Paul Weston: Bulletin reporter recaps all your Gold Coast news from 2021
From changing staff to fights over trees to everything in between, it's been a wild time on the Gold Coast. READ WESTO'S RECAP OF EVENTS
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- QUIZ: Do you recognise these Gold Coast identities?
- 'It would be a slap in the face': Confusion over Coast plan
FROM changing staff to fights over trees to everything in between, it's been a wild time on the Gold Coast.
You could be excused for missing some of the news coming out of the Gold Coast in the past few weeks.
Luckily here is a recap, including the fights, feuds and inside news.
FEBRUARY 9
BULLETIN readers have slammed a council proposal to reduce the speed limit on Gold Coast roads to 30km/h in areas where there are many pedestrians and cyclists.
Councillors at a transport committee meeting backed the idea as part of a series of tougher road safety measures.
FEBRUARY 10
NEW mapping shows the decision not to build a train station opposite the Gold Coast’s newest suburb could be the city’s biggest planning disaster.
Businessmen have reached out to the Bulletin warning the location for the new Merrimac station south of Pacific View estate at Worongary will create traffic congestion and force road upgrades.
FEBRUARY 15
THE second oldest Norfolk Island Pine tree at Burleigh Heads, which was under a vegetation protection order from council, has been removed from a development site.
A handful of people watched on as contractors using a crane began working on removing the tree at the corner of Second Avenue and The Esplanade.
FEBRUARY 18
THE chances of Gold Coast developing an ocean pool remain up in the air but it hasn't stopped Bulletin readers from igniting the debate.
As reported in February the plan for a series of ocean pools off the Gold Coast appears dead in the water.
FEBRUARY 23
THE Gold Coast will be home to the state’s first six-star nature-based eco-tourism resort.
The Bulletin can reveal a development application (DA) is about to be lodged with the Gold Coast City Council for Pandana South Stradbroke Island on the former McLaren’s Landing site.
FEBRUARY 25
IN late July last year Gold Coast councillors decided to go to market for the city’s top job. CEO Dale Dickson was in for the career fight of his life. How did he lose?
The unanimous vote of councillors was that “the process of appointment of the CEO officer be managed by the office of the Mayor”.
FEBRUARY 26
A SECOND season of a United States smash teenage television series is to be filmed on the Gold Coast after securing federal government funding.
The Bulletin can reveal the Morrison Government will provide $9.8 million to ABC Signature to film the next season of the Amazon Prime Video series The Wilds. Production will start in April.
FEBRUARY 28
WHO are the top 10 most politically influential people on the Gold Coast?
In the last few months, since the 2020 list was compiled, the Glitter Strip has confronted COVID and unprecedented political changes.
MARCH 2
IMPRESSIVE designs show flash new green bridges are earmarked for top Gold Coast locations like Surfers Paradise.
But an increasing number of councillors don’t want them, worried about cost and a “bridge dumping cyclists and pedestrians at residents’ front doors”.
MARCH 2
DEPUTY Premier Steven Miles predicts the Gold Coast economy will “fall off a cliff” when JobKeeper finishes at the end of the month.
The Bulletin has previously revealed that 49,200 residents in the October-December quarter were on JobKeeper payments.
MARCH 3
THE brother of a woman allegedly raped at a Gold Coast surf club is mates with his sister’s accused rapist, court documents reveal.
The documents also state the two men are both expected to attend a mutual friend’s wedding.
MARCH 4
THE Gold Coast is not just an ugly “Gotham City skyline” with a new report showcasing urban design gems to be found at The Spit, Broadbeach foreshore and Southport CBD.
A report to council’s planning committee provides comments by judges in the Gold Coast Urban Design Awards, an event co-ordinated every two years by council’s planning and environment directorate.
‘Bulldoze’ loud minority gripes or risk your future – demographer
A respected demographer says a bold Mayor able to “bulldoze” over complaints of a loud minority blocking key infrastructure is critical to keeping pace with surging growth.
Hundreds become ‘Kate for a day’ in the most ‘Wuthering’ event on GC
Around 250 Kate Bushes have descended on the Gold Coast in a sea of red to recreate an iconic music video. FULL STORY