Ipswich's rapid growth and investment highlighted in Annual Report

Published on 02 November 2026

Ipswich continues to evolve at a rapid pace with booming growth in population, new homes and businesses, and investment in the region all highlighted in Ipswich City Council’s 2025-2026 Annual Report.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said it had been a particularly strong and successful year for council and the community, with the city in a strong position going forward.

“The 2025-2026 Annual Report paints a clear picture that our council and city is succeeding and is well positioned to continue to do so in the years ahead,” Mayor Harding said.

“More people than ever are choosing to live, work and play in Ipswich. More businesses, both big and small, are choosing to open right here, and the local economy is going gangbusters.

“We are attracting close to four million visitors to the city a year and experiencing a record rate of investment and opportunity. I am extremely proud of the progress we have made across our city and am very optimistic about the path ahead.”

Mayor Harding said over the 2025-2026 financial year, 8,728 new residents chose to call Ipswich home as the overall population swelled to 274,582 as of 30 June 2026.

“Council continues to diligently respond to this growth, with $91 million in capital works delivered throughout 2025-2026,” Mayor Harding said.

“This included 129 capital projects, 70 project designs, 20.9km of seal road reconstruction, 46.4km of gravel road reconstruction and an additional 2.37km of new and upgraded pathways.

“From the completion of key stages of the Springfield Parkway upgrade to beginning of major improvements on Ripley Road and planning for a future upgrade of School Road at Redbank Plains, we have maintained strong momentum in delivering the road infrastructure needed for a growing city.

“To help ease the burden on ratepayers, council successfully advocated for $85.9 million in grant funding for future projects across roads, drainage, sport and community infrastructure.

“Yet despite this rapid growth, Ipswich remains grounded in the qualities that make it special: a rich heritage, an ambitious vision for the future and a strong, enduring sense of community.”

Mayor Harding said the city’s economy also continued to perform strongly, with Ipswich’s Gross Regional Product again increasing at a rate higher than South-East Queensland, reaching $16.8 billion.

“This is underpinned by significant investments which further strengthened our city’s reputation as a place of opportunity,” Mayor Harding said.

“In February world-leading brand Hilton announced a $53 million investment to build a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Ipswich Central. The 160-room hotel will be delivered ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Construction has also started on Queensland’s very first green steel mill at Swanbank.

“Once operational, Future Forgeworks will produce 350,000 tonnes of low-emissions reinforcing steel breach year and see Ipswich at the forefront of providing construction materials leading into the 2032 Games.

“Works to deliver the $40 million western grandstand upgrade at North Ipswich Reserve also began with the first sod turned last week, along with major upgrades ongoing to sporting facilities at Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve and Tivoli Sporting Complex.”

Mayor Harding said with the population set to soar through the 500,000 mark by 2041, council would continue to advocate for funding and investment from the State and Federal governments to help improve the city’s transport network, focussing specifically on a second Bremer River crossing and the Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor.

“Having said that, growth is about more than infrastructure. It is also about creating vibrant places where people can connect, learn and celebrate what makes our community unique.

“I firmly believe we are in an ideal position as we continue to strive to achieve our shared community vision for Ipswich by 2041 to be a city of opportunity for all.”

The 2025-2026 Annual Report can be viewed on council’s website.