State election 2017: Currumbin voters explain the issues which matter most to them

JUST two days remain until election day and voters are still keen to have their say. Voters in the southern Gold Coast seat of Currumbin are vocal on plenty of topics. Here’s what they want.

VOTERS in Currumbin are proud of the fact the electorate has forever kept its leafy village feel.

Their biggest concern, like many others in the state, is being priced out because of soaring cost-of-living expenses.

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Ian Maskelyne, of Captain Hook’s Seafood, said the costs of running a business were on the rise.

“Power and gas bills here are huge,” he said.

Ian Maskelyne from Capt Hook Seafood. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Every time you look back the bills and the rent have gone up.

“It’s still a terrific area though with a village atmosphere ... I don’t think we need more development.”

Caribou cafe owner Matt Walker said Tugun still had a “small town feel”.

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“I’m pretty happy the way it is, and I think all the locals agree,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to see much more (commercial) development in the area.”

Tugun Fruit and Flowers owner Gary O’Reilly said public transport was “fantastic” in the area.

Gary O'Reilly. Picture Glenn Hampson

“We’re really lucky here ... the buses are great,” he said.

“I just worry that the troublemakers from up north getting on at Helensvale or even up around Logan are coming down this end of the Gold Coast.

“But I guess there’s not a lot (the State Government) can do about that ... I still think a light rail extension to (the Gold Coast Airport) would be good for the area.”

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In the most recent state boundaries restructure, the Currumbin electorate lost Palm Beach to the seat of Burleigh. However the electorate maintained the suburbs on the NSW border including: Elanora, Tugun, Coolangatta, Bilinga, Currumbin, Currumbin Waters, Tallebudgera, Tallebudgera Valley and Currumbin Valley.

Paul Williams of Griffith University

Leading political analyst Dr Paul Williams believed long-time MP Jann Stuckey would be re-elected on Saturday.

She is being challenged by Labor candidate Georgi Leader.

Ms Stuckey, who has held the seat since 2004, is headed into the election with a 5.7 per cent margin.

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“I would be surprised if Jann Stuckey didn’t maintain her seat,” Dr Paul Williams said.

“But there was a big swing at the last election ... the LNP should be thankful there’s no One Nation candidate running for the seat because that could have caused a lot of trouble.”

Jann Stuckey has been the local member since the February 2004 election. Photo by Richard Gosling