South East Queensland is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, and the City of Ipswich sits at the forefront of this incredible growth.

Ipswich has held the title of Queensland’s fastest growing city for some years. With a population that is set to more than double in the coming decades, this growth is showing no signs of slowing down.

So, what is fuelling our population boom? Ipswich is a hub for young families and couples looking for an affordable and laid-back lifestyle. With plenty of parks, playgrounds and green space to offer, and ideally located in the south-east, people love living in Ipswich.

While this growth is a massive opportunity, it comes with the challenge of ensuring our residents have access to high value jobs and opportunities right on their doorstep. Ipswich City Council is up for this challenge with the launch of its new Economic Development Strategy 2023-2027.

It is our roadmap to using the city’s rapid growth and prime location as economic leverage. It shapes how we can build the economy of the future, attract and retain diverse, and high value jobs, and drive economic uplift and prosperity for our businesses and our community.

Importantly, it identifies what makes us unique. What we can offer investors that other parts of the south-east, Queensland, or even Australia, cannot.

Ipswich is emerging as a destination of choice for families looking for a place to call home and businesses looking to invest in South East Queensland. It is home to the largest supply of greenfield industrial land in the south-east corner.

We are strategically located at the nexus of the Ipswich, Centenary, Cunningham and Warrego highways and serviced by two heavy rail lines, with a future extension already in planning.

Home to Australia’s largest air force base, RAAF Base Amberley, we are Queensland’s growing defence hub. The defence industry and associated supply chains contribute $780 million in exports to our economy and employ 10 percent of the Ipswich population.

Our new Economic Development Strategy is cementing our close relationships with many of our defence partners such as Rheinmetall in Redbank, TAE Aerospace in Bundamba, and Boeing in Amberley.

We are home to South East Queensland’s youngest population yet we are the state’s oldest provincial city. We are known for our iconic heritage features but embrace our new and growing places, spaces and precincts.

Ipswich’s Nicholas Street Precinct is a great example of this. We have invested more than $300 million to transform the dilapidated Ipswich Mall into a world class dining and entertainment precinct in the civic heart of our city. In a first for Australia, Council has taken control of the future of its city centre by owning, developing and managing its own mixed-use civic, hospitality and leisure precinct. Our community is reaping the benefits of this investment.

More than 45 new businesses have opened in and around the Nicholas Street Precinct since 2021, buoyed by Council’s proactive approach to reinvigorating the Ipswich CBD.

At the centre of this investment is Queensland’s next HOYTS Cinemas alongside the historic Commonwealth Hotel, a 112 year old pub brought back to life, brick by brick. Both are set to open next year, bringing back our once bustling night-time economy.

Once complete, the Nicholas Street Precinct will welcome more than 40 new hospitality and entertainment offerings.

As the region’s focus shifts towards 2032, Council’s new Economic Development Strategy is primed to build on the incredible momentum we know the Games can deliver.

It’s hard to believe that Ipswich will eventually outgrow the Sunshine Coast region by population. This incredible growth will drive the workforce, volunteers and local spectators that will be needed to support a successful 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The City of Ipswich also has an important role to play in the 2032 Games. Council’s newest asset, Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield Central, will become Ipswich Stadium and take its place in hosting some of the world’s best athletes as they compete for gold.

The next decade will represent a golden era for the south-east, and Ipswich is well placed to take full advantage of the opportunities before us. I am proud to say we have big plans for the future of Ipswich.

By 2027, we want to see 11,500 new jobs in Ipswich. We will boost our Gross Regional Product by $6.5 billion. We are ready to take our place as the economic powerhouse of South East Queensland.

Ipswich has a rich history and an exciting future. We are a city that understands its full economic potential and is charting its own course to achieve our vision for the future.