Population cap 'incredibly naive'

Georgia Waters | October 11, 2007 - 11:47AM

Gold Coast mayor Ron Clarke is "incredibly naive" if he believes he can introduce a population cap, an urban development expert claims.

This week, Cr Clarke said the Gold Coast - projected to reach a population of one million in the next 30 years - needed to set a population cap to stop the city growing too large.

However, Professor Robert Stimson, of the University of Queensland's Centre for Research into Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures, said it was not the responsibility of local governments to directly influence population sizes.

"It's ridiculous for local governments to even contemplate the introduction of population caps per se," he said.

Cr Clarke's push for a population cap was announced at the launch of the council's Bold Future project, which sets a 30-year plan for the city.

It's not the first time a local government has moved to set a population cap, with Noosa Shire Council envisaging a total future population capacity of 62,000 to ensure the region's quality lifestyle was maintained.

However, Professor Stimson said evidence from around the world showed population caps did not work.

"Noosa says they've done it (capped the population), but in reality it can't be done," he said, arguing population caps only worked when an area had strictly limited resources that could only support a certain number of people.

"The only way (Gold Coast City Council) could cap population is to stop releasing land and stop approving development applications," he said.

If development was restricted, businesses would "go elsewhere" and housing prices would further increase, he said.

Professor Stimson said South-East Queensland's population was already planned for under the state government's plan for population growth targets.