The story of Ipswich’s future is one of sustainable development and is intrinsically interwoven with the story of South East Queensland’s future. Ipswich City Council has prepared a master plan for Ipswich 2020 and Beyond. The plan for Ipswich’s future, as a City of Centres and Job Generators, is designed to achieve Ipswich’s vision to be recognised universally as a great place to live, work and visit.

Ipswich 2020 and Beyond is an opportunity to identify and build the kind of city that the community wants, knowing that Ipswich and the region are changing at an ever increasing rate. This project will assist in informing the State Government, investors, property developers, and the incoming population of the community’s expectations in terms of the investments required, the type of housing and urban form being sought, and the values held within the community that the community wishes to protect and enhance.

The foundations of the plan focus on a network of central business districts, major centres, large enterprise parks and general business areas connected by an efficient transport network to quality residential and recreational areas. The city is framed by attractive and protected greenspace (comprising 20% of the total area of the City), rural pastoral areas (25%) and good quality agricultural land in the Bremer, Warrill and associated valleys (13%).

Implementation of the plan will facilitate efficiencies in transport, water, energy, communications and general service delivery. It will deliver sustainable community well being, generate jobs, facilitate community capacity building, substantially reduce per capita vehicular commuting, improve our waterways and protect our greenspace, leading to enhanced social, economic and environmental outcomes for the community.

Ipswich’s population is currently 140,000 in a city of 1,207 square kilometres. Ipswich is experiencing strong growth at about 3.5% per annum. Lot approvals in recent years have been 966 (2001-02), 2,526 (2002-03), 4,324 (2003-04) and 4,500 (2004-05). Ipswich City Council and Queensland Government expectations are that population growth will continue and increase to 2016. The Queensland Government’s South East Queensland Regional Plan projects Ipswich’s population will grow to 317,000 by 2026.

Ipswich City Council is clearly focussed on complementing the South East Queensland Regional Plan and creating successful communities by generating jobs to support population growth, through the development of Ipswich Central (CBD), Springfield Town Centre, Ripley Town Centre, two universities, Australia’s first Defence Super Base at Amberley, Ipswich Aerospace Park at Amberley and several regionally significant commercial and industrial parks.

Find out more about the key infrastructure and major job and economic development catalysts central to the Ipswich 2020 and Beyond master plan, either underway, or under consideration, by viewing the Ipswich 2020 and Beyond Foundation Synopsis. You will see the largest per capita development program being undertaken in any City in Australia.