Mayor’s column | Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce monthly newsletter notes – September 2024

I would like to congratulate everyone who walked away with an award on Saturday night at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce Marquee Business Awards. It’s fantastic to see the vibrant business community in Greater Springfield continue to grow with new and established businesses being recognised for their work.

Brisbane Lions partnership brings rewards

A three-year partnership between Ipswich City Council and the Brisbane Lions will capitalise on the Lions AFLW team calling Brighton Homes Arena their home.

The partnership will bring immeasurable economic benefits to Ipswich with Brighton Homes Arena set to become a year-round attraction for sport, community and educational purposes.

Aspiring female athletes and sporting administrators will benefit from having access to formal development pathways through the Lions Institute of Business and Sport in collaboration with TAFE Queensland.

In addition to these benefits, council will have access to Lions AFLW players for community health programs, celebratory events and other important campaigns. We will also put Ipswich front and centra at the Gabba with presenting rights for a Brisbane Lions home game.

The partnership will be delivered over a phased three-year plan to strategically maximise the benefits. This is a major opportunity for Ipswich to put our city on the national stage as a tourism and sport destination, while delivering more community benefits.

We Can’t Wait

Seventy percent of Ipswich’s growth is occurring in areas, such as Redbank Plains and Ripley, that don’t have access to heavy rail. This is why council is advocating for a dedicated public transport connection between Ipswich and Springfield Central in the lead up to the October State election.

In 2022, I successfully secured a tripartite commitment in the SEQ City Deal for $10 million to undertake the planning and design needed to make the Ipswich to Springfield Central public transport corridor construction-ready.

This is now underway with the Department of Transport and Main Roads leading this work, supported by Ipswich City Council.

However, we don’t want to see progress on the critical project stop once the planning and design is completed.

This is why Council is advocating, through our We Can’t Wait campaign, to all parties and candidates in the upcoming State election for construction funding to be committed to this important project so we can keep it moving forward without delay.

Our city cannot wait for public transport between Ipswich and Springfield Central – where 70 percent of our city’s growth is occurring. If you agree that we can’t wait, make your voice heard and sign up to the waitlist, visit wecantwait.com.au.

Springfield tourism operators among Best of Queensland

The 2024 Best of Queensland Experiences results show that Ipswich is holding its own in tourism attractions.

Forty-seven Ipswich Tourism Operator Network (ITON) businesses were recently awarded the accolade for consistently delivering exceptional experiences in 2024.

Congratulations to the five Springfield businesses that made the list: Ballistic Springfield, Moselles Café and Restaurant, Orion Hotel, Quest Springfield Central Apartment Hotel and Springfield Lakes Hotel.

This result is testament to the dedication that goes into each of these businesses. The tourism industry in Ipswich brings in $300 million of revenue and over one million visitors each year.

These hardworking business operators make an important contribution to the economy, making Ipswich the tourism destination it is today