The historic Coolum Community Centre, development in Yaroomba and the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion were among the tough questions faced by Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien while on his summer road trip.
The MP said he wanted to start the year with his “ear to the ground” and toured the Sunshine Coast to hear the fears and concerns of Fairfax constituents.
Many Fairfax residents feel they have been ignored by Mr O’Brien’s predecessor Clive Palmer, and took the opportunity to be heard on such wide-ranging issues as the upcoming entitlement reform, shifting of the historic Coolum Community Centre, development concerns in Yaroomba and queries about the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion.
At the final listening post in Coolum, a vocal group of more than 20 people gathered under the shade of a pandanus in Tickle Park.
Mr O’Brien said a number of problems raised were outside his responsibility as a federal member, but he would still advocate to the relevant authorities on behalf of residents.
“It doesn’t matter if an issue fits with another tier of government, the community wants their elected representative to listen and to act,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The good news is that my colleagues from this area of the Coast – Fiona Simpson, Jason O’Pray and Steve Robinson – are so easy to work with and also have the community’s best interests at heart.”
Mr O’Brien said his summer road trip was the first of the year and he was looking forward to continuing meeting face-to-face with constituents and doing his best to assist.
“There is no substitute for meeting people face to face and hearing their views and concerns in person,” Mr. O’Brien said.
“I might be a relatively new politician, but I’m a big believer in the old style of grassroots politics.”
