Letter of the Week

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MOST of us are aware of the shambles in the administration of the recent Gold Coast Games, indicated by the fact none of the Games’ administrators were contactable by the public.

The event saw the allocation of millions of taxpayer dollars. And the onset of the event was used as an urgency ‘leverage’ to extract federal dollars for the light rail.

With a federal election coming up, local MP Karen Andrew has boldly made her case about ‘scoping’ the extension of the light rail and the stops or stations – funding it as far as the Burleigh Heads Primary School. For that the federal member has come under criticism ... for not funding the extension of the rail further into the Burleigh shopping centre.

I’m not sure if there has ever been a “dollar-for-dollar” negotiation but I do recall initiating an idea some years ago for the building of a large school community hall with what I called “tripartite” funding which involved the State Government, the high school and the Gold Coast City Council. The idea was finally initiated.

Given that the City Council’s debt is about $300 million (annual revenue a billion dollars) and the State Labor Government’s debt never changing from $82 billion debt, it is understandable the leaders of those two governments are negotiating hard to get federal money for the extension of the light rail further south.

Mrs Andrews is quite right in acting as a good steward for federal money because there’s also a federal debt of $600 billion

I would remind Mrs Andrews that her predecessor (Margaret May, re: the Airport bypass) came under a lot of arm twisting amidst EIP research and many public meetings. I appeared on TV with a map showing how the bypass could be achieved before the $400 million tunnel was finally built at the rear of the airport, funded from federal coffers.

Maybe Mrs Andrew’s predecessor’s experience with all the argy bargy is irrelevant to the issues facing light rail, maybe this time there should be bipartite funding for the extension but perhaps it is better to strike a ratio deal with tripartite funding.

She must be admired for speaking out as she has done in an era when there is every call on her government to provide infrastructure and welfare money. WARREN JAMES, TWEED HEADS THOSE people uncertain about Bill Shorten’s spending plans should look north.

The Northern Territory (Labor) Government is close to insolvency, fuelled by extravagance, red tape and poor administration.

A deficit of $1 billion is forecast for the next financial year, with the government facing an interest bill of $1 million a day.

Over the years the Territory has only survived by taking its begging bowl to Canberra. Voters should beware of over-blown promises using other people’s money. P.C. WILSON, MIAMI NO matter how the number of poker machines argument is sliced and diced, it all adds up to State Government-sanctioned social misery in the end.

l hate them. A concerted sledgehammering is what is needed. DAVID HALL, COOMBABAH SINCE the dawn of time, all species have continually tried to expand into new habitat. This is what bats are doing when they move into towns (GCB, 10/5).

Unfortunately for bats, they don’t survive the “urban heat island effect” created by the heat-retaining properties of urban infrastructure – as we saw last summer.

For their own good, and to prevent them spreading exotic seeds into native bushland, bats must never be allowed to roost in towns or on farms. PETER CAMPION GOLD Coast City is marginalised by the Commonwealth Government because Federal seats have not been marginal and are taken for granted.

Gravy trains come to marginals. Southeast Queensland, including Gold Coast City, is now being considered for Olympic Games.

With superb athletic facilities largely put in by State Government, Gold Coast would have prominent publicity worldwide, via this event and enormous positive impact for future tourism.

After the experience of Commonwealth Games, proper inclusion of local businesses during the event, would have to be emphatically ensured.

We should be a shoo-in for this world event. Right?

But the Olympic Committee are emphasising transport infrastructure is a key to the decision.

Commonwealth has let State carry the burden of the mega Cross River Rail, which will bring more GC stations, access and speed.

“Heavy lifting” for light rail was done by State Government prior to the “commonwealth” games.

Commonwealth should pay

80 per cent for its share of M1.

It should not short change on shorter tracks for next stage of the light rail

The M1 gridlock has been predictable and the sixth largest sity has been shunted to sidelines at the expense of southern infrastructure.

Our airport needs heavy rail access and transport routes should not trash koala habitat. SALLY SPAIN, PRESIDENT, WILDLIFE QUEENSLAND GOLD COAST BRANCH