, a skyline dominated by high-rise apartment buildings,
active night-life and wide variety of tourist attractions.
History
Captain James Cook became the first European to note the region when he sailed along the coast on May 16, 1770 in the
HM Bark Endeavour. This exploration was however focussed on areas south of Gold Coast region in the northern rivers of New
South Wales.
Captain Matthew Flinders, an explorer charting the continent north from the colony of New South Wales, sailed past in
1802. The region remained uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach, which was
named after his boat, a cutter named Mermaid.
The hinterland's red cedar supply attracted large numbers of people to the area in the mid 1800s. The western suburb of
Nerang was surveyed and established as a base for the industry. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and
quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for the upper class Brisbane residents.
In 1925, tourism to the area grew rapidly when Jim Cavill established the Surfers Paradise Hotel, which transformed to
Circle on Cavill neighbouring with Towers of Chevron Renaissance shopping mall and resort apartment complex. The population
grew steadily to support the tourism industry and by the 1940s, real estate speculators and journalists were referring to
the area as the "Gold Coast." The true origin of the name is still debatable. The name "Gold Coast" was
officially proclaimed in 1958 when the South Coast Town Council was renamed "Gold Coast Town Council."
During the 1970s, real-estate developers gained a dominant role in local politics, and high-rises began to dominate the
area now known as Surfers Paradise and later in 1981 the airport was established. In 1994 the Gold Coast City Council and
the Shire of Albert amalgamated to create new city boundaries under the administration of the City of Gold Coast Council.
Geography
The Gold Coast can be reached from Brisbane by Pacific Motorway M1 (blue) and Pacific Highway (Highway 1) from Sydney
and Newcastle.
The Gold Coast can be reached from Brisbane by Pacific Motorway M1 (blue) and Pacific Highway (Highway 1) from Sydney
and Newcastle.
Gold Coast City stretches from Beenleigh on the southern fringe of Logan City, for approximately 60km (38 miles) south
to Coolangatta situated on the New South Wales border, and extends west to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in World
Heritage listed Lamington National Park. Tweed Heads and sections of Beaudesert are also commonly referred to as being a part
of 'The Gold Coast' region. However, they do not fall into the statistical boundaries of Gold Coast City.
The Gold Coast is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, to the south of Brisbane, the state capital. Due to
continuous development in south-east Queensland over the past 30 years, the Gold Coast/Beenleigh/Logan City/Brisbane region
is now a conurbation. The Gold Coast officially stretches from the south end of Logan City and Russell Island to the border
with New South Wales. The southernmost town is Coolangatta which includes Point Danger and its lighthouse. Coolangatta is
a twin city with Tweed Heads located directly across the border. At [show location on an interactive map] 28.1667° S 153.55°
E, this is the most easterly point on the Queensland mainland (Point Lookout on the offshore island of North Stradbroke is
slightly further east).
From Coolangatta, approximately forty kilometres of holiday resorts and surfing beaches stretch north to the suburb of
Main Beach, and then further on Stradbroke Island. The suburbs of Southport and Surfers Paradise form the Gold Coast's commercial
centre (latitude about 27.7 degrees south). The administrative area of the Gold Coast City Council continues north up to and
including Beenleigh.
The major river in the area is the Nerang River. Much of the land between the coastal strip and the hinterland was once
wetlands drained by this river, but the swamps have been converted into man-made waterways (over 260 km [1], or over 9 times
that of Venice, Italy) and artificial islands covered in upmarket homes. The heavily developed coastal strip sits on a narrow
barrier sandbar between these waterways and the sea.
To the west, the city is bordered by a part of the Great Dividing Range commonly referred to as the 'Gold Coast hinterland'.
A 206 kmē section of the mountain range is protected by Lamington National Park and has been listed as a World Heritage area
in recognition of its "outstanding geological features displayed around shield volcanic craters and the high number of
rare and threatened rainforest species."[2] The area is popular among bushwalkers and day-trippers.
Urban structure
Waterways
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
(July 2007)
Waterfront canal living is a feature of the Gold Coast, and most canal frontage homes have pontoons. The Gold Coast Seaway,
between The Spit and South Stradbroke Island, allows vessels direct access to the Pacific Ocean from The Broadwater and many
of the city's canal estates. Breakwaters on either side of the Seaway prevent longshore drift and the bar from silting up.
A sand pumping operation on the Spit pipes sand under the Seaway to continue this natural process. Residential canals were
first built on the Gold Coast in 1950s and construction continues to the present day. Early canals included Florida Gardens,
Isle of Capri which were under construction at the time of the 1954 flood. Recently constructed canals include Harbour Quays
and Riverlinks completed in 2007. There is over 890km of constructed residential waterfront land within the city that is home
to over 80,000 residents.
Beaches
The city consists of 57 kilometres of coastline with some of the most popular surf breaks in Australia including, South
Stradbroke Island, The Spit, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Miami, Burleigh Beach,
Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Beach, Palm Beach, Curruminbin Beach, Tugun, Bilinga, Kirra, Coolangatta, Greenmount, Rainbow
Bay, Snapper Rocks and Froggies Beach. Duranbah beach is one of the world's best known surfing beaches and is often thought
of as being part of Gold Coast City, but is actually just across the New South Wales state border in Tweed Shire.
There are also beaches along many of the Gold Coast's 860km of navigable tidal waterways. Popular inland beaches include
Southport, Budds Beach, Marine Stadium, Currumbin Alley, Tallebudgera Estuary, Jacobs Well, Jabiru Island, Paradise Point,
Harley Park Labrador, Santa Barbara, Boykambil and Evandale Lake.
Beach Safety and Management
While the beaches are beautiful and enticing, there are also inherent dangers, and the Gold Coast has Australia's largest
professional surf lifesaving service to protect people on the beaches and to promote surf safety throughout the community.
The Queensland Department of Primary Industries carries out the Queensland Shark Control Program (SCP) to protect swimmers
from sharks. No fatal shark attacks have occurred on protected ocean beaches, tidal waterways or canals on the Gold Coast
since 1958 (however two fatal attacks have been recorded in inland lake areas that are separate from the tidal waterways network
since 2000).
Sharks are caught by using nets and baited drum-lines off the major swimming beaches. Even with the SCP, sharks do range
within sight of the patrolled beaches, lifeguards will clear swimmers from the water if it is considered that there is a safety
risk.
Gold Coast Beaches have experienced periods of severe beach erosion. In 1967 a series of 11 cyclones removed most of the
sand from Gold Coast beaches. The Government of Queensland engaged engineers from Delft University in the Netherlands to advise
what to do about the beach erosion. The Delft Report was published in 1971 and outlined a series of works for Gold Coast Beaches
including Gold Coast Seaway, works at Narrowneck that resulted in the Northern Gold Coast Beach Protection Strategy and works
at the Tweed River that became the Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project. By 2005 most of the recommendations of the
1971 Delft Report had been implemented.
The Gold Coast City Council commenced implementation of the Palm Beach, Protection Strategy but ran into considerable
opposition from the community participating in a NO REEF protest campaign. The Gold Coast City Council then committed to completing
a review of beach management practices to update the Delft Report.
The Gold Coast Shoreline Management Plan will be delivered by a range of organisations including the EPA, Gold Coast City
Council and the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management.
Gold Coast City Council is also investing into the quality and capacity of the Gold Coast Oceanway that provides sustainable
transport along Gold Coast beaches.
The border between Queensland and New South Wales can be seen where the pine trees line the centre of the street.
The border between Queensland and New South Wales can be seen where the pine trees line the centre of the street.
Governance
Gold Coast City Council and Government of Queensland
The city is governed at the local level by the Gold Coast City Council. On 23 October 1958, local administrators established
the Gold Coast Town Council. Only six months later, on 16 May 1959, the Queensland Government proclaimed the Gold Coast a
city. In 1995, Albert Shire Council merged with the existing Gold Coast City Council to form a supra-local authority that
maintained the existing name Gold Coast City Council.
The Crime and Misconduct Commission has held an inquiry into allegations of official misconduct against candidates who
ran in the 2004 Council elections. The CMC found secrecy, deceit and misinformation& had corrupted the electoral process
during the 2004 Gold Coast City Council election.
Fourteen divisions represent Gold Coast, numbered from division 01 (based at Beenleigh) to division 14 (based at Coolangatta).
Former Olympian Ron Clarke was elected mayor of the city in 2004. Former mayors of the city include Gary Baildon, Lex Bell,
Ray Stevens, Ern Harley and Sir Bruce Small.
In July 2007 the Queensland state government announced local government reforms for Queensland that included removing
division 01 (Beenleigh) from Gold Coast City and adding it to Logan City. The new city boundaries will come into effect in
association with the local government elections of March 2008
The city is represented at the state level by nine members in the Queensland Legislative Assembly. The seats they hold
are: Broadwater, Burleigh, Currumbin, Gaven, Mudgeeraba, Robina, Southport and Surfers Paradise.
Federally, Gold Coast is represented by four members in the House of Representatives, whose seats are Fadden (northern),
Moncrieff (central), McPherson (southern) and Forde (western). Historically, the Gold Coast has remained a very safe conservative
electorate. Three of the Gold Coast electorates (Fadden, Moncrieff and McPherson) have returned only Liberal Party representative
since 1986.
Southport Courthouse is the city's major courthouse and has jurisdiction to hear petty criminal offences and civil matters
up to AU$250,000. Indictable offences, criminal sentencing and civil matters above AU$250,000 are heard in the higher Supreme
Court of Queensland which is located in Brisbane. There are subsidiary Magistrates Courts, also located at the northern and
southern suburbs of Beenleigh and Coolangatta.
Numinbah Correctional Centre, located in the city's hinterland suburb of Numinbah Valley, is an open-custody prison farm.
The centre is a minimum security prison accommodating for up to 104 male prisoners and in a separate annex, twenty-five female
prisoners.
Economy
The Dreamworld Tower, tourism is vital in the Gold Coast economy, the area boasting no less than 5 major theme parks.
According to a study completed by the Centre for Economic Policy Modelling (CEPM) at the University of Queensland, Gold
Coast regional gross domestic product for financial year ending June 30, 2002 was nearly AU$8.9 billion.
Main industry sectors contributing to the regional gross domestic product included property services, construction, retail
trade, business services, transport, tourism (accommodation, cafes and restaurants), finance & insurance, health services,
education, wholesale trade and entertainment.
Tourism
The Gold Coast hosts over 830,000 international tourists a year and approximately 3.6 million domestic overnight visitors.
Almost half of the international tourists to the Gold Coast are from Japan and New Zealand but the region is also getting
increased visitation from places such as India, the Middle East and China.
Film production
Gold Coast City is the major film production centre in Queensland and has accounted for 75% of all film production in
Queensland since the 1990s, with an expenditure of around $150 million per year. Gold Coast is the third largest film production
centre in Australia behind Sydney and Melbourne. Warner Brothers have large studios located just outside of the city, at Oxenford
which have been the filming locations for films such as the Scooby Doo films and The House of Wax (2005).
Warner Roadshow Studios are situated adjacent to the Warner Bros Movie World Theme Park at Oxenford. The Studios consists
of eight sound stages, production offices, editing rooms, wardrobe, construction workshops, water tanks and commissary. These
sounds stages vary in size and have an overall floor area of 10,844 sq metres, making Warner Roadshow Studio one of the largest
studio lots in the Southern Hemisphere. Recent productions include Scooby Doo and The House of Wax. The Queensland Government
actively supports the film and television production industry in Queensland and provides both non-financial and financial
assistance through the Pacific Film and Television Commission.
Culture
Sport and Recreation
Sports on the Gold Coast, Queensland
The Gold Coast is represented in 3 national competitions by the following teams:
Team name Competition Sport
Gold Coast Titans National Rugby League Rugby League
Gold Coast Blaze National Basketball League Basketball
East Coast Aces Australian Rugby Championship Rugby Union
Queensland Roar A-League Football (soccer)
These three teams all have their first season in 2007 and are the first national teams in many years to be situated on
the Gold Coast.
Rugby league is the biggest spectator sport on the Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Titans are the most popular sporting
team based on the Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast does not host a team in the AFL but from 2007 three AFL premiership matches involving the North Melbourne
Kangaroos will be played at Carrara Stadium.
The Gold Coast has also been mentioned as a prime candidate for hosting an A-League team when the competition is expanded.
Former WWE Superstar Nathan Jones comes from the Gold Coast, as does swimmer Grant Hackett.
There are many recreational activities situated on the Gold Coast ranging from (famously) surfing to fishing and boating
to golf. The Gold Coast boasts numerous golf links, including Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove and The Glades.
There is a range of sporting facilities on the Gold Coast from the Carrara Stadium, Carrara Indoor Sport Centre, Nerang
Velodrome and the Sports Super Centre. Some of these Facilities are being superseded by newer and larger capacity facilities.
Two examples of these are the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre to play host to a Gold Coast Basketball team and
Skilled Park to host NRL games.
Events
The Lexmark Indy 300 is a car racing event held annually, usually in October. The course ventures through the streets
of Surfers Paradise and Main Beach. The Indy 300 comprises many other events such as the Indy Undie Ball and the Miss Indy
Competition. The V8 Supercars event also coincides with the Indy 300, using the same track route.
The Magic Millions carnival is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Gerry Harvey (of Harvey Normans) and John Singleton. In
2005 John Singleton won the 3 year Old Trophy with Tippitaka and proceeded in true Singo-Style to shout the entire bar at
the Gold Coast Turf Club. He then backed up in 2006 to win the 2yr Old Classic with Mirror Mirror. There is plans to relocate
and build a state of the art new racetrack at Palm Meadows which will incoporate the Magic Million sale with facilities for
up to 4000 horses. The current race track is too small and can not handle the amount of horses for sale at the carnival.
Each June, Coolangatta hosts the Wintersun Festival, a two-week 1950s and 1960s nostalgia festival with free entertainment
and attractions, including hot rods, restored cars and revival bands playing music of the era.
Each July, more than 16,000 congregate on the Gold Coast from around the world to participate in the Gold Coast Marathon.
There are six events, including the 42.2km Marathon, 21.1km Half Marathon, 10km Run, 7.5km Walk and Junior Dash races for
the kids over 2.25km and 4km. Regarded as the premier marathon in Australia, the Gold Coast Airport Marathon is also recognised
worldwide for its fast, flat and scenic course and technical excellence. It is also the largest annual community sporting
event held on the Gold Coast.
Media
The daily, local newspaper is The Gold Coast Bulletin which is published by News Corporation. The Gold Coast Sun and Gold
Coast Mail are other local newspapers.
Gold Coast is unique in that it is officially in the television broadcast licence areas of both Brisbane (metro) and Northern
New South Wales (regional). The Brisbane networks are Seven, Nine and Ten. The regional affiliates are Prime Television, NBN
Television and Southern Cross Ten. Also broadcasting to the area are the ABC and SBS television services. Subscription television
services Foxtel (via cable) and Austar (via satellite) are also available.
Major FM radio stations include, 88 BeachFM (tourist info., Top 40), 89.3 4CRB-FM (Christian), 90.9 SEAFM (Top 40, pop),
91.7 Coast FM (contemporary, ABC local news and information), 92.5 Gold 92.5 (mix of 70s, 80s, 90s, and Top 40), 93.5 SBS
(Brisbane), 94.1 Jazz Radio (jazz, blues and swing music), 97.7 JJJ Triple J (alternative and chart music), 102.9 Hot Tomato
(Top 40, pop), 104 4MBS Classic, 105.7 Radio Metro (dance, pop, R&B, and left field), 106 ABC Classic FM, and 107.3 LifeFM
(Christian). Several Brisbane AM and FM radio stations can also be received in various areas.
Tourism and Landmarks
Tourism is Gold Coast City's main industry, generating total revenue of $2.5 billion per annum. Gold Coast is the most
popular Queensland tourism location with over 13,000 available guest rooms contributing over $335 million to the local economy
each year. Accommodation options available range from backpacker hostels to five star resorts and hotels. The most common
style of accommodation is three and four star self-contained apartments.
Major tourist attractions include internationally renowned surf beaches, World Heritage listed hinterland national parks,
and theme parks including, Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Water World, Warner Bros. Movie World, WhiteWater World, Currumbin
Sanctuary, Fleays Wildlife Park, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country. The Gold Coast also serves as a gateway
to further tourist destinations within Queensland and Northern New South Wales, including direct flight access to the Great
Barrier Reef, with flights departing daily to Lady Elliot Island.
Q1
Since its opening in 2005 the Q1 building has been a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The observation
deck at level 77 is the highest of its kind in Queensland and offers expansive views in all directions. The three Towers of
Chevron Renaissance have also become a local landmark.
Meter Maids
Bikini-clad Meter Maids were introduced in Surfers Paradise in 1965 in an attempt to put a positive spin on new parking
regulations. To avoid tickets being issued for expired parking, the Meter Maids dispense coins into the meter and leave a
calling card under the windscreen wiper of the vehicle. The Maids are still a popular part of the Surfers Paradise culture
but the scheme is now run by private enterprise.
Education
The Gold Coast's education infrastructure includes:
* Universities - Two major university campuses (Bond University at Robina and Griffith University, incorporating the Griffith
Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Oral Health at the Gold Coast Hospital and the main campus at Southport) and the smaller
campus of Central Queensland University at Southport
* TAFE - four campuses at Southport, Ridgeway (Ashmore), Benowa and Coolangatta
* Schools - Many primary and secondary schools, both public and private and of a variety of denominations.
Infrastructure
Health
The Gold Coast Hospital at Southport is the city's major teaching and referral hospital and the third largest in Queensland,
attending to over 58,000 cases a year [20], and overseeing other services of the Gold Coast Health Service District as its
head office. There is a second public hospital situated in Robina but this second campus is smaller and mainly comprises rehabilitation,
psychiatric and palliative wards along with a recently opened Emergency Department.
A number of private hospitals also exist throughout the city, notably Allamanda Private Hospital located at Southport,
Pindara Hospital at Benowa and John Flynn Gold Coast Private Hospital at Tugun in the city's south.
Transport
Transport on the Gold Coast, Queensland
The Gold Coast has a wide range of public transport modes including buses, rail and monorail. The car is the dominant
mode of transport for Gold Coast but with the increasing population that leads to more traffic congestion.[citation needed]
This has led to the Queensland State Government and Gold Coast City council placing more effort into providing public transport
including a new Ferry service and the proposed Rapid Transit System. The Gold Coast's main provider of public bus services
is Surfside Buslines.
Gold Coast Airport is located at Coolangatta, approximately 22 kilometres south of Surfers Paradise. Services are provided
to interstate capitals and major cities as well as to major New Zealand cities. Services are also available to some Asian
countries and when the new extended runway is completed at the end of 2007 more Asian countries will be available. A new terminal
is also under way and should be completed by 2009.
Utilities
Electricity
Electricity for the Gold Coast is sourced from Powerlink Queensland at bulk supply substations which is provided via the
National Electricity Market from an interconnected multi-State power system. In the early 1990s Australian governments commenced
a program of deregulation of the electricity sector, which is progressively being introduced in multiple phases known as tranches.
The Government-owned electricity corporation Energex distributes and retails electricity, natural gas, liquefied petroleum
gas (LPG) and value-added products and services to residential, industrial and commercial customers in South-East Queensland.
Water supply
The Hinze Dam 15 km southwest of Nerang is the population's main water supply. The Little Nerang Dam which feeds into
Hinze Dam can supplement part of the city area's water needs, and both are managed by the city council directorate Gold Coast
Water. Reforms of the way in which the water industry is structured have been announced by the State Government, with transfer
of ownership and management of water services from local government to the state occurring in 2008-09. Gold Coast City Council
also sources water from Wivenhoe Dam, west of Brisbane for northern suburbs when the Hinze Dam, at one-tenth of Wivenhoe's
capacity, becomes low. Water shortage and water restrictions have been current local issues, and a few new Gold Coast residential
areas have recently included dual reticulation in their planning and development to supply water from a new water recycling
plant being built concurrently.
This will make available highly treated recycled water for use around the home in addition to potable water. The Gold
Coast has received world recognition for this scheme in its Pimpama-Coomera suburbs. Gold Coast Water has also been recognised
for its world leading HACCP water quality management system by the World Health Organisation which published Gold Coast Water's
system as a good model for managing water quality and safety from catchment to tap. A desalination plant is currently under
construction at Tugun to supplement Southeast Queensland via a water grid.
Future projects
This article or section contains information about planned or expected future infrastructure.
It may contain speculative information and may change upon or during construction.
Water
* A desalination plant is currently being built in Tugun.
* Raising Hinze Dam
* SEQ Water pipeline
Transport
Public Transport
* Gold Coast Rapid Transit System a light rail or bus rapid transport system running mainly along Smith Street and Gold
Coast highway from Southport down to Coolangatta is expected to start construction in 2008.
* The existing heavy rail Gold Coast line will be progressively extended to Coolangatta.
Roads
The Pacific Motorway will be upgraded between Nerang and Tugun to a four-lane corridor in both directions, with the Tugun
Bypass to be completed in 2008.
Palm Beach & Elanora Gold Coast Queensland 4221 Australia
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