THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE Which government for which service?

LOCAL (COUNCIL) STATE FEDERAL

Arts and culture Aboriginal and Torres Strait Aged care Islander partnerships Animal management Census Agriculture and fishing Australian citizenship Child care assistance ceremonies Child safety, youth and Citizenship women Beaches and waterways Constitution Community services Building regulations and Currency and development Conservation and commerce environment State City cleaning The different levels Defence and foreign Consumer affairs and laws of government State government represents the people Community services affairs living in the state they are located in. and centres Corrective services Elections State government members (Members of In the Australian federal system there are Community engagement Disability services and seniors three levels of government: local, state Parliament) represent specific Immigration areas of the state (electorates). Environmental protection Education and federal. National roads

Libraries Fire and emergency services (highways) Each level of government is centred Each state has its own constitution, setting on a body (a parliament or a council) out its own system of government. Lifeguards Health Medicare democratically elected by the people Local roads and footpaths Hospitals Postal services as their representatives. Federal Parks, playgrounds and Housing and public works Social services and In general, each level of government has The Australian Federal Government is the sporting fields pensions its own responsibilities, although many highest tier of government in Australia and Industrial relations responsibilities are shared in various ways. Public health Taxation consists of two houses of parliament – the Ombudsman House of Representatives and the Senate. Swimming pools and Telecommunications Local Police Federal Government is responsible for aquatic centres and broadcasting City of Gold Coast is a local government Power, gas and water national affairs and issues affecting the Water collection, treatment Trade sometimes called a council. Local whole country. and management Prisons governments are often seen as being the most accessible, as they deliver services that Members of the House of Representatives Railways and public touch people’s day to day lives. Councillors represent specific areas of their state transport (electorates). Decisions made by the represent an area within the local government State (major) roads area called a Division. House of Representatives are then reviewed in the Senate. Senators Schools Council provides a range of services, represent their state as a whole. Sports and recreation programs, activities and facilities for residents and visitors and is financed in part, through Traffic laws rates collected from ratepayers. Note: Not all services are listed and some services may cross over between levels of government.

1 2 The role and responsibilities of City of Gold Coast

City of Gold Coast (City) is the second largest local government in Australia based on the Gold Coast’s estimated resident population.

The City is empowered under the Local Government Act 2009 to adopt a range of local laws, regulations and policies. We are also responsible for ensuring state and local government laws Safety camera network and regulations are observed. Active & Healthy programs

We provide a range of services, programs, activities and facilities.

• Assisted services (National Relay Service, • Permits and licensing interpreter services) • Pest and weed management • Cemeteries • Planning enquiries • Community centres and support • Sport and recreational facilities • Construction and maintenance • Stormwater drainage • Events – support and sponsorship • Tourist parks and camp grounds Lifeguard services of major events • Tourism support • Flooding and drainage • Traffic management and safety • Food safety • Transport improvements • Local Laws including rental accommodation, commercial swimming • Waste management and pools and private camp grounds recycling services

• Parks and natural areas • Water and wastewater (sewerage)

• Parking facilities and regulation • Youth and senior services and programs

Oceanway construction Libraries

Aquatic centres Dune restoration Catchment management services

3 4 Councillors and divisions How you can be involved

Council consists of the Mayor and 14 elected Council meetings Councillors, each representing their local division. Residents have the opportunity to Council and committee meetings are open elect a Divisional Councillor and a City Mayor to the public and are held at the City of Gold every four years. Coast Council Chambers, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise.

What do Councillors do? Full Council meetings are held every two Elected Councillors listen to the needs of weeks (normally on a Tuesday) to consider their community and residents and advocate the previous fortnight’s committee reports. for better community programs and services for their division and its residents. They Watch Council meetings live consult with residents in their division and To provide greater community accessibility represent the interests of the community at Full Council meetings are streamed live on council meetings. Councillors participate the internet. in decision-making processes, where they translate the community’s needs and To access, visit aspirations into the future direction of the city. council-live.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Your Divisional Councillor works towards Standing committees delivering safer communities, better All Standing committee meetings are parks, playgrounds and sporting fields, held fortnightly. Meeting dates, agendas improvement to roads, libraries, community and minutes are on our website. centres, cycle ways, city cleaning, waterways, beach protection, water and For information please visit waste services, planning applications and cityofgoldcoast.com.au are involved with law making, major projects and events. Have your say

The interaction of local, state and federal Being a member of the City Panel gives you laws can be complex. You may find the opportunity to have your say on a range enquiries to your local Councillor are referred of initiatives and take part in decisions that to another area of government which, has impact our community. the jurisdiction to advise on something Join the City Panel at outside the City’s control. gchaveyoursay.com.au

5 6 Local division boundaries

To find your Council division or for contact details visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au

7 The changing shape and size of the city About the Gold Coast In 1995, the Gold Coast was amalgamated Officially, the Queensland State Government with Albert Shire Council to form today’s proclaimed the Local Authority of the city of Gold Coast City. the Gold Coast in 1959. The Place Names 600,000+ 13 million+ 28% Board of Queensland officially gazetted the In 2008, suburbs north of the Albert River place name in 1980. people live on people visit the of Gold Coast residents became part of . The suburbs the Gold Coast Gold Coast annually were born overseas which transferred to Logan City include Commonwealth Games Bahrs Scrub, Bannockburn, Bethania, Beenleigh, Edens Landing, Eagleby, The City hosted the Gold Coast 2018 Holmview, Mt Warren Park, Windaroo Commonwealth Games. The Games mascot and Wolffdene. was named Borobi, a word from the local 52.8km 5 734km Yugambeh language meaning Koala. Before European settlement of sandy beaches major rivers of bush trails The Crest Before European settlement, the Gold Coast and hinterland was a natural area of The design of Council’s crest mountains and hills, river valleys, floodplain, had its origins in the latter part salt and freshwater wetlands. It marked the of the local 585 16km 260km place where the land finally met the waters government era (1902–1949). native animal species World surfing reserves of navigable waterways of the Pacific Ocean. The land, rivers, the It was designed by the sea, the flora and fauna all formed the home President of the Southport of the . Chamber of Commerce, Arthur Nicholls, in the mid- The Yugambeh named localities and early 1930s as part of a council European settlers documented these now 12,629.6ha 1,737 133,372ha competition for a formal crest. familiar place names such as Nerang and of RAMSAR sites native plant species total city area . Much has changed, but The City Crest has undergone a number descendants of the Aboriginal people still of changes over the years, including a live on the Gold Coast. major redesign following the amalgamation of Gold Coast and Albert Shire Councils in Why is the Gold Coast called the 1995, resulting in the current crest (pictured). 4,524.8ha 12% 2,306 Gold Coast? Today the motto reads ‘Terra Fluminum of World Heritage of residents speak a City managed parks/ et Oceani’ – meaning ‘Land of Rivers Gondwana rainforest language other than English facilities covering 16,676ha In the late 1940s, journalists called and Ocean’. the coast, south of Brisbane “The Gold Coast”. It was the place to buy and sell land The crest is still in use today for official * Statistics current as at February 2020 in the post-war real estate boom. The local ceremonial requirements, including the council thought it was a good promotional Council seal and the Mayoral chain of office, name and in 1958, the South Coast Town street signs and some elements of council’s Council adopted the name Gold Coast local law functions. Town Council.

8 9 Contacts

We provide a range of services, organisations, activities and facilities for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Please visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au to find details on our services and programs.

1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) or 07 5629 5629 PO Box 5042 GCMC QLD 9729 cityofgoldcoast.com.au [email protected] facebook.com/cityofgoldcoast @cityofgoldcoast Newsletters For more information on Active & Healthy activities, school holiday programs, Broadwater Parklands events or Library programs and other event information subscribe to our newsletters. Gold Coast Weekly This eNewsletter gives you more of what you love about the Gold Coast; great events and community news that really matters. Gold Coast Weekly is delivered direct to your inbox once a week and gives you a snapshot of the top stories locals are talking about.

To subscribe to Gold Coast Weekly or any of our newsletters visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au/enewsletters Rates and water billing enquiries P 1300 366 659 or 07 5667 5995 Water and sewerage enquiries P 1300 000 928 or 07 5667 5801

10 11 FOR INFORMATION

P 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) W cityofgoldcoast.com.au

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