A draft vision statement for Ipswich Central is now open for community feedback, after council engaged with more than 3,500 business, residents and key stakeholders to develop a new framework for the precinct.
Revitalising Ipswich Central: A prospectus to guide change is open to comments from residents and ratepayers until 24 September, with the final document to guide future development and attract investment in the city’s CBD.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the precinct has so much to look forward to in the years ahead.
“With approximately 325,000 new community members set to join our city by 2041, now is the time to plan for a world-class city centre with a distinctive Ipswich identity,” Mayor Harding said.
“Our vision is for this precinct to stay at the heart of the city’s civic, cultural and economic activity.”
Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee Chair Councillor Marnie Doyle thanked businesses and residents for sharing their ideas and feedback.
“Council will keep listening to our valued stakeholders and connecting your needs to the investment agenda across government and the private sector,” Councillor Doyle said.
“Your ideas help council ensure our vision for the city aligns with the community’s needs.”
The new framework will be supported by action plans to drive change in the first of two core areas of Ipswich Central, Ipswich Centre Core and Top of Town, with other precincts to follow.
Council engaged with about 3,500 people to create the program, including 662 who participated in pop up events across Ipswich, 200 Ipswich Central businesses doorknocked and 43 local stakeholders who attended the Ipswich Central Business Briefing.
In addition to the engagement, 12 community members came together for the first meeting of the Ipswich Central Partnership Group in July. The group is made up of passionate Ipswich community members who want to contribute and guide change in Ipswich Central. The group will continue to meet monthly.
Revitalising Ipswich Central is now available for public comment at www.ipswichcentral.com.au
About Ipswich Central
Ipswich Central is about 840 hectares of land in the centre of Ipswich extending from Limestone and Queens Parks, including the Ipswich Showgrounds and USQ, West Ipswich, over to the North Ipswich Railyards, back down to North Ipswich Reserve, including both the grammar schools, St Mary’s and St Edmund’s.