New figures highlight Ipswich's exponential growth
01 August 2025
Ipswich’s population has surpassed the 265,000 milestone as Ripley retains the title of the city’s fastest growing suburb for the 2024-2025 financial year.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the city continues to attract huge numbers of new residents as its status as one of Australia’s fastest growing cities is reaffirmed in council’s latest Planning and Regulatory Services Annual Report Card.
“The city’s population grew by 3.5 per cent to 265,854 in the 12 months to 30 June as more than 9,000 people moved to Ipswich over the 2024-2025 financial year,” Mayor Harding said.
“Our growth is exponential, with 8,184 new residents in 2023-2024 and 6,228 in 2022-2023.
“Ripley topped the list when it comes to the fastest growing suburbs, with 649 new dwellings and 2,024 new residents over the 12 months, followed by Spring Mountain which had 523 new dwellings and 1,597 new residents.
“Redbank Plains, South Ripley and White Rock round out the top five, with White Rock bumping Collingwood Park out in the only change from last year’s list.
“Council has a critical role to play in ensuring local housing approvals and supply continues to grow, as our population remains on track to increase to more than 500,000 by 2046.
“We are getting on with this job, with 3,169 new dwellings across the city in 2024-2025, an increase of 8.1 per cent on the previous year.
“During this time of significant growth as more people want to enjoy the family-orientated and pleasant lifestyle that Ipswich offers, we are taking measures to protect the way of life our residents have enjoyed for generations.
“Council’s 2025-2025 Budget outlines $165 million in capital works, projected to grow to almost $200 million in 2026-2027 and $211 million the year after, so that our roads network and other assets continue to grow alongside our community.
“We also continue to advocate to other levels of government for traffic-busting initiatives such as a public transport corridor between Ipswich and Springfield Central, a second inner-city Bremer River crossing and critical upgrades to our major arterials.”
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee Chairperson Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said Ipswich’s growth is set to continue in 2025-2026.
“Across 2024-2025, there were 2,120 lots created and 4,060 lots approved by Ipswich City Council, highlighting our strong position to supply much-needed housing, particularly as new measures encouraging infill development, dual occupancy and higher density housing outlined in Ipswich City Plan 2025 are now in effect,” Cr Antoniolli said.
“There was also a 30.3 per cent increase in development applications lodged and a 10.8 per cent increase in development applications determined in 2024-2025 compared to the previous year.
“The momentum for growth into the new financial year is strong, with the Planning and Regulatory Services Quarterly Report Card for April to June showing an additional 2,098 people moved to Ipswich in the three months to 30 June.
“Spring Mountain, Ripley, White Rock, Redbank Plains and South Ripley were the fastest growing suburbs during this three-month period.
“Council also responded to 20,862 customer requests for regulatory services in 2024-2025 – a 20.8 per cent rise from the previous year – including illegal parking, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, unregistered dogs and overgrown private properties.”
The Planning and Regulatory Services Annual Report Card for 2024-2025 also shows:
- 3,850 community clinic immunisations undertaken
- 36,432 dog registrations
- 35.94km of additional pathways and bikeways created
- 26.24km of additional local roads
- 1.13ha of additional local parkland
- 11,660 plumbing inspections
- 610 building inspections
- 1,959 environmental health inspections
The full Planning and Regulatory Services Annual Report Card for 2024-2025 can be read here.
The Planning and Regulatory Services Quarterly Report Card for April to June also shows:
- 1,414 community clinic immunisations undertaken
- 12.58km of additional pathways and bikeways created
- 9.47km of additional local roads
- 3,153 plumbing inspections
- 437 food licence and other health inspections
- 137 building inspections
The full Planning and Regulatory Services Quarterly Report for April to June can be read here.
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.