Editorial: Political bunfight over North West Transport Corridor has cost us all

The debacle over Brisbane’s North West Transport Corridor is the latest frustrating example of projects getting too difficult when more than one level of government is involved, writes the editor.

Why is it that transport infrastructure delivery gets so difficult when more than one level of government is involved? The debacle over the North West Transport Corridor is a good – if also frustrating – case in point.

Despite a state government study in 2009 having decided a rail line along the corridor from Alderley to Strathpine basically through Chermside West and Bald Hills would be viable from 2026, nothing has since been planned.

Instead, a new federally funded Brisbane City Council study has recently been rejected by Canberra’s infrastructure assessment authority because it only included options for a tunnel – and did not assess an above-ground road or rail solution (that of course would be seriously problematic considering the homes that have been built alongside the 14km-long corridor since it was set aside for a future arterial road four decades ago).

Cue Labor state government Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who yesterday breathlessly described Infrastructure Australia’s rejection of the council study as “one of the most humiliating debacles I’ve seen” – ignoring the fact he knew last year that council had ruled out above-ground options because of concerns from locals and the impact on suburban wildlife reserves.

Enter LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who challenged Mr Bailey to “tell people how many homes will be lost, how many acres of bushland will be bulldozed” if the much-needed transport link were to be built above-ground.

Mr Bailey then hit back, denying the state had any plans to build an above-ground road or rail line along the corridor. The Lord Mayor, he said, was playing “pathetic” politics.

And so it was left to the RACQ’s head of public policy, Michael Kane, to cut through the argy bargy, saying the solution here was actually really simple: that the three levels of government needed to put aside their differences and work together in the city’s interests and not theirs.

In other words, he called BS on this predictable political bunfight.

But we should not be surprised. It points to a far more critical problem – that of the repeated inability of politicians to take a broader view of their jobs and work together for the betterment of the community.

This has been a core problem relating to our hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. Despite a pledge to the International Olympic Committee that we won’t need massive new stadiums, we will now get $7bn worth of them, while the big legacy promise of the bid in the first place – that the event would bring forward necessary transport infrastructure – looks increasingly unlikely.

We are now told big projects that are necessary for our region’s rapidly growing population – such as the extension of passenger rail into Maroochydore and the proper duplication of the M1 linking the Gold Coast to Brisbane – are subject to the usual arrangements between governments. With nine years to go, that suggests we have missed this unique opportunity to invest in a better future for the generations of southeast Queenslanders to come.

This is a shame. Our region will only ever host the Olympics and Paralympics once. To allow a few politicians who are only in their roles for a few years to put a day’s political victory ahead of the greater good for future generations is a sad indictment on our system.

It is all just not good enough. As voters we should demand better.

PHILIP’S SUPER LOWE RATE

Revelations today that Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe had access to a half-price mortgage will likely anger Australians suffering in the current cost-of-living crisis.

There is no suggestion that Dr Lowe was not entitled to his special loan rates through the Reserve Bank and yes his loan was paid off 20 years ago.

But the fact that the man responsible for 10 consecutive interest rate rises may not have endured the same deep pain and financial suffering as average mortgage-holders will not sit well with many people.

The task of curbing the current high level of inflation is an important one and the Reserve Bank’s current regime of aggressive rises rates is designed to bring the economy back under control.

It’s just a pity current homeowners paying full priced loans are bearing the brunt.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here