Labor candidate Kaylee Campradt backs SandTunes, light rail, hits out at MP Jann Stuckey

A new Labor candidate says she’ll welcome back beach concerts like SandTunes on the Gold Coast’s southern end in her first major interview ahead of the upcoming election.

A LABOR candidate is backing beach concerts like the failed SandTunes on the Gold Coast’s southern end if a solution can be found to how, when and where to stage them.

ALP Currumbin candidate Kaylee Campradt is also backing light rail and is calling on retiring LNP MP Jann Stuckey to stop her “bitterness”.

Ms Campradt, in her first major interview, says she hopes the southern Gold Coast gets to host more tourism events after Ms Stuckey, in her latest newsletter, continued to campaign against beach concerts.

Labor candidate for Currumbin, Kaylee Campradt, in her electorate and with her campaign truck. Picture Glenn Hampson

In the last sitting of State Parliament, Ms Stuckey targeted Ms Campradt, describing her as “scary” and “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” who as a unionist would be a puppet of the Labor Government.

But Ms Campradt, who laughed when told of the outburst, said it was obvious the Currumbin MP had no idea about her track record of voluntary work with both the local Parents and Citizens Association and the state body, and strong family links with the southern Coast.

Jann Stuckey outspoken in Parliament.

“I have no idea (why she is so angry about me) and I don’t know who she is talking to but they’re not people who know me,” Ms Campradt said.

“I think to be honest it’s sad for Jann that she’s ending her career with a bitterness that we’ve seen at times, but there seems to be real bitterness to her now and it would be unfortunate for her if that’s how she’s ending her political career.”

Ms Campradt said Ms Stuckey’s retirement had put “the seat in play”.

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Her campaign would focus on “listening and learning” from residents, community groups and businesses before pushing forward with policies in the New Year.

Ms Campradt said she supported heavy rail being extended to the airport but realised light rail was a quicker and less costly option.

She said Palm Beach residents had legitimate concerns about the council’s light rail overlay map and the impact of high rise development close to tram stations.

Labor candidate for Currumbin, Kaylee Campradt wants to rethink tourism events on the Coast’s southern end. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“Some of those buildings, they’re hideous and out of place. We need to be listening to those people,” she said.

Ms Campradt supported extending the Oceanway pedestrian pathway and believed most residents were not anti-progress and seeking to ban new ideas or projects.

“I think we’re pro sensible progress but not one where people don’t feel they have a voice in it,” she said.

Ms Campradt said she supported a rethink about events like the SandTunes two-day music festival, with a fresh look at different southern beach locations. It had been proposed for Coolangatta beach but after opposition from southern businesses, residents and Ms Stuckey, was moved to Metricon Stadium and then canned.

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It was planned for November 30-December 1 but cancelled jsut three weeks out. At the time promoter Paul Dainty said: “The reality is that without sand between our punters’ toes, the very notion of the beachside festival in a stadium (Metricon) meant low sales and we had to make the hard decision to cancel.”

Ms Campradt told the Bulletin: “It just didn’t quite have its moment. I would hate to think that with Jann’s opposition that it’s never, ever again.”

SandTunes promotion on the Gold Coast.

Ms Campradt said she knew that if a solution could be found, then young people and local businesses would welcome it.

“So let’s figure out how we do that. Particularly some of those wide beach areas, along Bilinga and Coolangatta, during winter, when it’s not the middle of summer in the sun,’’ she said.

“I think there are lots of reasons why it wasn’t a good idea, but there are also lots of reasons why it’s a good idea that needs to be further investigated and pursued.”