An alliance of community organisations working together to achieve a more liveable city.
Our Mission
The Gold Coast’s population is growing rapidly and in recent years has exceed 2% growth year-on-year. Poor planning risks destroying the city’s quality of life that many have moved here for.
Our mission is to prevent that from occurring by ensuring that public open space is protected, the city’s planning and development are sustainable, and are underpinned by transparent and ethical processes, economic diversification, and public inclusivity.
We strive to empower the community to protect the Gold Coast’s beauty, heritage and natural environment and improve the sustainability of the man-made environment.
Our member associations are well organised, all enjoy strong support from the local communities they serve, and most have been established for many years. As community groups, like us they rely on support from those who volunteer their time. If you would be interested in supporting any, please make contact directly. Alternatively you can express interest in supporting them via our volunteer application.
The Arundel Hills Community Association was formed to coordinate the community’s response to the threat posed to Arundel’s green space by the purchase of the former site of the Arundel Hills Country Club by Melbourne-based property developers.
Better Broadbeach is an association that was formed to raise awareness of the history, heritage and special qualities of Broadbeach, promote urban greening and sustainability and represent a collective voice on public issues and projects that matter to Broadbeach residents.
Friends of Currumbin Assoc Inc was formed some 40 years ago. It was put together by concerned locals to preserve the Currumbin & Flat Rock Creek Catchment area. This group was instrumental in saving development on the northern side of the Currumbin Creek estuary. Tarrabora Reserve was formed and the boardwalk along the creek was built. Friends of Currumbin in recent times campaigned and petitioned to have Ocean Way continued from Tugun to Bilinga.
Our community group fought long and hard to achieve binding restrictions on the use of a new ILS flight path over the most densely populated areas of Gold Coast City. This is a wonderful and enduring aircraft noise reduction outcome for over 200,000 residents north of the airport and most tourists. Our focus now is ensuring those restrictions are upheld and minimising other flight path impacts associated with a growing Gold Coast Airport.
The Main Beach Association plays a leading role in advocating for the protection and enhancement of the very special character of Main Beach including The Spit. Campaign successes include working with other community organisations to establish the Spit Master Plan and persuading the City of Gold Coast not to proceed with their deeply unpopular proposal to push a light rail spur through Tedder Avenue. Main Beach Association members are people who care deeply about the future of Main Beach and the Spit—and are determined to work to protect and enhance the character of this very special part of the Gold Coast.
Palm Beach-Elanora Community Group was formed to help build a better future for Palm Beach and Elanora.
The Tugun Progress Association (TPA) is a community-based, not for profit organisation whose aim is to be an advocate for the community of Tugun. Established in 1931, the TPA is run by a volunteer committee that encourages and welcomes new members. Our objectives are to:
be a source of information and discussion on local issues for the community and businesses in Tugun;
provide support for local community events and activities that promote social, business, environmental, economic and physical wellbeing for the community;
liaise with all members of the community, local, state and federal governments to ensure positive community outcomes.
Friends of Rainbow Bay Society was formed in 1993 in response to the then proposed, sand pumping at the Tweed River, to enable the community to actively participate in the planning for Rainbow Bay foreshore, park and environs. It's role is significant in developing community cohesion and communicating accurately with the many people who share and enjoy this area; especially given the very small number of permanent residents.
Since 2009 our small group has been working in partnership with Griffith University Centre for Coastal Management - Beach Care and The Gold Coast City Council to remove litter, weed and replant the dunes in Rainbow Bay. We would like to increase community awareness of the importance of the dunes and to increase community involvement in caring for our environment.
Our mission is to actively promote, conserve and restore the natural environment, and improve the sustainability of the built environment of the Gold Coast region in partnership with our member groups and the wider community.
Nerang Community Association’s aim is to engage in polite, constructive discussions about issues that affect Nerang and the 4211 postcode, including but not limited to, town planning, natural environment, heritage, roads traffic and transport, youth and community, whole of GC City matters. We are a broad-based, apolitical, friendly, residents’ group who wish to encourage open participation.
Our volunteer not-for-profit community alliance has worked actively for more than 16 years to protect the outstanding natural, cultural, social, educational and recreational values and amenities within the public spaces of the Southport Spit and Broadwater. We have undertaken deep research and analyses to produce high quality reports and audio-visual productions to dismiss the myths and misinformation propagated by those attempting to acquire public open space and waterways on and around the Spit and Broadwater for private, commercial or vested interests. We were a key advocate for and a participant in the Queensland Government’s Spit Master Plan project as one of our means to secure a well-balanced outcome for this iconic and unique area of the Gold Coast both now and for future generations.
Website SOSA Video: Every Australian Should See This
The Gold Coast and Hinterland Branch protects wildlife and their habitats through campaigns such as Save Our Spit, hinterland protection (including protecting Springbrook); workshops such as nest building workshops; submissions; and public awareness/education activities, such as our annual display on World Environment Day. We always welcome new members and members to be on the committee.
Save Our Broadwater was formed to stop inappropriate developments that have been proposed for The Spit and the Broadwater in the last five years.
In collaboration with other groups, we stopped the Newman Government from approving large high rise towers and a cruise ship terminal on Wavebreak Island. We campaigned against the Sunland proposal to build two 44 storey towers on The Spit .
We stopped the Palaszczuk Government from giving the ASF consortium approval to build numerous accommodation towers on The Spit. We lobbied for a Spit Masterplan and we took part in the formation of the plan which was finalised in 2019.
Our mission is to protect our precious public spaces so that future generations can enjoy them as we have.
Our members represent various regions and interests across the entire Gold Coast, and despite the diversity of purview, we work as a unified team to improve conditions for the community and environment.
The Gold Coast is the ancestral home of a number of Indigenous clans but remained largely uninhabited by Europeans until the mid-19th century who were attracted by the hinterland's red cedar supply. In 1875 Southport was established attracting wealthy holidaying Brisbane residents, but it was the establishment of Surfers Paradise in the 1920’s that led to the Gold Coast’s significance as a destination.
Significant growth occurred in the 1980s, and in 1994 numerous shires merged to form the expanded City of Gold Coast local government area which covers the majority of the Gold Coast's metropolitan area. The merger resulted in the City becoming Australia’s second most populous local government area after the City of Brisbane.
Today, the Gold Coast is home to more than 600,000 people and is the country’s fastest growing city. It remains a major tourist destination for local and international visitors, and is renowned for its beaches, sunny subtropical climate, high-rise skyline, nightlife and entertainment, theme parks, and natural beauty, which includes a diverse range of plant and animal species and its rainforest hinterland.
The Gold Coast is Australia's sixth largest city, the largest non-capital city, and the fastest growing. The population is expected to reach one million within 20 years.
The Gold Coast comprises one of Australia’s most bio-diverse regions, yet 109 native plants and 72 native animal species are listed as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
In FY 2018-19, of the 4,799 residential building approvals 2,446 were for non-house dwellings, and in the past year, of the 3900 developments approved in the city, councillors were directly involved in approving only 48.
Increase awareness of issues that risk negatively impacting our city’s liveability
Identify and address underlying governance issues common to our partners’ initiatives
Improve effectiveness and efficiency of resources allocated to similar and overlapping issues
Garner and mobilise support from the community, including our partners’ organisations, to drive positive and sustainable change
Harness synergies to improve influence and cut-through in lobbying for change
Our people are, quite simply, people who love the Gold Coast and see its ongoing potential as great place for people and the natural environment, where both can not only coexist harmoniously, but thrive. That requires foresight, careful planning, and respect.
Changes to our city that impact our amenity are occurring daily. We have varying degrees of influence over them, but if we choose to do nothing we can be sure that nothing will change. Busy lifestyles can be excuses for us not to speak up and become involved, but if we don’t, who will?
Exercise your right to have your say, and encourage others to do the same. We can achieve great things when we find our voices and work together. Being an “influencer” is easier than you may think; Simply share relevant information with others, and follow the appropriate channels to object to planned changes that you think are unreasonable and/or unnecessary.
We will regularly post links in our media with details of where you’ll find more information, and how and to whom you should provide feedback. You will also find detailed information about initiatives affecting particular areas and causes in our Members’ media.
We request and encourage you to do the following:
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Encourage others to do the same
Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about our initiatives and what you can do to help protect your residential amenity and our environment.
Want to get involved with your community, work with inspiring people, and help shape the future of the Gold Coast? Our member groups are regularly in need of hands-on support.
As a self-funded community group we need to find ways to cover our operational costs of things such as digital media and printing. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
