Today, that phrase – “have a crack” – is synonymous with our city’s approach to so many ideas.Diversifying for our communityDiversifying the economy from the traditional industry bases of tourism and construction has been at the heart of my approach to council decision making. By diversifying our economy, we have kept families together, attracted new ones to the city and boosted the most important quality of any city: community connection.Forget the dollar value of a local economy. The real currency is a community’s social DNA. Today, the city has 395,000 full-time jobs – up from 256,000 in 2011.The Gold Coast’s future is bright, with the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics on the horizon, and future population projections pointing to one million residents here by 2046 … if not sooner.To achieve greater social and family unity, young Gold Coast locals needed to have a reason to stay and for most of them, that reason was being able to find a stimulating and rewarding career. Beaches, sport and the green hinterland are great, but they don’t pay the bills or give young locals enough reasons to stay.Diversifying the economy has achieved two key outcomes: locals are now engaged in rewarding careers in industries like screen, IT, the arts, manufacturing, health and knowledge, artificial intelligence, sports science and professional services. These industries have bolstered our economy from a Gross Regional Product of $30 billion in 2012 to more than $55 billion today. It’s encouraging to know that in 2026, we have 75 cranes in the sky – Brisbane has 64.Importantly, the “have a crack” spirit is more alive today than 30 years ago and, in my view, the Gold Coast is primed to become Australia’s most innovative lifestyle city.Everywhere I look, there are innovators and investors saying “yes” to new ideas. Yes to ambition, yes to partnerships and yes to building momentum.Embracing change and global innovationWhat stands out for our city is how we embrace change in every aspect of our lives. After all, change is why so many of us came here in the first place, to grab the chance to do something a little different.By strengthening our city’s economy, we have been able to better weather national and global economic headwinds as well as challenges from health pandemics like COVID-19.Look beyond our spectacular beaches and you find Gold Coasters building rockets, luxury yachts, artificial hearts, creating global AI solutions, blockbuster television series and films. To achieve this, the city has embedded the infrastructure needed to drive change, from high-speed fibre optics to transport networks and logistics hubs.Today, it’s heart-warming to know that Griffith University produces the second most Olympians in the world, after Stanford. At Bond University, it doesn’t matter what you study – mentors will help you bring your business idea to life. And on any Friday morning, a growing community of tech entrepreneurs can be found meeting along the ocean foreshore, sharing solutions and looking to partner on future projects. Not a bad boardroom, in my opinion.The city that says ‘yes’It’s no use hiding any longer as the secret is out. As mayor, I invite you to be part of what we’re building. We’re interested in who you’re becoming, not who you know or where you went to school.To me, this is more than an investment opportunity. It is also, for many of us with children and grandchildren, the most significant decision to make because it means the next generation can reap what we sow.See you in the sunshine. The answer is “yes”.Tom Tate is the mayor of the Gold Coast.To find out more about the Gold Coast economy and investment opportunities, download the 2026 Gold Coast State of the City Report at investgoldcoast.com