Trade leaders visit Ipswich
I recently welcomed Queensland’s Trade and Investment Commissioners from India, the Middle East, South Korea, Taiwan and the ASEAN region to Ipswich.
Their visit brought valuable insights into emerging markets and the opportunities ahead.
It also gave our local business community the chance to connect directly with international trade leaders.
Ipswich is on track to be Queensland’s fastest growing city over the next two decades.
Our $15 billion economy is expanding at 4.2 per cent – double the national rate – which is a clear sign of our city’s economic strength and momentum.
With this growth comes challenges – but council continues to make headway in our advocacy to ensure that Ipswich receives the services and connectivity our fast-growing community deserves.
It’s important that we continue to take every opportunity we can to sell the advantages of doing business in Ipswich beyond the city’s boundaries.
Update on Springfield Central to Ipswich Central public transport corridor
The Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor is one of council’s Regionally Significant Projects and a priority advocacy project.
Infrastructure Australia – the Australian Government’s independent advisor on nationally significant infrastructure investment – included the project on its Infrastructure Priority List for the first time in 2020.
Six years later, the project is retained in the latest Infrastructure Australia 2026 Priority Project List released last month.
A $2.5 million tripartite commitment was secured as part of the SEQ City Deal towards the Preliminary Evaluation, with a further $7.5 million commitment for the Detailed Business Case.
The Options Analysis was completed in late 2024 and provided to the Queensland Government for review.
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has since finalised a Preliminary Evaluation of the Options Analysis in mid-2025 and sought council’s support to now progress to a Detailed Business Case.
That support was given by council at its March Ordinary Meeting, with a commitment to continue to advocate for the necessary project funding. I look forward to this important project moving to the next stage.
Ipswich receives positive credit assessment
Our ongoing focus on responsible financial management continues to pay off with council receiving a positive credit assessment from the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC).
The QTC completed a credit review process for council in February, affirming its credit rating as moderate with a neutral outlook.
The moderate rating and neutral outlook reflect council’s growing ratepayer base, sound cash reserves and high proportion of council-controlled revenue.
Overall, this is a positive credit assessment given the challenging and uncertain economic times council is currently operating in.
Just like our residents and businesses, council faces rising inflation, higher interest rates, cost-of-living pressures and soaring fuel prices.
The neutral outlook reflects the expectation that there are no known foreseeable events over the next two years that would have an impact on council’s capacity to meet its financial commitments or result in a change in rating.
This result means our community can have confidence in council’s financial stability.
Bluey and Bingo coming to Ipswich
Get ready to go into ‘Dance Mode’, Bluey and Bingo are coming back to Ipswich for the Easter school holidays.
The famous blue heeler siblings are just one part of fun-filled activities council has planned right across the city.
These kinds of activations are important not only for residents but also to draw more visitors to our region. The positive spin-off effects are significant for our local economy.
Bluey and Bingo will perform three shows each day from Tuesday 7 April to Friday 10 April in the Nicholas Street Precinct.
They will be complemented by a range of activities on offer at Ipswich Libraries, Ipswich Art Gallery and through council’s extremely popular Active and Healthy program.
I encourage you to check them out and wish you a happy Easter.