I get an extra $21.70 a fortnight for teaching outside Brisbane. It's a bit of a laugh, really, but hell - that's about 2/3 of my electricity paid for, so I can't complain.

I think that Richie has a point when he brings up the difference in the size of our states. People in Brisbane live closer to Sydney and about as close to Canberra as they do to Townsville, where I live. And Townsville is nowhere near the top.

Our smaller population is much more spread out than Victoria's. We are the most decentralised state on the Australian mainland. Our coastline isn't as densely populated as NSW's - drive from Rocky to Mackay and you'll pass a servo on the right and that's about it. And that's a four-hour trip.

That's probably why people hug the southeast rather than venturing north - there's a whole lot of wasteland up here, the highways go underwater several times each summer and there simply isn't the tax revenue (or the interest from our Brisbane-based government) to fix the infrastructure for a relatively small regional population while the people of SEQ have the inconvenience of sitting in traffic for an hour or more each morning.

Dear Desmond,
Upon reading all your posts I see that your lack of knowledge is showing. I recomend you get an education in life and don't open your mouth until you have something of substance to contribute. Discussions on OLO have kept my brain active after a stroke and I thank God for Belly and others because I have learned so much more staying in the game of life and not giving in to circumstances. Do not give up get educated for if you were the only person on the planet Jesus whould have still died in your place to pay for your sin and that is how much God loves you even you Desmond. So if the creator of the universe thinks that much of you, you atleast have one friend even if all others forsake you.
God loves you Desmond.

“That's probably why people hug the southeast rather than venturing north”

Ah but they ARE venturing north, as well as squeezing into the overcrowded southeast, Otokonoko. Townsville is booming in terms of its growth rate. Likewise Cairns and various other centres.

But they are not booming in terms of any improvements in quality of life or environment.

I’ve watched Townsville change for 26 years. It has always just been more of the same with few real benefits and several obvious downsides for existing residents, with the average quality of life remaining about the same.

I’d hate to see a decentralisation policy implemented by Bligh that actually causes the growth rate of Townsville and Cairns to significantly increase.

And I’d hate to see things get too much worse in SEQ in terms of water supplies, traffic congestion, etc, as this would also lead to people moving north in larger numbers.

Centres of this size - in the order of 150 000 people, are arguably on the upper side of optimum in terms of balance between good and bad factors associated with population size.

You have a good point, Ludwig. I'd certainly hate for Townsville to boom much more in terms of population. With what the region has to offer, it's a miracle that more people haven't come here already. Recent growth has given us traffic, boxy housing estates and a whole heap of strain on the infrastructure. If Bligh really wants to control Brisbane's problems, she needs to preempt NQ's problems and solve them before they happen. Ultimately, I'd like to see Townsville, Cairns and Mackay grow slowly and steadily - natural increase rather than disgruntled southerners trying to find a place to live. Failing that, the government needs to tae a serious look at the north to make sure it can cope with what will inevitably come our way. Infrastructure, facilities, or maybe a separate state. Not sure about the last one. Manning Clark (was it him?) seems to think it's a good idea.

The reality is, SEQ can handle a lot more people. Sydney copes, Melbourne copes, and countless other cities around the world cope. Brisbane has the space, and with a few tough decisions the Coolangatta to Gympie corridor could grow both in size and in efficiency. There's no need to push people out - just a need to remanage the people who are there and are (apparently) arriving in droves.

Sorry. I don't believe in god. It has to be abolished from earth, before any progress is made on world peace. The only reason people flocked to QLD in that era was because of the fraudsters flogging land that was flood prone or worse.
Every conseavable scam going comes out of QLD. The state is corrupt.
That should be disincentive enough, but some people lack common knowledge.

<< Recent growth has given us traffic, boxy housing estates and a whole heap of strain on the infrastructure. >>

It sure has Oto. The traffic is extraordinary, and not just at peak hour! The new housing estates with big houses squeezed onto tiny blocks are just ugly and depressing.

Low-set brick and tile with tiny windows, dependent on air-conditioning, diametrically opposite to the old-style environmentally appropriate Queenslander with its big verandas and slat walls. Just makes me shake my head in disbelief!

Now we’ve got permanent water restrictions and a real mismatch between the rapidly growing demand and the water supply capability if we want to have a safety margin to get us through a series of drier years.

Ahhhh, bring on a decent cyclone. That should put a halt to the rapid population growth madness in Townsville, or Cairns! I wonder what effect Cyclone Larry had in this regard, after flattening Innisfail in 2006? Unfortunately, nowhere near a big enough effect!

<< The reality is, SEQ can handle a lot more people >>

Yes it could, if it really had to. But at what cost? It is patently obvious that any further population growth down there would have a considerable net negative impact.

If it is not to the advantage of the existing populace, then why would our government allow it?

How about that for a basic question that hits right at the core purpose of government, which is to look after the interest of the people that it is supposed to represent (um, isn’t it…or am I just being totally naïve?!)

Decentralisation is dipstickery for as long as rapid population growth continues! Implementing mechanisms to slow and then stop the influx into Queensland is what matters. Some decentralisation might then be appropriate, as part of a strategic plan that has population caps and the means to uphold them.