With State Election campaigning in full swing, Ipswich City Council has amplified its calls for critical construction funding to deliver a much-needed public transport link between Ipswich and Springfield Central which could accelerate the delivery of 20,000 new and affordable homes for Queenslanders.
The Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor, or I2S for short, is a mass-transit public transport line which would feature nine stations connecting the growth areas of Ripley, Redbank Plains and Yamanto with the Ipswich and Brisbane city centres.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding and councillors have constructed a temporary train station at Ripley Town Centre, one of the proposed I2S stations, to drive their message home as part of Council’s We Can’t Wait State Election advocacy campaign.
“The Queensland Government first identified the need for an Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor in 2006 – almost 20 years ago,” Mayor Harding said.
“Ipswich is now forecast to grow at a faster rate than any other council in Queensland over the next 20 years, with our population set to more than double in this time. Our community simply can’t wait any longer.
“Seventy percent of the growth in Ipswich is occurring along this critical corridor, yet most of these booming suburbs are serviced by hourly bus services or not at all.”
Proposed I2S stations include the University of Southern Queensland, Yamanto, Deebing South, Ripley North, Ripley Town Centre, Swanbank and Redbank Plains, while connecting to the existing Ipswich and Springfield Central train stations.
In doing so, I2S would provide an efficient alternative to car use for more than 200,000 people and has the potential to accelerate the construction of 20,000 new and affordable homes along this corridor alone.
Council has successfully secured up to $10 million through the SEQ City Deal across three levels of government to undertake the preliminary evaluation and detailed business case for the I2S project, however there is currently no commitment to project construction.
“While Ipswich’s population continues to grow rapidly, there is no current commitment on the table to continue this project beyond planning and design and into the construction phase.
“There is a real risk that the planning for this critical piece of transport infrastructure will sit on the shelf until 2032 and beyond, despite the project already having the support of all levels of government.
“Council is calling on all parties in the State Election to seriously consider its commitment to managing growth, unlocking affordable housing, and ensuring our region keeps moving. We can’t wait any long for an Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport solution,” said Mayor Harding.
Goodna resident and spokesperson for public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track, Robert Dow, welcomed council’s spotlight on the urgent need to fill the public transport gap in Ipswich.
“Better public transport between Ipswich and Springfield Central is absolutely critical as this city grapples with growth,” Mr Dow said.
“We believe that an extension of the rail line from Ipswich to Ripley is a realistic, immediate ask.
“From there, it may be a significant extension of the bus network, or it may be a rail connection.
“Regardless, we need better connections, more frequent services and more reliable services.
“We also need governments to work together and to have a go – I have signed up to Ipswich City Council’s We Can’t Wait campaign, which includes the I2S project, and encourage others to do so.”
Residents can add their voices to the We Can’t Wait campaign in the lead-up to the State Election on 26 October by visiting wecantwait.com.au and joining the “waitlist”.
Authorised by Sonia Cooper of Ipswich City Council, 1 Nicholas St Ipswich.