Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has welcomed the Federal Government’s multi-million dollar Budget injection into the region’s highest priority project, the Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor (I2S), and further investment into flood recovery and resilience measures.
Mayor Harding said this week’s Budget had delivered $3.4 million towards a detailed business case for I2S and another $3 million for flood recovery projects along the Bremer River and its tributaries.
“I have been fortunate to meet with senior members of the Albanese Government, such as Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt, on a number of occasions leading up to this Budget,” Mayor Harding said.
“I took the opportunity to stress the importance of public transport investment to support our growing city but also the more immediate support needed to prioritise flood recovery and resilience.”
Other Budget highlights for the region included:
- $12 million for the next stage of the Ipswich Motorway
- $12.6 million for the Springfield BioPark project, for the purchase of hi-tech manufacturing equipment
- $363.9 million across the next four years for the SEQ City Deal
“With the Options Analysis work for I2S only just kicking off, it is wonderful to see the Federal Government making a strong commitment to ensure this critical project keeps moving towards being construction-ready,” Mayor Harding said.
The Budget wish list had also included extra funding to upgrade Ipswich’s showground so it could be used as an emergency centre for residents forced from their homes during natural disasters.
Mayor Harding said the $4 million allocated in the Budget to improve the showground facilities showed the Commonwealth agreed about the significance of the project.
“As we saw in this year’s floods, many residents were forced from their homes when inundated with water and needed emergency accommodation and care,” Mayor Harding said.
“This funding will allow us to upgrade the Showground buildings and provide services that people need until they are able to return to their homes.”
Advocacy is an important role of council in representing the needs of the Ipswich community to decision makers in State and Federal governments.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to advocacy. But working at its best, advocacy combines elements of influencing policy, informing decision-making, and involving the community in the process.
Why is advocacy important for Ipswich?
By 2041, Ipswich is projected to have over 557,000 residents, more than doubling from its 2016 census population of 200,123. Ipswich’s rapid and unprecedented population growth requires an equal acceleration of investment in population-supporting infrastructure to ensure that Ipswich residents are afforded the same level of liveability and opportunity as residents in other regions.
Council’s regionally significant projects list is currently made up of six projects:
- Critical and Enabling Infrastructure
- Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area
- Ipswich Central Second River Crossing
- Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor
- North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct
- Waste and Circular Economy Transformation
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“The North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct is also a significant project for the region, and one that council had been championing for some time, so we are looking forward to getting started on the project,” Mayor Harding said.
“I would like to thank Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann and Federal Member for Oxley Milton Dick for delivering on their commitments to Ipswich, supporting our priorities and partnering with us to deliver outcomes for our residents.”
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