CHANGING OF GUARDS @ GOLD COAST CITY

The change of guards to many means keeping vigil 24/7 and a handing over of the baton of responsibility and guardianship of safety for a place or person to ensure a smooth transition and continued security of the place or territory guarded over.

Well, Gold Coast is facing a literal change of guards in political leadership and it will see new faces taking up council leadership in its council as well. There are 7 candidates running for mayor this year for Gold Coast's top seat, one of which is Peter Young. I feel people need to take a good hard look at what he's done in the past and plans to do for the future before they cast their vote this Saturday.

Why I feel he fits the bill for mayor is based on two counts: he not only has the heart and passion for the city of Gold Coast but he also has the experience in political governance & town planning knowhow to make things happen for Gold Coast. Although most had criticised him for being a greenie advocate and for seemingly being anti-development because of his environmental-friendly stance, he has been advocating major change and lots of shifts in mindsets for Gold Coast development over the years - one of which is the recent successful bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by Gold Coast.

Peter Young  at the Commonwealth Games winning of bid for GC 

The other thing he has been involved in is pushing for new airline routing from China to Gold Coast and more trade relationships coming in from China investors as well - with the intention to create more jobs and stimulate the economy in the city.

Although some people are mad about many stupid issues in Gold Coast such as exorbitant price of water, high assessment fees for properties, and mismanagement of funds, or some just plain frustrated at national & state level government (esp. Miss Red Hair) they need to take a hard look at the voting authority in their hands and their individual potential to change things here locally. If they cast an informal or donkey vote, they only have themselves to blame.  In the words of former Combined Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce chief Bob Janssen, "If you're going to whinge about the performance of the previous council, then cast a vote, have your say. Otherwise, don't whinge," he said. True, so true...


For all you Gold Coasters out there with a vote in your hands out there know this...that even though I am not yet a citizen in Australia, I have committed to volunteering my time and effort to be part of this year's election mayoral campaign for Peter Young because I believe this city needs a chance for major transformation with the right guy at the helm,... and you can only get that with someone who knows and believes in what he's talking about. 

So, if you're reading this or you somehow stumbled upon my website because you had questions about Mr Young, and feel you can't make up your minds about it, go to this website, http://www.peteryounggoldcoast.com.au/. And then please cast your vote.... because if the wrong guy gets elected, heavens, DON'T WHINGE ABOUT IT.. because you never did your part.. and didn't make up the critical mass...  just remember:-


APATHY= NO CHANGE =  SAME SHIT.


Show up and be counted. Make the difference.

THE FLOOD EFFECTS PT. 1: EMPTY SHELVES

Yesterday, when I went out to get some vege's, this was what I saw, amazing and appalling: Empty shelves and empty tables at major supermarkets (that kinda reminds me of what the French students sang for Les Miserables- Empty chairs and empty tables)..this is probably the first time in a long, long time, that the shops have this problem due to the floods. Farmer crops have been affected drastically, even meats were not as plentiful. Quite pathetic to see people fingering through a few stalks of veg left on the shelves. Milk was all sold out, including UHT shelves which were typically well-stocked... So, eventhough GC was unaffected by the flood waters, the inland tsunami that hit Queensland still had its ripple effects much felt here...hopefully, the supplies get back to normal soon.

DAM GOOD NEWS

THOUSANDS of litres are gushing from the Hinze Dam, Gold Coast's largest and main dam, after the spill gates were opened yesterday morning. Blessed with lots of rain this October, the new spill gates were finally put to good use. The gates were opened at 7.30am on October 13 yesterday after the dam reached 100 percent capacity. Now, that's dam good news -no water shortage for quite a long while.

MAN WHO BUILT ROBINA DIES IN FLIGHT

Robin Loh with masterplans of Robina Town Centre

August 30th, 2010 ~ THE Singaporean industrialist who masterminded the development of Robina has died during a flight to Hong Kong. Dr Robin Loh died on Saturday after a long battle with Parkinson's disease and related conditions. The 81-year-old was on a flight from Singapore to Hong Kong when he succumbed to breathing difficulties.

Not many people today know about this, but Dr Loh secured a place for himself in Queensland history when, in 1980, he acquired a 20 square kilometre parcel of scrub and grazing land on the southern end of the Gold Coast. The name Robina was logically named after its founder...!!

Three decades later, Robina has become a master-planned community of 30,000 people, with a specially constructed town centre as its anchor point, along with parks, transport, health, entertainment and other infrastructure. Robina, as it stands today, is one of the best planned townships in Gold Coast. Since then, other planned communities have since been built across Australia using the same formula.

In May, the Queensland government flagged three new, similar cities for the state's southeast, to be built on greenfield sites at Ripley Valley, west of Springfield, and Greater Flagstone and Yarrabilba, in Logan's south near Jimboomba.

''He was a visionary with an exceptional work ethic and he will be sadly missed by all those close to him,'' Dr Loh's daughter Louise said in a statement.

''My father was very proud of what has been achieved at Robina. We were hoping that he could make it to Robina to mark the 30th anniversary, but that wasn't to be.''

At the peak of his career, Dr Loh was involved in shipping, shipbuilding, oil rig construction, banking, insurance, hotels, property development, manufacturing, research and development, and primary industries. The Robina landholdings are no longer part of Dr Loh's interests, after being acquired by entities associated with Ms Loh and her husband, Robina Land Corporation (RLC) chief executive Richard Wyatt. - (Source; AAP)

BREASTS FOR SALE

On the way to church this morning, we were so amused to see our favourite butcher advertising his wares in this fashion, getting a staff to ride on a bike at the junction where traffic lights were with a white t-shirt advertising 'BREASTS $6.99/kg' You see, initially they got slapped with several fines for advertising with the guy standing at the corner of the junction with the word 'breasts' which Gold Coast Council said was inappropriate, a traffic hazard causing too much distraction and too far away from their outlet to justify standing there. Lots of publicity over this issue but definitely caught the attention of the public. Don't know if sales increased as a result, but today, the cyclist advertiser sure caught the eye of the public again. And I must say, I am impressed with the creativity of the advertiser. Mobile advertising means wider exposure to different sets of eyes at different times.

Today, probably in their attempt to beat the system, the Mad Butcher (literally that is the name of the butcher shop) got our favourite 'breast man' to ride around with the sign on his bike. He stopped at traffic lights obediently, and pedalled across the street, to and fro, he went...looking just like any other innocent biker, except with this controversial 'breasts' signage displayed behind his bike.

And yes, we did go in after church (the shop is just doors away) and got our breasts (chicken) for $6.99/kg -all 3 of them. So, you see, advertising has its results...

SUPERYACHT TERMINAL

THE State Government is expected to tick off on a $2.5 billion superyacht terminal and marine precinct for The Spit after years of delays on plans for the area.. much to the dismay of environmentalists and greenies rooting for preservation of its natural surroundings. Some feel that the project would be a huge boost for the tourism and marine industries on the Gold Coast and will include facilities for up to 30 superyachts and 400 recreational and fishing vessels, plus hotels and commercial developments.

The origins of The Spit (and no, the area is not a phlegmatic haven for the chinese...) date back to the years 1897 – 1898 when a series of gales and high seas finally broke through a narrow stretch of land called Jumpinpin on Stradbroke Island. The breakthrough created a new sea passage into Moreton Bay. Stradbroke Island was divided in two (North & South), changing the ebb and flow of tides through the southern reaches of Moreton Bay. The impact on Southport’s environment was remarkable. Southport’s rocky foreshore had previously been exposed to open seas. After the breakthrough, tidal action eroded sand from the southern tip of South Stradbroke resulting eventually in the surveyed township site of Moondarewa disappearing entirely by the 1940s.

There is only one tender each for the northern and southern sections of The Spit and each consortium of companies has been put through a rigorous process in the leadup to a May announcement. Originally there were six bids for the two projects. Last year, the Deep Blue consortium, which includes Gold Coast City Marina and Leighton, tendered for the northern development area and Broadwater International consortium, including Watpac, tendered for the southern development area. The development is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and about 200 full-time jobs when it is operational, with members of the marine industry saying the area would be transformed to look similar to Monaco and other luxury boating locations around the world. So..it looks like another good reason for the super-rich to head over the coast and park their super yachts here. This brings back memories of my first experience on a super-yacht.

Yes, I had the privilege of treading on one before and it was a very nice one with a rather cute name called "The White Rabbit" belonging to one of the richer folks in Singapore. It had lifts serving all 3 levels, a bar, kitchen, lounge,

captain's room, lots of bedrooms, dining room for about 12, a kitchen with its own crew of chefs and waiters, an entertainment room, probably a pool somewhere ..the works. 5-star on the waters, quite an eye-opener for bumpkins like me... nice... hmmm, I wonder if any possibility to set foot on one again right here on the Gold Coast?

"OM... WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.."

NERANG is the wrong 'cultural' place for a 15m-high Thai Buddhist temple, say some Gold Coast councillors who asked if Buddhism was even a religion. Councillors were alarmed by the proposed design which features a traditional steep-pitched roof. Nerang councillor Peter Young, a devout Christian, led opposition to the proposal, one year after he opposed the Gold Coast's first Muslim school in Carrara. Cr Young said the Thai temple would become a regional Buddhism centre that could draw as many as 5000 people to major events, although the applicant expects a maximum of 300.

"I'd say it's culturally relevant in a Buddhist community, it's not culturally relevant in Nerang," he said. "What hasn't been taken into account is the cultural elements of the Nerang community." Cr Susie Douglas said the temple would make people believe Nerang may be a Buddhist community. "Is Buddhism actually a religion or is it a way of life?" she said. "It's going to become such a landmark and it will influence the way people think about the area, in that it will become a Buddhist community.This is a massive building ... to have this in the next-door paddock is beyond belief, this was never envisaged in this area."

Cr Young will move at Monday's council meeting to defer a decision on the development application to allow negotiations to reduce the height of the proposed building. The temple would be built at 133-137 Beaudesert-Nerang Road and five monks would live on the site. An enterprise named Wat Sangharatanaram Inc lodged the application at the council's request after operating at the address without a permit since 2005. Wat Sangharatanaram treasurer Robert Fraser said temple roofs were traditionally tall to remind worshippers to show reverence. He said the building would be set back and concealed by trees. "Anybody that's travelled to Thailand would understand that this is a symbol of Thai Buddhism and we would like people to recognise that," he said.

SCHOOLIES- DRUNK & OUT OF CONTROL

That's what the Gold Coast News read today about the schoolies in town. It is an annual event around this time in November when the teenagers or 'schoolies' who graduate from Year 12 who are entering college 'initiate' their freedom and independence and adulthood with this teenage ritual sanctioned and funded by the Gold Coast City Council (Oh my God..). Every year, thousands of them descend upon the city and let loose. They come from Gold Coast and other parts of Australia. It's like pools of hormones stirred in a pot together. Havoc, that's the chemical 'X' that comes out of it.

Considering the drunken bad behaviour, teenagers getting smashed, drunk, sex, fights and vandalism and drugs, the police are stationed everywhere in Surfer's Paradise monitoring the situation and they even have chaperone volunteers helping out to keep an eye on the youngsters before they get into serious trouble. But I wonder why it is being declared as part of the Gold Coast City Council's annual calendar event. Is it because they think it generates revenue, publicity.. or just can't make it go away, so might as well sanction it... what?? If anything, it actually makes them spend more money to clean up the mess and hire more people to enforce the laws in the area. Plus it drives away business in most stores downtown. People are afraid of the noise, potential violence and drunken brawls. And my even bigger question is why do the parents allow their kids to be part of this? Is it supposed to represent a cool groovy must-do ritual and 'oh let them have their fun, they worked hard, they're grown up, they can handle it..' Well can they handle THIS??

Or THIS...?

One Gold Coaster wrote: ""close to being out of control" that is taking chances with our kids -> PERIOD. Forget the government for a minute, besides they are concerned about global warming, where are Moms? Fathers? Shame on you "

By the early hours of Monday morning- Day 3 of Schoolies event, 36 schoolies had been arrested -- 31 for alcohol-related offences, two for possessing cannabis, one for unlicensed driving and one for stealing. Another 56 non-schoolies were arrested, largely for drunken behaviour. Meanwhile a 17-year-old man will appear in Southport Magistrates Court this morning after allegedly stealing a woman's handbag, before punching her in the face.

Police allege that an 18-year-old woman was approached by the man at 9.30pm along the esplanade in Surfers Paradise. The man tried to grab the woman's bag, before punching her in the chin.

Most Gold Coasters don't just tolerate this event, they hate it. It is giving Gold Coast a smutty image and bad name, alongside with Super GP, meter maids and other 'cultural' icons. Nothing to be proud of, and yet it still continues year after year. When will the change come? God knows. This city needs to re-evaluate its values and what it wants to be identified with. If it is icons and cultural events like this that rules its image year after year, not even the best spin doctors in town can salvage its reputation as the city that welcomes thrill and fun seekers who may be law-breakers.

VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC IN SCHOOLS

Pupil's death puts spotlight on horrific violence in Australian schools Jai Morcom, a 15-year old boy, died after his head was apparently smashed against a wall when he intervened in what appears to have been a turf war over tables at his school called 'table wars'. How stupid is that game? How stupid and sad that someone has to die because of fighting over pieces of table and who should sit at which table... he wasn't even involved. He just happened to be around and became the punching bag of rage.

So, a brutal spotlight now glares on Mullumbimby and a school that is facing angry claims of endemic drugs and violence, calls for the resignation of headmaster Ian Graham and internet rallying for revenge beatings.

But Jai's death is a loud wakeup call for people about bullying and violence across Australia, where schoolyard and suburban beatings and brawls have been filmed on mobile phones and posted on YouTube. Truancy in Gold Coast is also pretty high and recently, police have been survelling neighbourhoods to ensure stuff like that is minimised. Parents and critics complain that conferences, strategies and no-tolerance policies have failed to dent what they believe to be a growing culture of violence that has spurred an exodus from state to private schools. National trends appear to confirm Rosenfeld's fears. Australian Institute of Criminology statistics record an overall 55 per cent increase in assaults between 1996 and 2007, and 48 per cent for juveniles, mostly by males but with a significant rise among teenage girls.

A study by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research found that reported violence in the state's schools rose 46 per cent between 1998 and 2003, and that almost one-third of high school students interviewed had admitted attacking a schoolmate in the previous 12 months. Ironically, all this school violence might actually trace its roots to home and upbringing. "Preventing violence at school is no easy task," said bureau director Don Weatherburn in the study. "Schools trying to inculcate a culture of intolerance towards violence sometimes find themselves dealing with students whose parents condone violent behaviour." Peer pressure has its role of course, but I believe parental involvement is a crucial part to how a kid stands and guards his values before others.

I think a majority of people take school largely to be a government-funded daycare babysitting program here. Don't get me wrong - I think most parents do love and take their kids' daily needs to task, but on the whole, the easygoing parenting style may have contributed in certain measure to all this uncalled for school horror stories of bullying, smoking, outright challenging of teachers and whatnots. On radio, people claim to see teenagers out skating, and having a good time at the park during school hours BLATANTLY and nobody seems to give a hoot about it.

Just a few days ago, my son's school Varsity College had a lockdown due to some thugs fighting in the Oval school field area. Every class was asked to stay in classroom until they were hauled off the grounds. In the wake of school violence, I think nobody wanted to take any chances, which was good.. No one was hurt but police were called in to check that no other intruders came into the school. They had weapons apparently, now that is a scary thot. what if they were guns or knives? these were obviously teenage thugs playing truant... Last weekend, Queensland Education Department research reported to a community forum showed that every week five children in every class are bullied, and up to 70 per cent of suspensions are related to bullying. So parents, let's be worried, be very worried and start looking out vigilantly for your young ones before it's too late..

CHINATOWN IN GOLD COAST?

The quiet comeback of Asian restaurants and businesses in Surfers Paradise has prompted fresh calls for the Gold Coast to have its own Chinatown.

Business and community leaders have been mulling over the concept for 20 years but the waning of the Asian tourism market at the end of the '90s slowed momentum. The idea is back on the boil with the market on the rise and more than 14 Asian specialty stores operating in Beach Road, Hanlan Street, Trickett Street and Laycock Street. Surfers Paradise property giant and former city councillor Max Christmas said the time was ripe for the Gold Coast to join other major cities and designate a Chinatown precinct, ideally around the streets immediately south of Cavill Avenue. Mr Christmas said a further idea would be to convert the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre into an 'Asian marketplace' in the style of Paddy's Markets in downtown Sydney. "If we do that, we could turn the whole area there into an entertainment precinct," he said. Area councillor Susie Douglas said the concepts had merit but would have to be backed by the traders. "We can't make a Chinatown but we could encourage people to set up their businesses in a certain area if the idea was supported by traders," she said.

A trader who refused to be named said he feared a dedicated Chinatown precinct would bring in unwanted crime elements and increase underworld connections.

Dominic Chan, general manager of the Golden Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Hanlan Street, said he supported the surge in Asian businesses in the precinct but was against a dedicated Chinatown. "There are many Chinese shops now but no to Chinatown -- that brings too many competitors for our business," he said. -reported by Leah Fineran (goldcoast.com.au) ~ Aug 30,2009