The link between population growth, environment, and infrastructure shortfalls has been topical lately, with both Jon Stanhope and Zed Seselja weighing in.

Stung into action by the Liberals’ push to establish an Infrastructure Commissioner to oversee planning in this critical area, the Chief Minister was touting a new 10-year plan for infrastructure projects as a first ever for the ACT. One has to ask why did it take you so long?

Managing billions of dollars worth of works based purely on what is in the kitty year by year is—in the business world—called management-by-crisis.

But kneecapping his own idea, Zed Seselja has been echoing the development industry mantra that all population growth is good.

The government in the ACT is already struggling to supply infrastructure in Gungahlin beyond what it needs to facilitate further land sales. We have 41,000 people already, with an end population target of around 100,000 people.

There is no way Mr Stanhope’s 10-year plan will adequately meet our needs for core facilities such as adequate public transport and roads for our commutes unless there is a fundamental rethink on budgets. As we have said previously, the ACT needs to embrace borrowing to fund long-life assets and capital works that in turn reduce ongoing spending.

But even that won’t help if Mr Seselja and the developers get their desired population surge.