July: Mayor’s message to the business community

To each and every small business owner in Greater Springfield, thank you and congratulations on another milestone! The beginning of FY 2021-22 means a new budget for Queensland’s first Small Business Friendly Council, with increased funds to empower local enterprise, reduce traffic congestion and build major infrastructure for our city’s bright future.

$3 million to support businesses and attract investment

Every one of our business and industry support initiatives starts with two key questions: how can we link current issues faced by local traders with better outcomes? And what are the right market signals to support the investment Ipswich needs? Our FY2021-22 budget delivers funding to showcase and support the city’s diverse range of industries, from food and agribusiness to health, advanced manufacturing, and the defence supply chain. $150,000 has been allocated to grants following the success of the Small Business Funding program, alongside $75,000 to cut red tape and an allocation to complete upgrades to Fire Station101.

$12.8 million to duplicate and upgrade the Springfield Parkway and Springfield Greenbank Arterial

The 2021-22 allocation to the biggest road project in Council’s history (at $46 million) reflects our commitment to reduce traffic congestion for the residents of Ipswich’s fastest-growing suburbs. Earth and stormwater works, retaining wall construction and service relocations are well underway for the duplication of Opossum Creek Bridge and the road stretches between the Centenary Highway and Eden Station Drive. The shared path from Topaz Road to Old Logan Road is now open for pedestrians and bicycle users, with service relocations and major construction works on stages two and three (Springfield Parkway from Topaz Road to just north of the Hymba Yumba Indigenous Community Hub, and Springfield Greenbank Arterial from Eden Station Drive to Sinnathamby Boulevard) scheduled to commence in early 2022.

$6.1 million to deliver city-shaping infrastructure in Springfield Central

The $70 million Springfield Central Stadium is set for completion at the turn in to FY2022-23, with a $5.6 million allocation from Council in the year ahead. COHA Group and the Lions provided an update on the project at the Brookwater Golf Club on 25 June, sharing that considerable earthworks are largely complete. For our part, Council will assist in facilitating opportunities for local procurement once the stadium is ready for athletes and fans.

Council has also allocated $500,000 to the Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor in our 2021-22 budget, reflecting ongoing discussions with Commonwealth Government counterparts to secure the remaining $1 million to progress the options analysis for this city-shaping project. Significant community and transport infrastructure is crucial to supporting world-class events, and all eyes are now on the International Olympic Committee as they decide on the host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games later this month.

Thanks again to each and every Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce member for your feedback and collaboration in FY2020/21. We look forward to empowering your business to take the next step in the year ahead.

As always, please reach out to our Local Business and Investment team at business@ipswich.qld.gov.au for any questions on Council support.