LNP expected to lose some of its margin in “safe” Gold Coast seat of Currumbin

THE LNP is bracing to lose some of its political advantage in the safe seat of Currumbin when Queenslanders go to the polls next weekend.

Board Life owner Dan Patch. Picture: Tim Marsden

THE LNP is bracing to lose some of its political advantage in the safe seat of Currumbin when Queenslanders go to the polls next weekend.

Party insiders are confident Jann Stuckey will be returned as MP, but believe the 20.2 per cent margin she secured for the LNP last time will be trimmed significantly and the ALP will get most of the benefit.

General dissatisfaction with the party statewide and Ms Stuckey’s performance are listed as the major reasons for backlash.

Transport has been listed by all candidates as the major election issue in Currumbin, with promises from all sides of politics to lobby for the widening of the M1 and extension of the heavy rail to Coolangatta.

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Is Jann Stuckey’s Currumbin seat safe? Pic by Luke Marsden.

“It’s on my wish list and I’ll keep chipping away,” Ms Stuckey said.

ALP candidate Ashley Wain, a construction project manager, said he did not believe Ms Stuckey was fighting hard enough and he would get the transport projects on the government’s agenda if elected.

The ALP candidate is also a fan of the proposal by the surfing community to have a world surfing reserve established at the Coast’s southern end.

He said the plan, which did not have the government’s support, would push tourism and create jobs.

Palmer United Party candidate Kristian Rees, a former Gold Coast United soccer player who lives just outside the electorate in Varsity Lakes, is also behind the light rail and heavy rail extensions.

Mr Rees said a range of other issues had been raised with him since he had started campaigning, including the mosque proposed for Currumbin and safety issues at Currumbin Creek mouth where surfers and boaties come together.

Veteran surfboard shaper Dan Patch says he wants to see the State Government cracking down on people selling cheap Chinese boards under false pretences.

Mr Patch, who owns The Board Life surf store in Palm Beach, said local shapers were being pushed to the brink of ruin by the problem.

Dan Patch from Board Life at Palm Beach talks about his electorate. Pic Tim Marsden

“The biggest concern we have is people trying to pass imported boards off for Australian-made custom boards,” he said.

“We just need the State Government to pass legislation which forces sellers to say where the boards were made.”

The selling of goods in a misleading manner is handled by the state government’s Office of Fair Trading.

Mr Patch also called for sustainable tourism attractions and a state-funded study into beach protection.

“We are the surfing capital of the world down here,” he said.

“Businesses are also suffering here because we are isolated from the rest of the Coast.

“A light rail all the way through to the airport would be a game-changer and the area would start booming. It all takes time but we need to know the right people are in there making progress.”