Latest news with #BondUniversity
ABC News
13 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Coastal erosion researcher warns against Gold Coast plan for bars on beaches
Beach bars could become a permanent tourist attraction on the Gold Coast from next year, but an environmental researcher warns the city's eroded beaches are in no shape to accommodate them. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he would like the first venue to be set up at Broadbeach in the 2026 summer and packed up in winter. "The ideal beach bar is that I can go down there and enjoy the surf," Cr Tate said. A beach bar was successfully trialled at Broadbeach during the 2021–22 Christmas school holidays. Gold Coast City Council endorsed a three-year extension of the Kurrawa Beach Bar trial, but it was blocked by the Department of Natural Resources in 2022 after complaints from environmental groups. Councillor Tate said a resurrected beach bar would need to be affordable and accessible to the public, unlike some European beach clubs. Bond University coastal erosion researcher Mark Ellis said the venture wouldn't be viable given the city's beaches still bore the scars of damage inflicted during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. "The issue is you actually need to have a beach to have it on," Mr Ellis said. An estimated 6 million cubic metres of sand, the equivalent of 2,000 Olympic swimming pools, was washed away from beaches across the city. The Gold Coast City Council predicts it could take up to three years to recover from the storm, with more than $30 million already spent on a sand-pumping barge to help speed up the process. Several major events have been relocated or cancelled, including the Pacific Airshow, because of the erosion. Mr Ellis said any planned beach bar would be vulnerable to future storm threats. "I think from an environmental point of view and a climate and modelling point of view, it's not really a good long-term business model because the next storm surge is going to increase," he said. "I think we're going into a La Niña summer and La Niñas are usually profound for bringing in more storms and, when more storms come in, that leads to more erosion. While councils pay to maintain and manage Queensland beaches, the state government owns them. There has been a change of government since the Kurrawa Beach Club was shut down, and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has publicly supported its revival. But the Gold Coast City Council would have to apply for a trustee lease if it wanted to operate a beach club long term. The Gold Coast Council has been drafting a land-management plan for the Broadbeach foreshore and it carried out community consultation last year. A city spokesperson said the final report would be ready in the coming months. While residents and businesses have previously opposed commercial activities on the beach because of noise and pollution, Cr Tate said the new proposal would have minimal impact on the community. "This is only taking a small part of the beach, not even 50 metres," he said. "We've got 66 kilometres of beach so, if you don't want to go to the beach bar, you've got [plenty of beach] to choose from."
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
The Bond Boom: New section can be your guide to a balanced portfolio
Indian capital markets are currently experiencing heightened volatility due to global trade realignments and geopolitical shifts. Even though equities have long dominated the headlines, the need for stable, predictable returns has never been more apparent. This is where fixed-income investments, specifically bonds, are emerging as crucial components of well-balanced portfolios. This growing maturity of the Indian bond market is evident in the numbers. According to data compiled by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Indian corporate bond market saw a record issuance of ₹ 9.9 lakh crore in FY25, which is a 28 per cent increase over the previous year. To help you navigate this market, Livemint has introduced Bond Street, a specialised Bonds section under Market, powered by IndiaBonds. This dedicated space has been designed to be your comprehensive guide to the world of bond investing, as it empowers you with all the resources you need for the fixed income category. 'With Bond Street, Livemint deepens its commitment to empowering investors with timely, insightful coverage of fixed income markets – both in India and globally. In today's volatile environment, as investors seek to navigate the challenges of rising interest rates, geopolitical risks, and economic uncertainty, this marks a crucial step in expanding informed portfolio diversification for our readers,' said Binoy Prabhakar, Chief Content Officer, Hindustan Times Digital. In this section, you can stay abreast with the latest developments in the bond market, including new issuances, policy changes, and expert analysis in Bond News. You can also find out more about different kinds of bonds available in India in Explore Bonds or go to Videos to get access to a curated series of AV material demystifying financial concepts like 'What are Corporate Bonds?' or 'Mutual Funds and Bonds: The Perfect Duo'. 'We at IndiaBonds are excited to join hands with MINT in a strategic alliance to drive awareness, education, and access around Bonds. This alliance strengthens our commitment to making the fixed income category mainstream and relatable to the national investor base. MINT is among India's most respected and premium business publications, known for its sharp insights and credible journalism,' said Vishal Goenka, Co-Founder, IndiaBonds. He added, 'The Indian bond market remains one of the final frontiers for financial inclusion and through this collaboration, we hope to strengthen the content ecosystem and education for bond investments.' Livemint's partnership with IndiaBonds also offers you access to an exclusive learning platform, Bond University, to offer insights on the fundamentals of bond investing. There is a weekly feature, Bond of the Week, which introduces you to a new bond category every week with a detailed analysis of its features, risks, and potential returns. Further, the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section offers quick answers to common queries that you may have about this asset class. So, whether you are a seasoned investor or someone just starting out your journey into the world of bond investing, this new section can become your invaluable resource bank. Explore how bonds can add the diversification you need in your investment portfolio by visiting the new section today! Click here to find out more.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Huge debate erupts over saving one of Australia's most famous coastlines over fears 'catastrophic property loss' is imminent: 'Nature always wins'
It's feared the planned replenishment of Australia's famous Gold Coast beaches could be pushing sand uphill, as the city fights to turn the tide on Mother Nature. The wildly popular Queensland holiday destination faces a years-long recovery as its city council splashes millions on the battle to return sand sucked out to sea along its world-renowned 42km stretch of paradise after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. One of the most significant weather events the Gold Coast has faced in 50 years, Alfred gouged six million cubic metres of sand from the shore when it lashed the city in March. The recovery could drag on for three years, Mayor Tom Tate says. Northern beaches will reopen before then but dune restoration 'could take some time'. Council is also considering rock walls and groynes to lessen erosion. The cost and detail on how works will be funded shift with the sand. The council has budgeted $24 million for beach nourishment works this financial year, including offshore dredging and the Surfers Sand Backpass Campaign, an underground pipeline that pumps sand from The Spit south to Surfers. It's expected a significant portion will come from the Beach and Environmental Recovery Program as part of Commonwealth-state disaster recovery arrangements, according to the council. Bond University Associate Professor Daryl McPhee says returning beaches to 'normal' by 2028 defies logic. 'It assumes no serious erosion events happen between now and then,' he said. 'Choosing a static point in a dynamic system is destined to fail. Ongoing works would be expected to run into the hundreds of millions. 'Nature always wins.' Bond University coastal erosion researcher Mark Ellis says the forces reshaping shorelines are becoming more extreme, more frequent, and more difficult to manage. 'Are they pushing the proverbial uphill? I would say yes,' he says of efforts to mitigate erosion. He questions whether council should keep shelling out for post-disaster beach reconstruction and building sea walls and groynes that could contribute to further erosion. 'At the end of the day, vertical sea walls protect property; they don't protect beaches and they won't be able to hold back the sea,' he says. Assoc Prof McPhee says the solution to fixing erosion is ensuring beaches and dunes retain biophysical function. 'This requires considering such systems as dynamic and ensuring that remaining dunes are protected and, where possible, revegetated,' he says. It's easy to see why council wants to protect its golden shores. The city estimates they generate $1.3billion annually for the local and state economy and support 50,000 full-time jobs. They've also helped drive continuing migration throughout Australia, with the Coast's population of at least 700,000 forecast to swell to a million by 2040. 'Sand coming and going from Gold Coast beaches is a natural process,' Assoc Prof McPhee says. 'However that process is hindered by many of the coastal developments that make up the Glitter Strip. 'There is an irony that so many people come to the Gold Coast for the beaches, but much of the infrastructure needed to support that visitation reduces the resilience of the beaches to disturbance and slows their recovery.' He says a sea wall such as the 'A-line', which is largely buried, is an appropriate structure to protect properties and has served the Gold Coast well - so far. But he cautions against expanding the Oceanway, which 'impacts dunes and reduces the resilience of the beaches and reduces their ability to recover'. Rock groynes could impact surfing amenity and impede the northward movement of sand - and enhance erosion in certain places. 'Sand pumping is a very expensive band-aid with significant local environmental impacts and potential unassessed impacts on local Indigenous culture,' he adds. The recent natural events have dramatically affected man-made ones, too. Cr Tate has been trying to open the city's shoreline for major events and commercial operations, including a controversial proposal for beach bars, since he was elected in 2012. But those plans, like many of the city's 24 beaches, copped a battering from Alfred, with several signature set-in-sand events cancelled or postponed and others forced to relocate. Council reportedly spent $30million in four months on sand pumping to unsuccessfully repair eroded beaches in time for Easter school holidays and a money-spinning air show, with high tides and big swells hampering operations. It's a problem environmental experts warn, unlike sand, is here to stay. 'Council is very aware of climate modelling and it is expected more events will be disrupted,' Assoc Prof McPhee says. 'We need to rethink large-scale events on Gold Coast beaches and recognise they are fragile natural environments.' Mr Ellis says dunes can't do their job when vegetation is damaged by foot traffic, by events such as the air show or SeaFire or by poorly placed infrastructure. 'Without room for dunes to migrate and rebuild, the beach itself is squeezed out of existence,' he said. Unlike many coastal enclaves that have protected their foreshores as public open space, the Gold Coast has built to the waterline. But with the Surfers Paradise sea wall 'constantly getting exposed' and council continuing to spend millions renourishing beaches, Mr Ellis says it's time to re-think the 'hold-the-line' approach 'How long is it before the next storm surge happens and the oceanfront properties with their underground car parks are inundated? 'In other high-risk beaches, such as Wamberal Beach in NSW, where numerous houses have been impacted by erosion, I would say the point of no return has been reached yet the planning system still allows houses rebuilt on the dunes. 'Look at the erosion issues at Stockton Beach, Byron Bay in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.' Mr Ellis, who has been researching options for managed relocation of communities at risk of coastal erosion, says there is 'no political will' to stop waterfront developments or pursue managed retreat strategies as discussed in the Gold Coast council's Coastal Adaptation Plan. 'Yet, the impacts on legacy development - homes built in erosion-prone zones - continue to face increasing exposure now, not in 20 or 50 years' time,' he says. He says government must invest in long-term, adaptive coastal management strategies, not just reactive fixes. 'That means thoughtful dune restoration, strategic retreat in high-risk zones and limiting damaging activity on fragile beachfronts,' Mr Ellis said. Assoc Prof McPhee says the recent Gold Coast erosion should be considered Mother Nature's 'warning shot'. 'We still have great beaches - and the Gold Coast is not being depopulated because there is less sand on the beach,' he says. But most previous serious erosion events occurred when there was substantially less large-scale coastal development. 'The Gold Coast cannot be "unbuilt" but there does need to be better consideration of the impacts of severe erosion on individual developments and the cumulative impacts,' he says. 'At some stage there will be catastrophic property loss but it sadly probably requires that loss to occur and the associated insurance issues to drive real change in thinking.'
West Australian
6 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
Kieran Le Plastrier: Quit moralising and embrace the potential of weight loss drugs
It's rare in medicine to witness a single class of drugs redefine the boundaries of treatment across multiple chronic diseases. Yet that's precisely what we're seeing with GLP-1 receptor agonists — commonly known by brand names including Ozempic and Mounjaro. Initially developed as a treatment for diabetes, these drugs are now proving to be nothing short of transformative for millions of people worldwide. But while their potential is vast, our access to them remains frustratingly narrow. There's a common misconception that these drugs are only a tool for weight loss and diabetes management. But that's far from the limit of their potential. These medications are showing promise in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, liver disease, and even dementia. They're also being explored as tools to combat addiction — blunting the brain's reward system and helping people overcome dependencies on alcohol, nicotine, and other substances. We are standing at the edge of a paradigm shift in how we treat chronic disease. Yet in Australia, access to these drugs is largely restricted to people with uncontrolled diabetes at a subsidised cost under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. While they can be prescribed off-label for other conditions, such as obesity, without the PBS subsidy the cost can be anything from $55 to $130 a dose, which most people simply can't afford. Obesity is not a personal moral failing. It is a complex, multi-factorial condition driven by genetics, environment, and a society that promotes sedentary lifestyles and calorie-dense foods. We live in an obesogenic world, and blaming individuals for their biology is both unjust and ineffective. The UK's NHS has already recognised this, moving to subsidise GLP-1 drugs for people with obesity to reduce long-term disease burden. Australia must follow suit. The cost of inaction — measured in heart attacks, strokes, hospital admissions, and lives lost — is far greater than the cost of these medications. Now, these drugs are not a silver bullet. They work best as part of a holistic approach that includes dietary support, physical activity, and psychological care. And as for every powerful therapeutic drug, risks exist and must be carefully considered and managed under the care of expert health practitioner But they offer something we've never had before: a safer, effective, and scalable way to intervene in the metabolic cascade that underpins so many of our modern diseases. We need to stop treating these drugs as luxury items for the wealthy or as quick fixes for vanity. They are powerful tools for prevention and healing. It's time our health system caught up with the science. Dr Kieran Le Plastrier is a GP and Assistant Professor of General Practice at Bond University
Perth Now
14-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
High-profile identities among hundreds at Bond's funeral
Beloved Aussie socialite Eileen 'Red' Bond has been remembered for her commitment to 'faith, family, friends and fun' in a heartfelt service at Fremantle's St Patrick's Basilica. Ms Bond, the wife of entrepreneur Alan Bond, was farewelled before hundreds of mourners on Monday following her death from a stroke on July 2 aged 87. Son John, delivering the eulogy, said his devout Catholic mother loved St Patrick's and it was 'entirely fitting' to say goodbye to her there. Eileen's cousin and noted car dealer John Hughes. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian 'This place gave her strength to get through the tough times in life of which she had a few, the most significant being the tragic death of her darling daughter Susan,' he said. 'In times like these, this church was her refuge.' Ms Bond sported a shock of red hair as a child and she became known as 'Red' to her friends and family. On family, John said Ms Bond was 'fiercely loyal'. Eileen Bond, former wife of entrepreneur Alan Bond, was a devout Roman Catholic and popular socialite. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia 'To mum, family could do no wrong even when we obviously had,' he said. 'She would brook no criticism whatsoever of family members.' On friends, John praised his mother's 'incredible knack' of being able to 'befriend anybody, at any time, in any circumstances'. 'She was vitally interested in people's lives, and I think that was the key,' he said. Former Premier Richard Court. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian Stephen Michael outside the funeral. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian Mr Bond converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism to marry Eileen, John said, after the pair met when Ms Bond was still a teenager. She and Mr Bond welcomed four children: John, Craig, Susanne and Jody. Mr Bond was a successful developer in the 1970s and 1980s and became a household name after he helped Australia win the 1983 America's Cup sailing competition. He also founded Queensland's Bond University. Ms Bond's casket is brought into St Patrick's Basilica in Fremantle on Monday. NewsWire/Philip Gostelow Credit: NewsWire He went bankrupt in the early 1990s and was sent to prison on bankruptcy and fraud charges. Ms Bond travelled the world and lived a life of luxury, forming friendships in high society circles across the globe. 'Our mighty team won the America's Cup and mum won the American public,' John said. But all the time, 'Red never really changed', he said. 'Wonderful, exuberant, engaging and loyal to the end, she will be terribly missed,' John said. In a statement on her death, Bond University vice chancellor and president Tim Brailsford said Ms Bond was a 'great friend and fierce supporter of the university since its establishment'. 'She was a regular visitor to campus and attended many events, always bringing her own style and grace,' he said. 'The room was always brighter once Red had entered and her cheeky sense of humour entertained many a crowd.'
