Police station and safety top priorities for new MP

Nicklin MP Rob Skelton’s first priority will be delivering the new police station and extra police officers on the beat for Nambour.

At a regional level, delivering rail duplication was one of his top priorities while making the most of Nambour’s Special Entertainment Precinct zoning was also high on his list.

Mr Skelton said it was a privilege and honour to represent the people of Nicklin. “From my perspective I just want to get into the hard work now of delivering the services and giving the people of Nicklin what they deserve,” he said.

Mr Skelton admitted his narrow 79-vote winning margin would help bring extra attention to Nicklin. Being part of the government meant it should be easier to create change. “Look, of course, because they’re the people that you have to deal with if you want the relevant ministers to get things moving. So, yeah, of course it’s an advantage.”

He said he saw a bright future for the town as an entertainment precinct.

“Nambour is the only other place, like Fortitude Valley, that’s zoned as a Special Entertainment Precinct. So obviously, along with having a better police presence, then we could start actually utilizing that zoning law and attracting people from the beaches, of a night time, to the hinterland to dine, listen to music, et cetera.”

Mr Skelton moved to Mapleton from Morayfield only six months ago.

“I moved to the Coast because of lifestyle, sea change. I admire the Premier greatly and I’ve been a unionist and a member of the Labor movement for a while, and when the opportunity arose, the branch managers chose me. So I went from there.”

I’m here to help”: Former PM Kevin Rudd and Rob Skelton at Nambour’s Quota Park on Thursday.