Lifeguard services and sport venue accessibility among initiatives prioritised in Gold Coast budget

Gold Coast City Council has prioritised a number of safety initiatives in its 2023/34 budget including increased funding for lifeguard services and improved access to the city’s sporting venues.

The 2023/24 Gold Coast budget will provide greater funding for lifeguard services (up 6% to nearly $13 million) with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate noting “Lifeguards protect 20 million beachgoers annually and conduct around 2,000 rescues. In an average year, they provide first aid to more than 30,000 people.’’

Mayor Tate said caring for senior residents was a key feature of the 2023-24 budget. The budget funding will help in improving accessibility for the two million people who attend a city sporting venue and the 1.5 million who visit a community venue each year. Major sporting and aquatic centres have been allocated $82.76 million.

The 2023-24 City Budget will also boost the community CCTV network and upgrade street lighting in key areas,’’ added Mayor Tate while also noting “safety is a priority of this council and we have led the way over the past 11 years with record investment in CCTV, anti-hoon measures, street lighting and disaster management.

“We recently opened our new $24 million state-of-the-art Disaster and Emergency Management Centre, making us ready for category-five level weather events.

“In 2023-24, 12 new CCTV cameras will be installed (Varsity Lakes, Palm Beach and Helensvale) as well as upgrades at existing CCTV locations. This will bring the total number of cameras to over 810.

“The budget will also invest in libraries ($32.49 million), community centres ($13.52 million) and public and environmental health ($15.3 million). We can invest in these key programs because strong fiscal management over the last 11 years has allowed us to pay down debt and keep annual general rate increases at, or below, CPI.

“Community groups are the social fabric of our society and we have set aside almost $2 million in 2023-24 for these groups to make grant applications. In every way, this budget delivers for all.”

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND LIFESTYLE INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Major sporting and aquatic centres - $82.76 million

• Libraries - $32.49 million

• Community support - $19.53 million

• City cleaning services - $16.53 million

• Public and environmental health - $15.30 million

• Community centres - $13.52 million

• Lifeguard service - $12.71 million

• Public safety and emergency/disaster management - $11.42 million

• Redevelopment of Palm Beach Aquatic Centre - $50.1 million

• Viney Park Upgrade, Coomera - $5.1 million

• Disability Access Program - $2.9 million

• Firth Park Netball Upgrade - $2.1 million

For more information visit www.cityofgoldcoast.com.au/annualplan