McArdle robs Caloundra airport operators of their rewards

Mark McArdle needs to give credit where credit is due rather than rob Caloundra locals of the recognition they deserve, said Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe.

The Member for Caloundra has claimed he submitted a petition signed by more than 5000 people to the State Government, but it was reported the petition was generated by Caloundra airport operator Dave Miles.

"Mark McArdle has just put his name to someone else's hard work," said Mr Hinchliffe.

"His shameless attempt to seize on the hard work of his constituents in an effort to see his name in the media is disgraceful."

Mr Miles presented his petition to Sunshine Coast Regional Council in August this year, lobbying for the Caloundra Aerodrome to be retained at its current site.

The State Government decided the Caloundra Aerodrome should be retained at its current site.

"Our decision to retain the Caloundra Aerodrome at its current location was made in the interests of good planning and I'd like to thank Caloundra airport operators for their input, feedback and patience in working with us to achieve a positive outcome," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"We had lengthy and valuable consultations with Council, airport operators, developers and residents - now Mark McArdle is trying to rob these parties of the credit they deserve for their hard work."

Embarrassingly, the bumbling Caloundra MP had promised for almost three years to table a petition in Parliament about the aerodrome, but failed to deliver on that commitment.

In October 2007 Mr McArdle told the ABC he would present a petition to the Queensland Parliament protesting the redevelopment of the Caloundra Aerodrome, but the Queensland Parliament has no record of Mr McArdle ever submitting that petition.

Worse still, Mr McArdle has never written to the Minister or used his time on the floor of Parliament to seek a State Government commitment to keep the Caloundra Aerodrome at its current location.

"It seems he's become so comfortable sitting in his Parliamentary seat as a Member of a Party with no policies, that he's forgotten how to open his mouth on behalf of his constituents," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"I'm dumbfounded that a politician who has represented Caloundra since 2004 simply didn't submit the petition to Parliament. Maybe Mr McArdle will try to tell his constituents that the petition was lost in the mail? Or maybe his dog ate it?

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
03/09/2010

Permanent Link: McArdle robs Caloundra airport operators of their rewards
Publish Date: 03 Sep 10