Opinion: Why scrapping light rail Stage 4 would be as big a mistake as closing the Gold Coast railway in the 1960s

Scrapping the light rail extension to the border may seem like a good short-term idea but the long-term consequences would be more expensive for everyone, writes the editor.

It is tempting, when in power, to engage in short-term thinking.

The next election, the next political cycle and the next crisis are perpetually at the front of mind of every politician, no matter which side of the aisle they sit on.

This goes a long way towards explaining the frequently piecemeal solutions which get applied with little thought to the long-term impact.

Consider this in the context of the debate around the future of the light rail extension to the border.

Premier David Crisafulli. Picture Glenn Hampson

The state government is reviewing the project while investigating other options, including buses.

When in Opposition, the LNP baulked at the idea of spending upward of $7bn on the project, an estimate put forward by Labor which was later dismissed by transport and engineering experts.

The high cost, as well as the political nature of the review – announced ahead of the election to secure the backing of upset Palm Beach residents – comes despite essentially universal support from other levels of government, transport experts, business figures and those such as airport CEO Amelia Evans, whose terminal is set to have one of the stations.

Mayor Tom Tate on Monday warned against the concept of replacing trams, arguing that, while potentially cheaper, they would have to be replaced within just five years as they’d outgrow passenger numbers.

One of the last trains to reach Southport Railway Station from Brisbane 28 June, 1964 not long before the line was torn up.

It’s a sobering consideration, especially when Ms Evans has already warned “buses aren’t going to cut it” in terms of getting people to and from the airport.

Premier David Crisafulli says the review is expected to come back in coming weeks and he would do well to mull over the decision.

Think back on his National Party predecessors who, in the 1960s, scrapped the heavy rail from Brisbane to Gold Coast as a cost-cutting measure, only to be forced in the 1980s and 1990s to slowly rebuild the line.

Short-term thinking struck again.

Governments are remembered for any number of things and, if Mr Crisafulli wants, as he says, to be remembered as the Premier who helped deliver on the potential of the next 10 years, he should back the option that will do just that.