New Gold Coast gym gets off on the wrong foot with some members
Media Release
Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading
The Honourable Peter Lawlor
A new gym in Upper Coomera, Oxygym Lifestyle Centre, has got off to a bad start in the fitness business, with its owner being ordered to pay $4,900 in court last week.
Queensland Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor said owner Kelly Ann Armstrong received a $3,000 fine for not providing the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) with information to assist its investigation into the company's membership practices.
Oxygym Lifestyle Centre was also ordered to pay $1,900 to three members who complained to the OFT about the recently opened gym.
The matter was heard at the Southport Magistrates Court on 12 March by Magistrate Constanza. The owner did not appear.
"The gym took money from the members before it had even opened, which is not allowed," Mr Lawlor said.
"Gyms must also disclose and supply all relevant information when entering into agreements with members.
"However in this case none of the three members signed a contract, got a copy of an agreement with the gym, or information about its membership terms and conditions."
Mr Lawlor said when the gym did open, two of the complainants were not given access keys to use the gym's 24 hour facilities.
"It came to the point when all three complainants asked to cancel their membership within the cooling off period. The gym refused to repay them their money."
Mr Lawlor said Magistrate Constanza ordered Oxygym Lifestyle Centre to repay each complainant the membership fee they paid: $500, $500 and $900.
He said the $3,000 was for a breach of section 90 of the Fair Trading Act 1989, which was at the heart of an OFT inspector's power to obtain information to investigate and resolve matters for consumers.
"Our inspectors need to gather information to verify and take action on complaints received from Queenslanders," Mr Lawlor said.
"In this case, the gym did not fully assist the Office and gave no explanation why. By doing so, it hindered the investigation."
To lodge a complaint or report information to the Office of Fair Trading, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 13 04.
Media Release: Ipswich City Heart major redevelopment to proceed
A ONCE in a generation opportunity to redevelop the city centre of the Queensland city of Ipswich entered a new phase of planning today following the announcement of the two short-listed submissions for the Ipswich City Heart Project.
A nationwide call for expressions of interest (EOI) from the private sector to redevelop Ipswich City Square shopping complex attracted submissions from four major companies by the closing date for submissions.
The shopping complex was acquired by Ipswich City Properties Pty Ltd (ICP) in March last year for $45 million. ICP is wholly owned by Ipswich City Council.
Chairman of Ipswich City Properties Pty Ltd Paul Tully said two of these major companies had now been selected to enter the next competitive tender stage of the project which had the potential to exceed $1 billion when fully developed.
“Alba Capital Partners Limited and Leighton Properties made very strong submissions and we are now inviting them to submit a more detailed vision for the redevelopment,” he said.
Both of these companies have a strong track record and we will be asking them to provide further detailed submissions by the end of June this year.
“The ultimate plan is for the entire 3.4 hectares of prime Ipswich Central real estate to be transformed into a world class regional centre.
“The land currently occupied by Ipswich City Square lends itself to apartment buildings, office towers, major retail, restaurant and entertainment precincts.”
Paul Tully said the centre was also perfectly positioned for technology based businesses and was well serviced by current and future high speed broadband from several providers.
“Plans also call for a 21st century approach to the provision of internet and computer networking connectivity,” he said.
The redevelopment would be the biggest single building project in Ipswich city heart since Reids department store was destroyed by fire in 1985.
A nationwide call for expressions of interest (EOI) from the private sector to redevelop Ipswich City Square shopping complex attracted submissions from four major companies by the closing date for submissions.
The shopping complex was acquired by Ipswich City Properties Pty Ltd (ICP) in March last year for $45 million. ICP is wholly owned by Ipswich City Council.
Chairman of Ipswich City Properties Pty Ltd Paul Tully said two of these major companies had now been selected to enter the next competitive tender stage of the project which had the potential to exceed $1 billion when fully developed.
“Alba Capital Partners Limited and Leighton Properties made very strong submissions and we are now inviting them to submit a more detailed vision for the redevelopment,” he said.
Both of these companies have a strong track record and we will be asking them to provide further detailed submissions by the end of June this year.
“The ultimate plan is for the entire 3.4 hectares of prime Ipswich Central real estate to be transformed into a world class regional centre.
“The land currently occupied by Ipswich City Square lends itself to apartment buildings, office towers, major retail, restaurant and entertainment precincts.”
Paul Tully said the centre was also perfectly positioned for technology based businesses and was well serviced by current and future high speed broadband from several providers.
“Plans also call for a 21st century approach to the provision of internet and computer networking connectivity,” he said.
The redevelopment would be the biggest single building project in Ipswich city heart since Reids department store was destroyed by fire in 1985.
Ipswich and Logan commuters want local music in Clem 7 Tunnel
LATE NEWS: Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale has discussed this issue today with Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman with a view to resolving this issue as soon as possible. Thank you Campbell - the picket fence remains down!
Ipswich and Logan City commuters are being forced to listen to Brisbane radio stations in the Clem 7 tunnel after Brisbane City Council stopped transmissions from two local radio stations.
Special transmitters in the tunnel boost the signals of all Brisbane stations but Ipswich's River 949 and Logan City's 101 FM are reduced to heavy static in the 4.8 km tunnel.
In the event of an incident in the tunnel, emergency radio messages are broadcast to vehicles in the tunnel on all local radio frequencies.
Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully has appealed to Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman to re transmit the Ipswich and Logan radio stations in the Clem 7.
"Why should Ipswich and Logan listeners be denied the opportunity of listening to their favourite radio station when they are paying for the privilege of using the tunnel."
Under federal law, any radio station within 50km of the GPO of a capital city has traditionally been regarded as a metropolitan station.
Cr Tully said not everyone wanted to listen to the dulcet tones of 4BC's Jamie Dunn or the elocution of the ABC's Spencer Howson in the mornings.
"I am calling on Campbell Newman to make the Clem 7 a better experience for out-of-town commuters with the country music of Logan City or the provincial sounds of Ipswich piped into the tunnel.
"If Family Radio and Triple ZZZ can get a guernsey in the Clem 7, Ipswich and Logan deserve the opportunity as well.
"Why should commuters be forced to switch stations just to drive through the Clem 7 tunnel," Cr Tully said.
Aussies choose Queensland as top holiday destination
Queensland Business Review
Aussies in need of a holiday continued to choose Queensland in 2009 with the state recording its highest share of domestic holiday visitors in more than two years, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced today.
The National Visitor Survey for the year ended December 2009, released by Tourism Research Australia, also revealed the number of holiday visitor nights was up in 2009.
"This is a positive result for Queensland, with our share of the domestic holiday market increasing by 1 percent, which hasn't been as strong since September 2007," Lawlor says.
"The number of nights our holiday visitors stayed was also up in 2009 to more than 36 million nights,” he says.
"Holidaymakers make up the largest proportion of visitors to Queensland, so it's encouraging to see that those who did holiday in Queensland last year increased the length of their stay.”
RESULTS
Key results from the survey show Queensland performed relatively well against other states.
While New South Wales received the most visitors (34 percent), Queensland and Victoria both posted a strong 24 percent.
Queensland also achieved a 27 percent share of visitor nights and 22 percent of day visitors.
The Sunshine State received the most expenditure from domestic overnight visitors travelling for the purpose of holiday ($6.4 billion).
DOWNTURN
Despite such positive results, Lawlor admits the GFC and a downturn in business and consumer confidence “severely affected” Australians’ travel patterns over the past year.
He says while overall domestic visitors to Queensland decreased by six percent to 15.7 million, this was consistent with the national average.
"It was not unexpected that domestic visitor numbers would be down in 2009, however it's encouraging to note these results revealed that things for the holiday market were looking more positive in final quarter of 2009.
"The holiday results from the last quarter are a good indication that the outlook for 2010 is positive, which is consistent with the Tourism Forecasting Committee's latest report which predicted the number of nights Australians spend in Queensland to increase by 2.2 percent."
REGION BREAKDOWN
Today’s data also provided a region-by-region breakdown of Queensland’s domestic visitor results.
Following the state trend, Brisbane witnessed a decline in domestic visitation from both the intra and interstate markets resulting in an 11 percent decline in total visitation for 2009.
The Gold Coast also saw a decline in domestic visitors, dropping 3 percent for the year.
The domestic holiday market to the Gold Coast declined 5 percent, which also contributed to the expenditure decline (down 5 percent to $2,851 million for 2009).
Domestic visitors to the Whitsundays declined 26 percent in 2009, with a drop in interstate and intrastate holiday visitors driving the decline.
On a positive note, domestic travel to Tropical North Queensland increased by 1 percent for the year ended December 2009, underpinned by an increase in interstate holiday (up 14 percent) and interstate VFR visitors (up 32 percent).
The Sunshine Coast recorded a 4 percent downturn in domestic visitors in the year ended December 2009, predominately due to a decline in VFR travel (a consistent theme across the majority of Queensland regions).
Aussies in need of a holiday continued to choose Queensland in 2009 with the state recording its highest share of domestic holiday visitors in more than two years, Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor announced today.
The National Visitor Survey for the year ended December 2009, released by Tourism Research Australia, also revealed the number of holiday visitor nights was up in 2009.
"This is a positive result for Queensland, with our share of the domestic holiday market increasing by 1 percent, which hasn't been as strong since September 2007," Lawlor says.
"The number of nights our holiday visitors stayed was also up in 2009 to more than 36 million nights,” he says.
"Holidaymakers make up the largest proportion of visitors to Queensland, so it's encouraging to see that those who did holiday in Queensland last year increased the length of their stay.”
RESULTS
Key results from the survey show Queensland performed relatively well against other states.
While New South Wales received the most visitors (34 percent), Queensland and Victoria both posted a strong 24 percent.
Queensland also achieved a 27 percent share of visitor nights and 22 percent of day visitors.
The Sunshine State received the most expenditure from domestic overnight visitors travelling for the purpose of holiday ($6.4 billion).
DOWNTURN
Despite such positive results, Lawlor admits the GFC and a downturn in business and consumer confidence “severely affected” Australians’ travel patterns over the past year.
He says while overall domestic visitors to Queensland decreased by six percent to 15.7 million, this was consistent with the national average.
"It was not unexpected that domestic visitor numbers would be down in 2009, however it's encouraging to note these results revealed that things for the holiday market were looking more positive in final quarter of 2009.
"The holiday results from the last quarter are a good indication that the outlook for 2010 is positive, which is consistent with the Tourism Forecasting Committee's latest report which predicted the number of nights Australians spend in Queensland to increase by 2.2 percent."
REGION BREAKDOWN
Today’s data also provided a region-by-region breakdown of Queensland’s domestic visitor results.
Following the state trend, Brisbane witnessed a decline in domestic visitation from both the intra and interstate markets resulting in an 11 percent decline in total visitation for 2009.
The Gold Coast also saw a decline in domestic visitors, dropping 3 percent for the year.
The domestic holiday market to the Gold Coast declined 5 percent, which also contributed to the expenditure decline (down 5 percent to $2,851 million for 2009).
Domestic visitors to the Whitsundays declined 26 percent in 2009, with a drop in interstate and intrastate holiday visitors driving the decline.
On a positive note, domestic travel to Tropical North Queensland increased by 1 percent for the year ended December 2009, underpinned by an increase in interstate holiday (up 14 percent) and interstate VFR visitors (up 32 percent).
The Sunshine Coast recorded a 4 percent downturn in domestic visitors in the year ended December 2009, predominately due to a decline in VFR travel (a consistent theme across the majority of Queensland regions).
Consumers Confused About New Technology
Smart House
A consumer poll done by Dick Smith has revealed that 65 per cent of consumers have a hard time understanding instruction manuals or do not take the time to read them.
The poll has also found that 43 per cent found it hard to get new technology up and running at home, 33 per cent of respondents said that technology have become more complicated, and 27 per cent believe that technology will get more confusing in the future.
Dick Smith's General Manager, Debra Singh said, "Consumer electronics shoppers are clearly finding it difficult to understand and set up their new technology.
Many are switching on their new technology without even having read the instruction manual.
Despite the challenges that shoppers are having setting up and using their technology, they are choosing their new products based on performance and features rather than ease of use."
It has also been revealed that more than 50 per cent of South Australian respondents find it a challenge to make new technology work, while only 25 per cent of Tasmanian respondents are having difficulties.
More than half of the respondents from New South Wales and 40 percent from Queensland indicated that understanding complicated instruction manuals is the biggest challenge to making their new technology work.
Goodna Mortgage Broker makes finals
LOANS NEWS AND GUIDES - http://loanszoom.com/
Loan Market Goodna mortgage broker Mark Winter was one of three finalists in the 'Mortgage Broker of the Year' category at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MIA) Excellence Awards in Sydney on Friday night.
Narrowed down from a field of hundreds, Mark's finalist standing is testament to his spectacular achievements throughout the last 12 months, even though he did not win the major prize.
Loan Market's Senior State Manager for NSW/ACT, Brett Pilgrim, was also present on the night as a finalist in the 'Business Development Manager of the Year' category.
.........................................................
Well done Mark - a true industry professional.
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
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Loan Market Goodna mortgage broker Mark Winter was one of three finalists in the 'Mortgage Broker of the Year' category at the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MIA) Excellence Awards in Sydney on Friday night.
Narrowed down from a field of hundreds, Mark's finalist standing is testament to his spectacular achievements throughout the last 12 months, even though he did not win the major prize.
Loan Market's Senior State Manager for NSW/ACT, Brett Pilgrim, was also present on the night as a finalist in the 'Business Development Manager of the Year' category.
.........................................................
Well done Mark - a true industry professional.
PAUL TULLY: PaulGTully@gmail.com
Click "Home" below to see all posts on
this website. If "Home" does not appear,
all posts are currently displayed.
.........................................................
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