Big projects would no longer be used for pork barrelling or as political footballs, under a new model proposed by Australia's peak body for consultants.
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Consult Australia has called for the ACT and other states and territories to create an independent statutory body for infrastructure, that could provide advice on long-term projects.
Called 'iBodies', they would help set the infrastructure priorities for a region for the next 30-50 years, outside the four-year political cycle.
Consult Australia's ACT manager Kevin Keith said there was a need for greater separation between politics, planning and projects in the ACT.
"Infrastructure is an economic decision, it shouldn't be driven by politics," Mr Keith said.
"Just look at the the last election and the role [light rail] infrastructure played in the debate. That's not to say debate doesn't strengthen democracies but long-term projects shouldn't be driven by short-term election cycles."
Earlier this month, Fairfax Media revealed voters in marginal seats collect tens of millions of dollars more than those in safer electorates.
Analysis of Australian Electoral Commission data and Department of Infrastructure grants showed marginal seats have received funding at a rate almost 3½ times greater than safer seats.
In the ACT, poll watchers claimed Labor used stage one of light rail from Civic to Gungahlin to woo voters in the northern electorates ahead of the 2016 ACT Election.
The Canberra Liberals also threatened to tear up the contracts for the project, in spite of the estimated $280 million cost to taxpayers.
However ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr branded the idea as "undemocratic".
"The community elects governments to deliver on commitments, including infrastructure upgrades and that's what this government is doing," Mr Barr said.
"The ACT government is getting on with the job of planning and delivering the infrastructure our growing city needs. There is no need to create more legislation or layers of bureaucracy."
However Mr Barr said he was open to a discussion on the long-term infrastructure priorities for the ACT.
"We believe that contracts made in good faith should be respected and political parties shouldn't try to undermine them as the Canberra Liberals attempted during the last election," Mr Barr said.
"The message from the infrastructure sector was clear - political opportunism does pose a sovereign risk and it would make it harder and more expensive for Australian governments to attract investment in major infrastructure projects."
