New opportunities and past problems in 2025-26 State Budget
26 June 2025
While the 2025-26 Queensland Budget delivered a range of commitments for the Ipswich community on Tuesday, with significant investments for health, education and policing, more is needed to address the city’s significant infrastructure shortfall.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the State Budget signalled the start of two new infrastructure projects for the city, a second inner-city river crossing and upgrades to the Centenary Motorway, but more support would be needed to ensure the city is adequately prepared for its forecast growth.
“I am pleased to see the Queensland Government fund their election commitments for Ipswich as well as introducing a number of new infrastructure projects that will benefit our community,” said Mayor Harding.
“This included the $4 million committed during the election for a second river crossing which has now been confirmed in this Budget, ensuring this vital link will now move into the detailed planning phase.
“Residents in our eastern suburbs will be pleased to see this Budget kickstart the upgrade of the Centenary Motorway from Darra to Yamanto, with planning works to commence in the coming financial year.
“Funding was allocated for more public beds at Mater Hospital Springfield, new primary school campuses at White Rock, Ipswich West Special School and a special school for Springfield-Redbank, as well as a $15 million upgrade to the Goodna police station.
“While it was positive to see funding to progress planning for upgrades to the Cunningham’s Ripley Road and Swanbank Road exits and Amberley Intersection in this Budget, I was disappointed the State missed an opportunity to match the Federal Government’s $200 million commitment of construction funding.
“This Budget also confirmed work continues to progress improvements to the Mount Crosby Road interchange and the rehabilitation of the Bremer River Bridge, projects that cannot come quick enough following the incident on the Warrego Highway last month,” said Mayor Harding.
Other Ipswich projects in the 2025-26 Queensland Budget include:
- An extension to the car park of Redbank Plains Library ($550,000)
- A new police facility for Ripley ($38 million)
- A new fire and rescue station for Greater Springfield ($10 million)
- Playground upgrades and new shade sails for Ipswich North State School
- New grandstands for Ipswich State High School ($100,000)
- New lights at Rosewood Showground ($800,00)
- Court upgrades at the iconic Queens Park ($780,000)
- Grandstands for Ipswich Musketeers Baseball Club ($150,000)
“While this Budget has given the green light to two new infrastructure projects, Ipswich remains one of the worst funded local government areas per capita in the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (2025-26 to 2028-29),” said Mayor Harding.
“Council will continue to push for construction funding for the Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor, critical highway upgrades, and catalytic infrastructure for the Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area.
“We will continue to work with both levels of government for the urgent delivery of these projects, strongly advocating for increased infrastructure investment to address Ipswich’s historic underfunding from the Queensland and Australian governments in the past decade.”
Ipswich City Council will hand down its 2025-2026 Annual Plan and Budget on 1 July.
Ipswich City Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul people of the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we share. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, as the keepers of the traditions, customs, cultures and stories of proud peoples.