Mayor’s Message

WORDS: Tom Tate PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

Come on Gold Coasters. We have to lift our game in the fitness and physical activity stakes. 

Like many residents, I was surprised to read the latest report from Council which focused on our ‘health and activity rankings’. 

It revealed our ranking among other Queensland regions is slipping – down to Nu 7 in the health and activity stakes. In 2019-20, we were ranked fifth. 

The report highlighted that only around 60 percent of our 670,000 residents engage in sufficient daily physical activities. At face value, 60 percent sounds a lot but when you take into account our relatively young population, we need to get up, get active and boost our health and physical fitness. 

I’m not suggesting we all need to be trying out for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but we can collectively improve our mental, and physical, health profiles by engaging in some regular physical activity. 

So what is Council doing to support residents?

Annually, we spend around $377 million on parks, recreation and culture. Key areas include $207 million to manage parks and natural areas; around $35 million managing the City’s six major sports venues and eight aquatic centres; and $24 million on community centres. This investment is about staying ahead of the curve when it comes to improving, or building, new sports fields, parks, cycle and walking ways. 

Importantly, our investment is city-wide and picks up the north where our population is exploding. 

New parks, pools, sports fields and open space playgrounds are popping up from Coomera to Coolangatta, adding to our existing 2300 parks and playgrounds. 

Getting people active takes time and I applaud the staff behind our long-standing Council programme called Active and Healthy. 

The programme offers around 130 free or low-cost activities held outdoors, in our libraries, pools, parks and beaches. The aim is to connect residents with other like-minded people, keen to learn new skills or boost their physical – and mental – fitness. 

I encourage all Gold Coasters to try a new activity, meet like-minded residents and get up and about. 

Let’s boost our city’s rankings – and boost our personal health at the same time. I’m off to the gym!

Go to: https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Things-to-do/Active-Healthy-program