Greetings Members,
I hope you have all had a successful and productive year so far.
The Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 construction is steadily underway, causing stress on business owners in the local area as they are constricted by lack of foot traffic and parking. Securing a park is a little like winning the lottery, with random streets being closed off, contributing to excessive traffic confusion. During this trying time, small businesses can expect to see a decline in walk-in customers, but it’s important to stay positive, until the tramline is completed at the end of 2025.
I have recently been made aware that the beloved Broadbeach Cultural Precinct, formerly the Albert Waterways Centre, is under consideration as one of the four major sites for a private consortium owned, 10,000-seat entertainment venue. Due to the absurdity of this proposal, I stand with the community members in the surrounding area to petition against the entertainment centre being built in the Broadbeach Cultural Precinct. The council recently spent almost $15 million renovating the cultural centre, to tear it down now would be a total waste of ratepayers’ money! I am all for an entertainment centre being built on the Gold Coast, but not here. The Gold Coast Convention Centre being the stand-out location in my view. As a result, I have sponsored a petition to parliament to remove the Broadbeach Cultural as a site for consideration. To sign the petition send us an email or find it on my Facebook page.
The cost-of-living crisis is one of the many issues faced by Queenslanders today. As supermarket prices are still on the rise, Queenslanders are paying excessive prices for their weekly shop. An inquiry has been instigated by the ACCC with regards to price gouging from these large supermarkets, leading to distrust and anxiety from daily shoppers. The LNP has also recently launched a petition to expand the Cost-of-Living Inquiry in an aim to reduce prices for Queenslanders. To ease the cost of grocery shopping, many individuals are now seeking their groceries from local growers and directly from farmers for fresh produce that supports our local farmers.
Finally, with the Gold Coast City Council elections coming up on March 16th, make sure to register with the ECQ to ensure your vote is counted! The City Council is a vital cog in the ongoing economic development of the Gold Coast and candidates who display an informed and considered economic understanding rather than potty-mouth politicking, should be your Councillor of choice.
As always, if you have any State issues you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact my office on:
Tel: 5600 0100 / Email: Mermaid.Beach@parliament.qld.gov.au
You can also find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RayStevensMP
Best Wishes,
Ray Stevens MP
