These can work well where there is integrated stormwater management in and underneath the tracks, and potentially adding a tram assisted lawn mower.

A contiguous concrete scar segregates the Gold Coast with the current tram track installation, and international examples of grassing show there are alternatives:

Read more: Europe’s Grass-Lined Green Railways = Good Urban Design | Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building 

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These are some of the activities available to Gold Coast Light Rail users if tram and bus stops can be designed as a multi-purpose public spaces.

The ‘feature-lite’ stops of the current system are poor at in their utilisation of space and encouraging patronage.

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The positive socioeconomic impact of Food Truck businesses give areas like the Gold Coast a chance to kickstart the industry. From Austin, Texas to grant programs in Michigan and pilot programs in Sydney this is a an acheivable drawcard for the Coast.

Photo Mayor McGinn

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Amplify city improvement conversations by hosting them in public spaces and streaming them live to other city locations and online.

“…it’s not good enough to come up with an idea.  In some ways ideas are a little cheap; you can come up them and discard them at will. You have to marry yourself to an idea and ride it through both good times and bad; it requires taking a risk to put an idea out there and to show up and defend it.” – Adam Thies, director of the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development

Photo Todd Lappin

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To reduce the heat sink and wasted space councils/residents can negotiate with body corporates to give over previously walled areas for shared public space, and other areas for community/resident food gardens.

Arial photo of Surfers Paradise ‘Peninsula’ Apartments.

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Subsidised housing and additionally, subsidised housing for arts related activities takes artists residencies one step further. Artpark (http://theartpark.com.au/artist-residency) in Byron has a program of this type. Artists in residence interact with the local community and schools by providing lectures or floor talks about their practice. The city benefits by creating a world leading concert facility – making best use of the former parkland.

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While there are many sustainable facets to urban aquaculture, it’s hard to imagine a better place for the boom in organic aquaculture to begin: Queensland celebrates its fish and chips like no other community. It’s part of the culture of the city.

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In areas like Kaoshing, Southern Taiwan the city places its traditional industries alongside newcomers in the tech and creative sectors putting waterfronts to better use.

A move to the Nerang River (regenerating Carrara and the market area) or alongside a redeveloped Marina Mirage?

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can capitalise on being located in a higher wealth catchment area (Tedder Avenue, Main Beach) with the aim of elevating the status of Queensland as a place of contemporary cuisine.

The Basque Culinary Center, Spain has an impressive remit to educate professionals and amateurs in the art of restaurant management and cooling science with tuition pitched at all student levels. A focus on science and innovation with a view to partner with its overseas counterparts, the Gold Coast Culinary Center can be a beacon for food innovation in Australia.

The Culinary Arts School of San Diego

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Gold Coast community stations should:

• Consider scheduling for international timezones
• Create a sense of urgency around the programming
• Create an editorial voice for the station (a Content Director can keep things on track).
• Be provided a local council liaison to champion independent local media and provide access/resources to improve output

Priority should be given to those stations/presenters forming great one-to-one relationships with listeners and those shows that are integral to the neighbourhood.

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