COOMERA VOICE

just 3.5 per cent. He has held the seat since 2009, when it was first created.

The debate was critical because residents and northernbased councillors like Mark Hammel asked the following questions:

● When is the actual construction date going to start on upgrades to four Pacific Motorway interchanges – exits 38, 41, 45 and 49?

● Why is Main Roads and the government taking so long to determine the northern connection road for the Coomera Connector, with Foreshore Coomera estate residents furious it would be Oakey Creek Rd and not Shipper Dve.

Mr Crandon was questioned about the LNP’s policing commitment for 80 additional officers in the north, given it was up to police to determine where officers were sent.

The Gold Coast Bulletin had sought to ask Labor’s Mr

Johnson the following questions:

● When will Labor’s promised 150 officers arrive on the Coast?

● Has Labor chosen the wrong site for a new hospital and what is the timeline for it?

● Why hasn’t Labor committed to the full route for the sixlane Coomera Connector, instead opting for a first stage from Carrara to the Coomera Marine precinct?

In response to Cr Hammel’s question, Mr Crandon said his party, if elected, would start work on stage one of the second M1 within the first six months.

“And we will complete that stage within the first term of the new government,” he said.

“That’s our commitment in relation to the second M1. Importantly, the bridge over the Coomera River is a big part of that.”

Asked about upgrades to the notorious M1 exits, he said:

“(I feel) frustrated by the traffic congestion, the cost on our young families.

“We’ve got 21 schools in the electorate that have to cross the M1 every morning and they’re stuck in traffic every afternoon.

“As far as Exit 41 is concerned we now know the bunting is up that it’s about to get started, so we should be able to see the end of (that exit) towards the end of next year.”