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�Corruption Concerns Rise: Gold Coast City Council Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations and Budgets!�JOIN US FOR A PUBLIC RALLY NEXT SATURDAY AT MIDDAY IN QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK NEXT TO COOLANGATTA SLSC NEAR BOARD SHORTS BARRISTA. BRING YOUR HOME MADE SIGNS...LET'S ROAR TO ENSURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD!
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Take your time to consume this information. It is long however, it takes you on the journey of a very slippery road. Please share this important information with as many people as possible. We will include some older links to allegations relating to GCCC at the end of this post. We hope this helps you understand what we area dealing with here on the Gold Coast.
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Recent events have heightened concerns about corruption and mismanagement as the Gold Coast City Council plans a visit to Parramatta City Council, which is currently under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). This troubling juxtaposition raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in our local governance.
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Key Concerns:
1. � Transparency:
Why is our council engaging with a city facing serious allegations of corruption? This visit could suggest a lack of commitment to ethical governance and public accountability.
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2. � Accountability:
With ongoing ICAC investigations, our leaders must prioritise community trust. Are they entering a volatile situation that could further diminish this trust?
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3. � Emulating Practices:
The connection between the two councils raises alarming questions: Is there a troubling inclination to adopt questionable governance practices?
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4. � Public Perception:
This visit may be perceived as tone-deaf in light of ongoing ethical issues, potentially eroding residents' confidence in local leadership.
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Recent Financial Decisions:
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�It's crucial to highlight that Mayor Tom Tate recently purchased the Bundall Corporate Centre for a staggering $117 million…where does this money come from? Your rates, hence the massive increases of 10-15% not the promised 2.7%.
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�Meanwhile, there are increasing concerns over the escalating costs and delays surrounding Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4. Originally projected to cost $2.4 billion, estimates have now skyrocketed to $7.6 billion, edging towards triple the initial projections. Given Stage 3's history of completion at a rate of approximately 1 km per year, this raises questions about the feasibility of finishing Stage 4 before the upcoming Olympics.
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�Our experts believe that if light rail Stage 4 is ever approved, it will not be completed before 2040. With the addition of complex bridge constructions, narrow roadways, resumptions etc., it’s clear that residents should brace for delays and even higher costs.
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�Let's not forget that we can have true fast intercity heavy rail for approximately $4.5 billion, SAVING US $3.1 BILLION whilst reducing travel time from one end of the GC to the other in 29 minutes, not the 1 hour & 50 minutes that light rail will take.
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�If light rail is built first, you will not see heavy rail completed to the CG airport in your lifetime or that of your children. If light rail is built, a round trip from the southern GC for work or study to Brisbane will take a staggering 5 hours!
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�DO NOT LET GCCC FOOL YOU. LIGHT RAIL IS ALL ABOUT THE URBAN RENEWAL (underground utilities) to continue littering our coastal strip with multi-million dollar high-rise apartments that have insufficient parking.
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�Have you noticed a drop in your water pressure? Did you know that the opening of the refurbished Tallebudgera Surf Club was delayed because it did not pass the fire brigade water pressure test? YES THAT IS RIGHT...WE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH WATER PRESSURE TO PUT OUT A FIRE IN THESE DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT THE UPGRADES, WHICH IS WHAT LIGHT RAIL IS ABOUT!
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�You will lose access to your amenities, ie, the beaches, nippers, surf clubs, cafes and even the tram itself, as you will not be able to park anywhere near it. In fact, if you live anywhere within 400 meters of the light rail, you will have parking restrictions of 3 hours outside your own home, which GCCC has already voted for along Light Rail Stage 3.
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�Let's take a look at how the southern councillors voted:
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Cr Joshua Martin � NO
Cr Nick Marshall � NO
Cr Dan Doran �NO
Cr Gail O'Neill �YES.
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TAKE NOTE: CR'S MARTIN, MARSHALL AND DORAN ARE ALL NEW TO GCCC YET. THEY STOOD UP FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, WHILE CR GAIL O'NEILL HAS BETRAYED HER COMMUNITY BY VOTING TO SIDE WITH MAYOR TATE'S PUNISHMENT OF THE SOUTHERN GOLD COAST RESIDENTS WITH LR PARKING RESTRICTIONS.
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�Let’s not forget Cr. O’Neill accepted $10,000 from the Kirra Hotel developer and had to recuse herself from voting on our behalf, a clear case of pure greed. You can find a video of Cr. O’Neill, just prior to being elected, claimed she “would not take donations from developers, though some candidates do” and that “she was funding her own campaign”. Cr O’Neill then went on to say “she knew she had to protect the relaxed lifestyle of Division 14”!
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�In fact, Cr. Gail O’Neill had already pocketed the $10,000.00 and failed her Division 14.
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Tasmanian Connections and Ongoing Issues:
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�Concerns surrounding Mayor Tate's selection of Tasmanian politicians and their influence on our local governance are growing. We have appointments to boards, including the former Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman and his then-CEO, Tim Baker, who is now our CEO. The third is Brian Wightman, a former minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage from 2010-2014. The fourth is Todd Babiak to Brand Gold Coast. During this period, there were specific concerns about the logging of old forests. The first three had a poor history with many environmental groups during their time in the Tasmanian parliament.
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�Mayor Tom Tate, who has already been under investigation by the CCC (Crime and Corruption Commission) is on the Board of Invest Gold Coast with these three former Tasmanian politicians during a contentious atmosphere around forestry.
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�As reported in the Gold Coast Bulletin, 24/7/2025, Councillor Patterson is facing a second investigation for inappropriately treating her staff. The CEO, Tim Baker, confirms that Cr Brooke Patterson's legal expenses will be covered by ratepayers, currently totalling $142,413!
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�How much did we pay for Mayor Tate's legal fees in the Operation Yabba CCC Investigation? This ABC Four Corners report, named "All That Glitters" is still available to watch on ABC I iView.
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�Did you know that Mayor Tate undertook legal proceedings to have this episode removed from ABC I View and failed...it was ordered that he pay 90% of ABC's legal fees....WHO ACTUALLY PAID FOR THESE LEGAL ACTIONS? IS THIS OK WITH YOU?
Here is the ABC Four Corners link for your viewing: https://www.abc.net.au/.../2017.../all-that-glitters/8944444.
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Concerns About Financial Management:
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�This year’s Gold Coast City Council budget allocates a staggering $87 million to three mega entities: Experience Gold Coast, Invest Gold Coast, and Brand Gold Coast. This is a dramatic increase of $32 million compared to previous subsidiaries.
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�The council claims that this restructuring would yield $6.8 million in savings, yet current allocations represent a 58% increase, despite inflation being only 19% over the last three years.
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�This budget exceeds allocations for essential services, including Sport and Recreation ($87 million), Libraries ($66 million), and Community Safety ($39 million).
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�The Chair of Invest Gold Coast, Will Hodgman earns $150,000 per year, significantly more than the previous chair of Destination Gold Coast, who earned $30,000.
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�This overlap in leadership is troubling, as the chair also serves on the Experience Gold Coast board, alongside both the Mayor and the CEO. You could look at Wayne Purcell for Better Planning for further information on this issue.
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�Residents are being misled into believing that we will only experience a 2.7% rise in rates when actual increases are likely between 10% and 15% indicative of questionable financial practices that warrant serious investigation.
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�While we are discussing board appointments to the three mega entities, let's consider the appointment of Leanne White to Brand Gold Coast.
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Leanne White was appointed to the Brand Gold Coast board in October 2024. Leanne White is the Founder of Insightfully Pty Ltd. A report commissioned by Brand Gold Coast was produced in December 2024, which supported the GCLR4 initiative.
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This all occurred within a two-month period, and the report was tabled in April of this year. Do you feel this is a conflict of interest? It appears this report caught all of the councillors by surprise! Councillor Martin rejected the report, as did other councillors, without knowing anything about it.
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Public Land Grab Concerns:
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�IS MAYOR TATE IN TROUBLE WITH HIS DEVELOPER MATES AS LIGHT RAIL STAGE 4 STALLS?�
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�Major revelations have come to light, spelling serious trouble for Mayor Tom Tate! His budgeting strategies are under scrutiny as increasing dissatisfaction within the community highlights his failure to deliver on promises and engage in dubious dealings!
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� The Gold Coast Bulletin revealed that Tate is directing blame at the LNP for placing a hold on funding for the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4. A mere 13 kilometres of track is projected to cost an astonishing $7.6 billion! � It’s time for Gold Coast residents to wake up!
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Community Fatigue: We’re OVER Your "Vanity Projects," Mayor Tate!
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We are tired of Mayor Tate’s obsession with "vanity projects" and public land grabs that primarily benefit private interests! Let’s break it down:
� The Spit: An area rife with land grabs! Follow Save Our Spit for details on the dubious dealings orchestrated by Tate and his associates.
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� Carey Park: This site seems to cater to developers like Billy Cross, revealing connections to Mayor Tate and UFC and boxing interests. Another action that prioritises private gain over community needs.
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� Kurrawa Beach Bar: The proposal to privatise this space, linked to The Australian Venue Company, raises serious concerns about sacrificing public assets for commercial profit.
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� Burleigh Pavilion: Once a vibrant community space, its transformation towards commercial interests, including restaurants and nightclubs, illustrates a shift from public benefit to private profits. Which developer is behind this? The Ferros Group. Note that GCCC has just approved another grab of the once-public swimming pool to be filled in, making way for private gain... again.
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�Kirra Pavilion: A heritage-listed beachfront site turned into Siblings Kirra. The owners, who are part of Tom Tate's family, specifically his nephews from the Cianni family, raise serious concerns about nepotism in our local governance.
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� The recent release of plans to demolish Rainbow Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and impacts to local amenities, such as removing Snapper Rocks Road and the parking.
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�There was an issue raised that the Surf Club's Secretary is a Gold Coast City Planner and has connections to a developer who, it seems, wants to create another Burleigh Pavilion-style development.
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�Once again, public land for private gain appears to be ahead for this precious area, which has seen the rise of many World Champion surfers, including Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Mark Occhilupo, and Rab Bartholomew, Michael Peterson and PT to name just a few! This is a world-renowned location that deserves respect and protection. The sense of place is key here! This is a designated “World Surf Reserve”.
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The Need for Change:
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�With so many troubling issues surrounding key roles within the Gold Coast City Council, it’s time for change. We must confront the influence of Tasmanian officials on boards such as Experience Gold Coast, Invest Gold Coast, and Brand Gold Coast. The crossover of Mayor Tom Tate, and CEO Tim Baker on every board is particularly concerning.
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� Did our GCCC councillors vote to have Mayor Tom Tate, CEO Tim Baker etc to be on the boards of the three mega entities, Invest Gold Coast, Brend GC & Experience Gold Coast?
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Environmental Concerns on the Gold Coast:
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�While our mayor and the Gold Coast City Council are advocating for the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 to facilitate urban renewal and improve underground utilities for high-rise developments, significant environmental issues are being overlooked. The Elanora Water Treatment Plant is currently at capacity, resulting in sewage leaks into our waterways and posing serious public health concerns. Residents have witnessed alarming incidents, such as crab kills and lifeguards at Neptune Surf Club discovering human waste.
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�The situation at Tallebudgera Creek—a major tourist destination frequently featured in Gold Coast promotions—raises red flags, particularly with Neptune Life Guards finding human faeces in the creek.
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�Remember the infamous Albert River sewage spill? It was the worst in Queensland's history. The equivalent of 180 OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS OF SEWAGE was released into the waterway.
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�Additionally, the contamination issues at Coolangatta Creek, particularly the lack of testing and release of PFAS measurements, demand urgent attention.
The city must prioritise the well-being of its residents and the protection of our waterways before pursuing further urban development.
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Conclusion:
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�Given that the Gold Coast City Council has been meeting with Parramatta City Council, which is now under ICAC investigation, questions naturally arise about the integrity of our council.
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� Remember the Operation Yabba inquiry by the CCC regarding the Gold Coast City Council's practices as depicted in the ABC Four Corners episode “All That Glitters” Perhaps it is time to consider whether ICAC should also investigate GCCC now that we are aware there have been interactions with Parramatta Council?
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�Let’s not forget the Surfers Paradise Bowls Club Saga and then the Bruce Bishop Car Park debacle, both involving Mayor Tate. Wow, that’s quite a history lesson!
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�We believe it is essential to raise our voices and demand action. We need a thorough investigation into the Gold Coast City Council to ensure that our governance upholds the highest standards of integrity and transparency.
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�Oh, BTW, we also pay for Mayor Tate's bodyguard and his chaplain!
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�The Office of the Independent Assessor (OIA) was the body that you could call to investigate GCCC had a change in legislation last year, and they no longer conduct the investigations. All they can do is refer a complaint back to GCCC to investigate themselves! IT APPEARS GCCC IS A PROTECTED BREED!
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See the link in comments to join us next Saturday, 16th August, in Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta, just beside Board Shorts Barrista at Midday to protest GCCC & Cr Gail O'Neill's deafness to community voices.
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Please put any comments below � .
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#SaveOurSouthernGoldCoast
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Queen Elizabeth Park Coolangatta, Coolangatta QLD 4225, Australia,Gold Coast,QLD,Australia, Coolangatta
