Kelmeny Fraser
Sunday Mail
November 07, 2009 11:00pm
IPSWICH'S transformation into the City of Opportunity is powering ahead, as several major firms prepare to open their doors and a multi-million dollar remake of the CBD gathers pace.
The city, west of Brisbane, has been described as the "best investment in Queensland" by Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale. Now council has begun its hunt for a private partner to rebuild the city centre into a modern retail and commercial hub.
Council swooped in to buy the run-down CBD last year from its overseas-based owners in a surprise move that positioned ratepayers as the owners of the $45 million Ipswich City Square.
Cr Pisasale said it had since more than doubled occupancy to about 80 per cent and he has given a guarantee that every retail and commercial space would have a tenant by June next year.
A government department is expected to sign a contract next week to move into the CBD's Tower Central, built by developer John De Martini as part of the renovation of the post office building.
The State Department of Natural Resources has already moved in, while a new restaurant and coffee shop have signed up to open in the building early next year upon the completion of renovations.
Work is underway to house the Commonwealth Bank on the building's ground floor.
The council is in talks with several companies it hopes to partner with in rebuilding the CBD, which could include buildings of up to 15 storeys, boosting retail space from 30,000sq m to 300,000sq m. It is lobbying for government to shift its operations to the area, targeting the tax office as well as Queensland Rail.
"I don't see it as a risk, I see it as a big opportunity," Cr Pisasale said of the CBD purchase.
"When we bought it the CBD was dead and the owners had determined they were not going to spend any money.
"We now have a serious footprint on the CBD. Sixteen years ago if someone came to Ipswich to do a development I would hang on to their legs and beg them to stay. We don't have to beg anymore."
In west Ipswich, business is busy at the new Home HQ shopping centre, where Spotlight, a new coffee shop, Trade Secret and Fantastic Furniture have opened.
Hundreds of new jobs are also set to be created across town in the Citiswich business park with the opening of two major warehouses in coming months.
Work on the $17.8 million Australian Pharmaceutical Industries warehouse will be finished on Tuesday in time for an opening in about two weeks. It will employ 180 people and service 720 pharmacies across two states.
Across the road from the massive 18,000sq m shed, work continues on the Reject Shop warehouse to be completed next year.
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