You will see the building rise from the ground in February next year.”Cr Gates said the hub was a welcome addition to the rapidly expanding northern Gold Coast growth corridor.“I know that residents are eagerly anticipating this facility which will provide much needed netball and tennis facilities and recreational and sporting options for our community” she said.“With five pools including a 10-lane Olympic standard pool and leisure pool, café, walking trails, events and community parks, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”Mayor Tate said the sports hub is just one of the City’s major investments in the northern Gold Coast.“We are also investing heavily in major transport improvements designed to make a real difference to the everyday lives of residents, now and into the future. Over the next four years, the City will be spending an unprecedented amount on roads and active transport in the northern Gold Coast.”The aquatic centre will feature a shared foyer for the community centre with meeting/function rooms and a health and fitness centre.There will be 12 courts in the netball facility with clubhouse, eight competition standard tennis courts and a junior ‘hot shots’ court, an events park for up to 3000 people and a 1-hectare community park.Other features of the masterplan include a new signalised intersection on Rifle Range Road and 415 carparks.

 Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate encouraged Gold Coasters to rally together and help make history for the city.“The current record is held by a city without a stunning ocean beach front like the Gold Coast – c’mon Gold Coast, let’s beat them and show them who’s the best in the world.“I know the Gold Coast community is compassionate and up for any challenge.

Due to the ongoing bushfire risk a number of the City’s natural area parks are temporarily closed until declared safe.We ask all community members to observe signage, barriers and direction from rangers. Please do not enter closed areas.A full list of current closures can be found here on the City’s website Feature video: Not featuredHomepage featured: 

A 44-metre long steel box girder has successfully been placed on the $19.5 million Green Bridge to HOTA bringing a new connection to Chevron Island and Surfers Paradise to reality.The final – and longest – girder was placed last week as design and construct contractor Georgiou Brady Joint Venture (GBJV) moves into the final construction phase ahead of practical completion in early 2020.Mayor Tom Tate this morning inspected the bridge construction and the striking three-dimensional façade titled ’40 Million Mornings’ which will wrap the j-shaped landing over Evandale Lake.Mayor Tate says he was delighted to mark the major milestone of the landmark Green Bridge project.“Seven years ago we first started talking about a new green pedestrian and cycle link to Chevron Island,” he says.“Now it is close to reality as early next year our evolving cultural precinct will be within walking distance of Chevron Island, our busy tourist hub of Surfers Paradise and beyond via the light rail corridor.“Construction with piling activities, installing piers, northern and southern landings and the placement of the four steel box bridge girders is complete.“We have also upgraded the shared path around Evandale Lake to provide a wider connection from the bridge to HOTA Outdoor Stage.“Over the next few weeks GBJV will put the finishing touches on the bridge with the blue concrete deck and the voronoi shaped balustrading as well as complete landscaping works.”The Green Bridge has a 5-metre wide deck and spans 130 metres across the Nerang River. The folded form and golden colour represents the colour of the sun on the Nerang River over 40 million mornings.Mayor Tate says the ’40 Million Mornings’ installation will provide a new selfie moment for the City.“Lit at night it will create a striking beacon that is reflected on the lake,” he says.The J-shaped landing also features a fig tree relocated from with the HOTA precinct and seating for appreciation of the views across the precinct and the city skyline. A small plaza area is also ideal for a pop-up ice cream cart or an acoustic performance.The Green Bridge project has provided 340 jobs with 50 per cent taken up by Gold Coasters.

A world-first floating reef will be built on the Gold Coast by a team of international experts as the city’s dive attraction takes another step towards becoming a reality.Mayor Tom Tate and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon today awarded the contract to deliver the City’s dive attraction to Australian company Subcon Technologies Pty Ltd.The concept design comprises nine buoyant ‘sculptural reef flutes’ individually tethered to the seafloor by reinforced concrete and steel pyramids.The steel reef flutes will create living sculptures, standing 16-20 metres above the ocean floor. They are designed to create a new ecosystem to recruit fish and serve as sustainable habitats for a diverse range of marine flora and fauna.Mayor Tom Tate said the concept design was quintessential Gold Coast and complemented the region’s existing dive offer.“The Gold Coast is known for delivering many world firsts and this floating reef will take its place as an iconic eco-tourism experience unrivalled on a global scale,” he said.“The floating reef will establish itself instantly as a must do or bucket list experience when you are on the Gold Coast.“Divers will be able to swim around and through the floating reefs which over time will become covered in marine growth attracting schools of fish and other species.”Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the cost would be equally split by the government and council and was expected to attract 16,600 new visitors and more than $2 million in annual overnight visitor expenditure.“We’re investing in new tourism attractions for the Coast that we know will attract more tourists and create local jobs,” she said.Ms Scanlon said the artificial dive site was expected to create 18 jobs during construction and 82 jobs once operational.“Today is a huge milestone. To see this project come to life will be a dream come true for many tourism operators on the Coast,” she said.The reef sculptures are the work of renowned Queensland artist Daniel Templeman who has brought his creative interpretation to the marine engineering capabilities offered by Subcon Technologies.It will undergo further design development in consultation with the dive industry reference group.Subcon Technologies, leaders in offshore marine structures, has delivered more than 20 industrial scale engineered reefs in Australia and internationally, primarily for habitat restoration, diving and recreational fishing.

The Gold Coast’s most outstanding citizens have been recognised in the biennial Safer Suburbs Awards.Mayor Tom Tate said the Awards honoured the people with true community spirit, who were committed to making our city more safe and connected. “We had 23 nominations and every entrant is making a genuine difference to the safety of our city,” he said.  “These awards highlight the incredible work within our community to make the Gold Coast the safest place to live, work, play and raise a family.”The winners in each category are: Individual Category – Kathleen VlasicCoordinator of Rosies drop-in centre at Southport, Kathleen supports our most vulnerable residents by arranging everything from food donations and meals, to haircuts. Their support includes providing items to create a comfortable new home for families, school essentials including uniforms, and through their partnerships with other organisations, they arrange experience days for Gold Coast families to enjoy.Project Category – First Drinks: First Impressions, Queensland Police Service – Gold Coast DistrictAn initiative of the Queensland Police Service, this project is conducted on Friday and Saturday nights in the Surfers Paradise entertainment precinct. Evaluation indicates the project has contributed to a significant reduction in assault rates and fewer victims of crime.Business Category – HalcyonHalcyon was instrumental in the creation of a new bridging accommodation facility in the northern Gold Coast for families affected by domestic and family violence.  The project is the first of its kind, with Halcyon collaborating with local organisations and stakeholders to deliver a facility that offers a safe environment for families. Meritorious Award – Street C.R.E.D, Queensland Police Service - Gold Coast Cross Cultural Liaison UnitStreet C.R.E.D (collaborate, re-engage, empower and deter), led by the Queensland Police Service in collaboration with government and non-government services, builds positive relationships with young people who may be experiencing homelessness or engaging in antisocial behaviour.