Your state election guide to the seat of Broadwater
THE seat of Broadwater is an LNP stronghold and the party has a rising star in David Crisafulli. These are the big issues that locals want addressed.
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BROADWATER residents in the city’s north have raised lack of infrastructure and tourism drawcards as the main issues they want addressed.
Kim Wilson of Fish in the Park has lived at Paradise Point for 13 years and says she wants to see more events in the area.
“There’s not a lot for (tourists) to do here,” she said. “The park is great but they could definitely do more in terms of events or entertainment.”
Broadwater remains an LNP stronghold but its sitting MP, Verity Barton, was defeated by former Newman government minister David Crisafulli for LNP preselection.
New boundaries drawn in the latest redistribution and restructure of electorates meant good news for the LNP.
Although the seat of Albert disappeared, it made Broadwater one of the Gold Coast’s safest seats after absorbing affluent areas like Hope Island.
The electorate also includes: Coombabah, Paradise Point, Hollywell, Runaway Bay, Helensvale, Biggera Waters, South Stradbroke Island and Moreton Bay islands.
Griffith University politics expert Dr Paul Williams said the LNP had a 16.3 per cent margin in Broadwater.
“Verity (Barton) probably would have retained her seat ... she had a less than spectacular first term but I think she would have survived (again),” he said.
“Now they have a rising star in David Crisafulli and a margin of more than 15 per cent.
“With suburbs like Hope Island in the electorate, he is a shoo-in.”
Jason Arthars of Porter House on Grice said the cost of running a business in the area was high.
“Power costs here are crazy and the rates are always rising,” he said.
“We get a few of the politicians in here ... David Crisafulli and (Councillor) Cameron Caldwell, but we really haven’t heard much from the candidates at this election.
“I don’t know what any of their promises are.”
Pharmacist Marco Mikhail, of Chempro Grice Avenue, said he wanted to see more development in the electorate.
“It’s a bit of an older area. There are definitely parts of Paradise Point in particular that need renovating,” he said.
John McCabe of Blue Olive Cafe and Restaurant said eateries in the Broadwater electorate were not getting a “fair go’’ compared to cafes and restaurants in the southern parts of the Gold Coast. He wants more done to promote the northern end of the Gold Coast.
“This end doesn’t see much tourism,” he said.
“Most big events and entertainment go down that way (southern end) ... but we pay the same rates and we’re not getting a fair go.
“We need to see more development in the area and some parts need redeveloping, it’s just the way things are going.”
Mr McCabe said it was disappointing the area had been “left out of the transport loop”.
“We have a decent bus service (but) we’ve been left out of the transport loop and it will be difficult for us to benefit from the light rail extension to Helensvale,” he said.
“This is a really great area to be.
“Crime isn’t a major issue (but) there have been a few break-ins lately.
“A massive milk delivery, about 30 crates, was stolen from a cafe here and last Christmas the butcher had all of his hams stolen.”
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