Lifestyle, Environment, Heritage & Resilience (LEH&R) - 13 August 2026

Topics

• Gold Coast aquatic-centre operator decision pushed to 25 August
  Council deferred a proposal to place all City aquatic centres under one strategic operating partner.
  The proposal could affect how aquatic centres are managed, workforce arrangements, safety oversight and customer services, while the City says ownership and accountability would remain public.
• Aquatic-centre proposal faces scrutiny over limited formal consultation
  Confidential briefing material acknowledged that no broad formal community consultation had been undertaken, while public commentary and a petition had emerged.
  Aquatic-centre users and petitioners may seek greater input before Council decides on a major service-delivery change.
• Gold Coast pursues cyclone recovery reimbursements and challenges funding changes
  The committee noted eligible Tropical Cyclone Alfred costs and recovery claims while continuing to oppose proposed Commonwealth disaster-funding changes.
  Reimbursement outcomes could affect the City’s disaster-recovery finances and its capacity to restore infrastructure and services.

Decisions

• Aquatic Venues Service Transformation deferred
  Consideration of the proposed model to appoint a single strategic partner to operate all City of Gold Coast aquatic centres was deferred to the Full Council meeting scheduled for 25 August 2026. The proposal would retain City ownership and responsibility for governance, safety, compliance and community outcomes.
  No immediate change to aquatic centre operations was decided. Existing services and access arrangements continue while the proposal is reconsidered.
• Tropical Cyclone Alfred recovery costs noted
  The committee noted eligible cyclone-related costs and Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements claims, actions to improve post-disaster evidence collection, and continued advocacy against proposed Commonwealth disaster-funding changes.
  The claims and improved evidence collection may affect the City’s ability to recover public costs from the cyclone and fund future disaster repairs.
• Disaster and emergency management communications update received
  The committee noted a presentation on disaster and emergency management communications.
  Residents may benefit from future improvements to emergency information and communication during disasters.
• Naturally Gold Coast program update received
  The committee noted an update presentation on the Naturally Gold Coast program.
  The program concerns the City’s environmental and natural-area activities, although the extracted minutes do not specify new projects or funding.

Discussion

• Potential single operator for aquatic centres
  A 12-month Aquatics Service Review proposed expanding the externally managed operating model through one strategic partner for the City’s aquatic network. The proposal was deferred rather than adopted.
  The issue may affect aquatic centre management, staffing arrangements, service consistency, safety oversight and customer experience, but no immediate service change was approved.
• Community consultation and petition concerning aquatic venues
  The confidential material stated that no broad formal community consultation had occurred beyond targeted stakeholder engagement. Public commentary and a petition were noted, and the proposed decision included notifying lead petitioners.
  Residents who use aquatic centres may have an opportunity to follow the deferred decision and any later consultation process.
• Tropical Cyclone Alfred reimbursements
  The City noted eligible recovery costs and associated funding claims and plans to improve evidence collection for future claims.
  Successful reimbursement could reduce the local financial burden of disaster recovery and support restoration of affected assets and services.

Impacts

• Aquatic centre services and access arrangements remain unchanged pending consideration by Full Council on 25 August 2026.
• The City will continue pursuing eligible disaster recovery reimbursements related to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
• Future disaster communications may be improved through the reported emergency management communications work.
• The aquatic venues proposal raised workforce transition issues, with any transition intended to be managed under the relevant Certified Agreement if later approved.

Places

• City of Gold Coast aquatic centres (aquatic facilities)
  All City aquatic centres were covered by the deferred service-delivery proposal.
• Gold Coast (city and local government area)
  The committee, aquatic network and Tropical Cyclone Alfred recovery claims relate to the City of Gold Coast.

Next

• Consider the Aquatic Venues Service Transformation proposal at the Full Council meeting.
  25 August 2026
• Continue preparing and pursuing eligible Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements claims for Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
  Ongoing
• Improve post-disaster evidence collection to maximise future recovery claims.
  Ongoing
• Continue advocacy against proposed Commonwealth changes to disaster funding.
  Ongoing

Extract

870 CONFIRMED MINUTES LIFESTYLE, ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE & RESILIENCE COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY 13 AUGUST 2026 9:00AM Meeting commenced at 9:02am City of Gold Coast Council Chambers 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise 870 Meeting of the Lifestyle, Environment, Heritage & Resilience Committee Confirmed Minutes Thursday 13 August 2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ............................................................ 3 1 ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES .................................................................... 3 2 LEAVE OF ABSENCE ............................................................................... 3 3 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES .........................................