State election guide: Mudgeeraba: voters want traffic gridlock fixed
ALL roads lead to gridlock in Mudgeeraba – and the electorate wants the issue addressed at this weekend’s state election.
QLD Votes
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ALL roads lead to gridlock in Mudgeeraba – and the electorate wants the issue addressed at the upcoming state election.
Mudgeeraba is one of the Gold Coast’s safest seats, despite six candidates vying for the position in the election on Saturday.
MP Ros Bates, who has held the seat since 2009, holds a 10.4 per cent margin and is running against Rod Duncan (Greens), Paul Taylor (ALP), Jill Pead (IND), Andrew Liddell (One Nation) and Bill Sherwood (IND).
Residents are concerned about road maintenance, education and infrastructure – but traffic woes loom large as the biggest issue.
Ashley Gleeson, who owns popular cake store Two Little Bakers, said she often received calls from people stuck on the M1 “car park”.
“We do get a lot of calls from customers who are running late because of all the M1 delays,” she said.
“Where we are in Mudgeeraba is right where the road bottlenecks into two lanes.”
The electorate comprises most of the Gold Coast’s rural suburbs including: Clagiraba, Gilston, Worongary, Merrimac, Tallai, Lower Beechmont, Advancetown, Mudgeeraba, Numinbah Valley, Natural Bridge, Springbrook, Austinville, Bonogin and Reedy Creek.
Shaun Hall of The Barbers on Swan Lane said the road closure at Springbrook after ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie was causing havoc for residents all over the electorate.
“It can take up to an hour to get up or down from Springbrook,” he said.
Mr Hall said parents were also frustrated by how far they had to drive to get to local schools.
“A lot of people think we really need a school here in the Mudgeeraba area,” he said.
“At the moment kids have to go to Robina or Merrimac, or they get pushed into the private system … it’s quite a drive for people living further in the hinterland.
“I’ve also spoken to a chef in the area recently who said he couldn’t get any chefs to come work here because we’re on the other side of the highway.”
Political analyst Dr Paul Williams said he would be surprised if Ms Bates didn’t maintain her seat. But Dr Williams said “micro-issues” including Springbrook road closures could play a role in how people vote.
“You can’t underestimate micro-issues at the local level,” he said.
“You have to engage people at the grassroots level ... you have to promise a better quality of life but also promise to fix the roads.”
Gaye Jones, who owns The Village Health Store and has lived in Mudgeeraba for 40 years, said reopening the main road to Springbrook was a priority in the electorate..
She said the road closure after ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie had affected small businesses both in the Hinterland and at Mudgeeraba.
“Everybody living up there has to come down the Nerang side now,” she said.
“It’s great for Nerang but a bit frustrating for businesses here.
“Mudgeeraba is still a little quaint ‘town’ but it’s not far enough into the Hinterland to be considered a tourist spot … It’s very quiet here on weekends too.”
Ms Jones said the suburb should be “promoted more” as a destination for locals and tourists to visit.
“This side of the highway should definitely be promoted a bit more (and) I think the area needs more speciality stores like Mt Tamborine,” she said.
“There are plans for two new (housing) developments but I’m not sure whether the area can handle it … the best thing about Mudgeeraba is the village community feel.”
MUDGEERABA
Held by: Ros Bates (LNP) since 2009
10.4 per cent margin
Previously: Dianne Reilly
Candidates: Ros Bates (LNP), Rod Duncan (Greens), Paul Taylor (ALP), Jill Pead (IND), Andrew Liddell (One Nation), Bill Sherwood (IND)
Suburbs: Clagiraba, Gilston, Worongary, Merrimac, Tallai, Lower Beechmont, Advancetown, Mudgeeraba, Numinbag Valley, Natural Bridge, Springbrook, Austinville, Bonogin, Reedy Creek
Electorate population: 35,448
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