Ipswich City Council

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Foundation Synopsis

The story of Ipswich's future is one of sustainable development and is intrinsically interwoven with the story of South East Queensland's future. Council is preparing a master plan for ‘Ipswich 2020 and Beyond'. The plan for Ipswich's future, as a City of centres and job generators, is designed to achieve Ipswich's vision to be recognised universally as a great place to live, work and visit.

The foundations of the plan focus on a network of central business districts, major centres, large enterprise parks and general business areas connected by an efficient transport network to quality residential and recreational areas. The city is framed by attractive and protected greenspace (comprising 20% of the total area of the City), rural pastoral areas (25%) and good quality agricultural land in the Bremer, Warrill and associated valleys (13%).

Implementation of the plan will facilitate efficiencies in transport, water, energy, communications and general service delivery. It will deliver sustainable community wellbeing, generate jobs, facilitate community capacity building, substantially reduce per capita vehicular commuting, improve our waterways and protect our greenspace, leading to enhanced social, economic and environmental outcomes for the community.

Ipswich's population is currently 140000 in a city of 1207 sq kms. Ipswich is experiencing strong growth at about 3.5% pa. Lot approvals in recent years have been 966(2001-02), 2526(2002-03), 4324(2003-04) and 4300 (2004-05). Council and Queensland Government expectations are that population growth will continue. The Queensland Government's South East Queensland Regional Plan projects Ipswich's population will grow to 318000 by 2026.

Ipswich City Council is clearly focused on complementing the SEQ Regional Plan and creating successful communities by generating jobs to support population growth. Jobs will be delivered through the development of Ipswich Central, Springfield Gateway CBD, Ripley Town Centre, two universities, Australia's first Defence Super Base at Amberley, Ipswich Aerospace Park at Amberley, an inland port at Purga and several regionally significant commercial and industrial parks. Targeted jobs growth from 47300 in 2005 to 123000 in 2026, which is an enviable jobs to population ratio of 39%.

The SEQ Regional Plan projects South East Queensland's population will grow by 1 million to 3.7 million by 2026. The SEQ Regional Plan's expectation is that Ipswich's population will grow to about 318000 in that time, accepting 180000 of the 1 million growth in South East Queensland. Hence Ipswich City Council's focus is on job creation to ensure quality lifestyle and sustainability. Council's aim is to progressively develop its centres and commercial and industrial parks to achieve their ultimate job carrying capacity.

Key infrastructure and major job and economic development catalysts central to the Ipswich 2020 and Beyond master plan, either underway or being planned, are identified below. This is one of the largest per capita development programs being undertaken in any City in Australia.

The information above is reflected in the Ipswich Future Map that is contained in the Ipswich Planning Scheme. Further information regarding urban growth in SEQ is available from the Office of Urban Management.

Ipswich Future Map (PDF, 787 kb)

Major Economic Development Catalysts

Key infrastructure and major job and economic development catalysts in the Ipswich region include:

Ipswich River Heart - integrating and revitalising Ipswich Central with a focus on the Bremer River as the centre and playground of Ipswich Central - involving major public and private investment - Ipswich Central has an ultimate development job carrying capacity of 49000 jobs
Ipswich Central inner city residential - Ipswich International Hotel, Aspire Apartments, Hotel Gloria
UQ Ipswich in Ipswich Central - ongoing development of the University of Queensland campus which opened for business in February 1999 - set in idyllic surrounds looking out to the South East Queensland Scenic Rim, UQ Ipswich is already renowned nationally for its futuristic digital technology focus
Riverlink Shopping Village in Ipswich Central - Leda's $200 m private investment currently under construction
Springfield Land Corporation is the master planner/developer of Australia's largest master planned community at such an advanced stage and will eventually be home to 50,000 people, including Brookwater and Springfield Lakes - Springfield Gateway CBD (incorporating the Mirvac developed 'Orion', designed to be Australia's largest shopping centre), has a job carrying capacity of 20,000 jobs - construction of the first stage of Orion comprising 59,000 m2 gross floor area is underway and will employ 1,500 people when completed
University of Southern Queensland in Springfield Gateway CBD - under construction and accepting its first students in February 2006
Ripley Valley and Ripley Town Centre - tenders called for master planning assignment
Southern Regional Water Pipeline - indicative estimated cost of integration of the southern regional water network is $250m - will secure the future sustainable development of Ipswich, Gold Coast and SEQ, including development of Ripley Valley (110,000 population), Swanbank Enterprise Park and Ebenezer Industrial Park
Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme - indicative cost estimate $250m for a joint Ipswich City Council, South East Queensland Water Corporation, Lockyer Water Users Forum and Brisbane City Council proposal - planning is underway for the recycling of water from Ipswich and western Brisbane treatment plants, through commercial and industrial uses that do not require a drinking water standard, with subsequent distribution for recreational, public and private landscaping purposes and agricultural purposes. The scheme will ensure maximum economic return from as much of the City's water consumption as possible, before final consumption for uses where recycled water cannot be harnessed for further use.
Ipswich rail line third track Corinda-Darra, Darra-Redbank (included in the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $290m - estimated timeframe 2005-2015
Springfield passenger rail line (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $300m - estimated timeframe 2006-2015
TransLink sub-regional rail station upgrade program (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $25m - estimated timeframe 2005-2015
Sub-regional cycle network (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $20m - estimated timeframe 2005-2026
Ipswich Motorway upgrade (pending Goodna Bypass Investigation) - (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $870m - estimated timeframe 2005-2015
Logan Motorway/Ipswich Motorway interchange (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $160m - estimated timeframe 2005-2009
Cunningham Highway to Warrego Highway connection (pending Goodna Bypass and River Road Investigation) - (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $70m - estimated timeframe 2005-2015
Extension of Centenary Highway - Springfield to Ripley to Yamanto on the Cunningham Highway (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $220m - estimated timeframe 2005-2009 - linking people to jobs - 281,000 ultimate development population in the emerging Springfield, Redbank Plains and Ripley Valley areas linked with job capacity areas totaling 126,500 jobs at final development in Carole Park/Synergy Park, Swanbank Enterprise Park, RAAF Base Amberley, Ipswich Aerospace Park at Amberley and Ebenezer Industrial Park
Centenary Highway - four lanes Ipswich Motorway to Springfield (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $440m - estimated timeframe 2007-2015
Western Ipswich Bypass (Haigslea to Amberley) (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $200m - estimated timeframe 2016-2026
Cunningham Highway four lanes - Ripley Road to Ebenezer (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $90m - estimated timeframe 2009-2015
Warrego Highway/Brisbane Valley Interchange (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $50m - estimated timeframe 2006-2008
One Mile Bridge over the Bremer River
Ipswich Hospital redevelopment (2009-2026) and two Health Hubs (2009-2015) (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $290m
13 new schools in the western corridor (included in SEQIPP) - indicative estimated cost $315m - estimated timeframe - three in 2005-2009, two in 2010-2015 and eight in 2016-2026
Electricity upgrades (included in SEQIPP) - Swanbank substation refurbishment, indicative estimated cost $120m, estimated timeframe 2005-2009 - future bulk distribution (Energex), indicative estimated cost $264m
Capral Aluminium ($130m capital expenditure) - Australia's largest aluminium extrusion plant is now operating as a major anchor industry in the Bremer Business Park - economic flow on benefits are very significant
Boulder Specialty Steel ($750m capital expenditure) - Swanbank Enterprise Park- 230,000 tonne-a-year steel plant producing specialty products for automotive, aerospace and food processing industries - 750 jobs during construction and 400 jobs in operation by 2007
Ipswich Aerospace Park at Amberley - the Queensland Government (Department of State Development and Innovation) has acquired the land and design of the development is underway - involving expansion of various aerospace companies who are currently involved at Amberley - Boeing Australia Ltd (600 existing employees) and other smaller operations including Aerostructures Australia, Rosebank Engineering, Tasman Aviation, VMS International, Honeywell and QANTAS Defence Services
$285m redevelopment and expansion of Amberley RAAF Base - Australia's largest operational air force base is becoming Australia's first defence ‘super base' - Amberley will grow substantially to include the new air-to-air refuellers, RAAF's No. 33 support squadron and the Army's 9th Force Battalion heavy-lift capability, involving an additional 780 defence personnel

Established Job Generators

Other well established job generators that contribute significantly to Ipswich's economy include:

Australia Meat Holdings Ltd - Australia's largest meat processing plant, processing 3200 cattle per day and employing 2600 staff
Ipswich Motorsport Precinct at Willowbank - the Queensland Raceway, the latest addition to the Ipswich Motorsport Precinct, together with the Willowbank Drags establishes Ipswich as the motorsport capital of Australia
Tourism attractions including the Ipswich Art Gallery, The Workshops Queensland Rail Museum, Ipswich Nature Centre and Nerima Gardens, hot air ballooning and attractive wineries.

Last Updated 29 Jan 2009 |

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