Attractive lifestyle

Ipswich is a family friendly city, with affordable housing, more than 500 parks, high quality schooling and educational institutions. Residents and visitors to Ipswich enjoy a vibrant social life with restaurants, cafés, international hotels, cinemas and, in particular, exhibitions at the Ipswich Art Gallery, one of the most visited regional art galleries in Australia.

Population projections indicate that the Ipswich between 2008 and 2026 is expected to grow by 4.6% per annum to approximately 354,956 people in 2026. This is compared to approximately 1.7% per annum growth for Queensland. Population growth is expected to be driven by significant employment growth in Ipswich LGA over the next 18 years as well as the development of a number of large residential precincts such as the Greater  Springfield and Ripley Valley Developments.

Eventful Ipswich

 Ipswich City and its regions has much to offer both visitors and residents. Cultural events play an important role in highlighting Ipswich's multicultural community. The annual Ipswich Festival includes free concerts, exhibitions and activities. Take one of the City's many heritage trails and you will discover grand heritage homes, legendary pubs, beautiful parks and gardens.

The country area just outside Ipswich, known as the Scenic Rim, offers the chance to explore country towns, wineries, charming pubs and antique stores. Why not ride a steam train, go bushwalking, cycling or canoeing and spend the night in a luxurious country retreat. For the adventurous, Ipswich offers many action packed activities including hot air ballooning, skydiving, paintball, golf, motor sport and much more.

Residential Developments

A number of residential developments are planned to cater for a growing population.

Springfield is a fully master-planned community with a population expected to reach over 100,000 by 2030. It includes Education City (lifelong learning) and Orion, the largest shopping centre development in the Southern Hemisphere.

Our planned communities, such as Ripley Valley, are identified as the solution to South East Queensland's population growth with capacity for 110,000 residents.

Statistics and Facts

Ipswich is strategically located in South East Queensland, which has a population of 155,000 and is located 1 hour from the Port of Brisbane. Ipswich is the oldest provincial city in Queensland, and this is reflected by the grace and magnitude of more than 6,000 heritage listed sites.

Ipswich boasts 43% of available industrial land in South East Queensland. The The city is forging ahead in the information age and is becoming an information rich community. There are many exciting investment opportunities in the region.

Major Developments

Our city is growing rapidly, buoyed by an increasing influx of new, successful businesses eager to take advantage of all the opportunities that a dynamic city has to offer.

The State Government has released the SEQ Reqional Plan, which identifies an additional 1 million people in the SEQ Reqion over the next 20 years.

Ipswich already has in place the strategic planning framework which enables delivery of the Regional Plan and Industrial Plans.

• Goodna Bypass, 2.3 billion
• Western corridor Recycled water project, $1.7 billion
• C- 17 Globe master, $2 billion
• Amberley RAAF Base Redevelopment. Employment to grow from 3,500 to 6,500 by 2010
• Stage 2 - $285 million, estimated completion 2007- 2009
• Stage 3 - $331.5 million, estimated completion 2010
• Amberley Aerospace Park $170 million
• Ipswich River link - $200 million 1500 jobs
• Extension of Centenary Highway (Springfield - Ripley- Yamanto), $345 million
• Centenary Highway duplication and Rail extension Darra to Springfield, $840 million
• Ipswich Logan Motorway Interchange Upgrade $255 million
• Warrego Highway to Cunningham Highway Connection, $86 million
• Darra to Springfield Rail Extension $320 million
• Southern Regional Water pipeline - $650 - $ 700 million
• Swan bank Enterprise park $470 million, 700 jobs during construction, and 750 jobs during operation.
• Aspire Apartments $65 million
• Hotel Gloria - $50 million
• Orion Shopping Centre - $155 million
• Capral $120 million and 330 jobs
• Australian Seamless tube project, $545 million, 950 jobs
• Ripley Valley Residential development - 120,000 residents by 2030
• $1 billion Citiswitch/ Lang Walker

River heart

• Partnership between Council and State Government to revitalise the Ipswich CBD for retail, recreation and cultural experiences using the Bremer River as a vibrant component

River link

• $200 million retail development - over 135 retail and specialty shops and 2300 car spaces - the majority undercover
• River front precinct comprising restaurants and cafes
• River walk around the site with terraced grounds to the river
• Pedestrian walkway using historical rail buttresses over river

CBD Office Accommodation

2 Bell Street

• 5000 sqm office and retail space. $14 million refurbishment completed Aug 07

Dimmey's Plaza, Limestone Street

• $20 million completion December 2007
• 7000m2 of commercial office and retail space

225 Brisbane Street - "Top of Town"

• 1200m2 office building refurbishment
• $4 million to be completed June 2008

Ipswich Post Office Redevelopment, Limestone Street

• $20 million, 4500m2 retail and office development

CBD Government Support

Ipswich Courthouse

• 5 Storey, 8 magistrates court rooms, 3 district court rooms, police watch house, public waiting area and courtyard
• Completion due 2009

Department of Families

• Purpose built two levels building, Brisbane Street Ipswich

Department of Disabilities

• Offers speech, language and occupational therapy - adult and child services
• Completed by July 2008 with approximately 200 staff.

CBD ACCOMODATION

Ipswich International Hotel

• $12 million development
• 7 levels, 81 luxury accommodation rooms
• conference facilities and restaurant
• opened April 2006

Aspire Apartments

• First high rise residential development in Ipswich - 18 levels.
• $65 million development
• 108 apartments with lap pool, gymnasium and ground floor retail shops overlooking the Bremer River

Hotel Gloria

• $50 million development
• 16 storey apartment with function and conference rooms
• 85 apartments and 127 hotel suites plus retail area
• 600 seat conference facilities

Quest Ipswich

• $7 million services apartments on Warwick Road
• 64 x studio, one, two and three bedroom self contained and serviced apartments

Tourism

Ipswich Tourism, providing you with all your travel and holiday information about Ipswich and the Scenic Rim.

Ipswich City has much to offer visitors including museums, art galleries, markets and craft stores. Take one of the City's many heritage trails and you will discover grand heritage homes, legendary pubs, beautiful parks and gardens. Relax and enjoy some fine dining in one of our many restaurants and cafes. 

The country area just outside Ipswich, known as the Scenic Rim, offers the chance to explore country towns, wineries, charming pubs and antique stores. Why not ride a steam train, go bushwalking or canoeing and spend the night in a luxurious country retreat.

For the adventurous, Ipswich offers many action packed activities including hot air ballooning, skydiving, paintball, golf, motor sport,

Why Do Business in Ipswich?

You can be part of Australia's most amazing economic and lifestyle success story ........... Ipswich.

Dynamic, historic Ipswich is the booming epicentre of unprecedented growth in South East Queensland, with a population set to double by 2026.

Relaxed lifestyle, outstanding investment and business opportunities, quality education, vibrant tourism offerings, a supportive community and progressive local government make Ipswich the destination of choice for families and enterpreneurs alike.

Ipswich is strategically positioned in South-East Queensland

• Centrally located on national road networks
• 45 minutes drive to downtown Brisbane
• 60 minutes drive to domestic and international sea and airports
• Access to the Sunshine and Gold Coasts via the Ipswich and Logan Motorways
• Electric rail access to Brisbane and the Gold Coast
• Easy access to Capital City facilities
•  

Industry opportunities

The strength of Ipswich's industry base is in its diversity, which provides extensive opportunities for economic growth and prosperity. Ipswich has a diverse economy led by professional services including finance, business, education, health and community providers. Industries well-established in Ipswich include:

• Aerospace
• Education
• Manufacturing
• Food processing
• Wine
• Transport
• Tourism
• Motorsport

Ipswich is growing and is projected to grow faster than the rest of South East

Queensland...

Since 2006, population in Ipswich has increased by approximately 14,052 to 157,701 persons, with the economy increasing from $4.2 billion to an estimated $4.9 billion gross value added production, an increase of 17.8% in two years. By 2026, the economy is projected to be $12.7 billion with a population of 354,956. Ipswich LGA is expected to be the states fastest growing local government area over the next 25 years, with an annual average growth rate of approximately 4.6% compared to the Queensland's 1.7

Ipswich will experience significant population and economic growth as large areas of residential and industrial land are developed and released to market...

Significant population, employment and regional economic development within Ipswich LGA is likely to be driven by a number of core developments and changes such as the development of Greater Springfield, the expansion of Amberley Air Force Base, the implementation of the Ipswich State Development Area (Ipswich CBD), and a range of industrial parks such as Carole Park, Citiswich (formerly Bremer Park), Redbank River Park, Swanbank Enterprise Park and Ebenezer Industrial Park.

Other developments are also anticipated such as retail developments, residential developments (e.g., Ripley Valley), as well as the expansion of Ipswich Hospital and the University of Queensland Ipswich campus, with many of these developments largely linked to and driven by population demands or growth in economic activity.

Significant population growth is anticipated to be driven by employment generation as well as the development and release of large residential areas to meet housing demand spill over from Southeast Queensland...