New Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has outlined her visions for the city, including an Ipswich Central to Springfield Central public transport corridor which will see homes, businesses and industry along the rail line to bring jobs and investment and cope with the expected population explosion.
Mayor Harding was speaking to nearly 100 business and community representatives via a zoom meeting arranged by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night in what was her first major public event since being elected to the role with Ipswich City Council.
She said one of the key jobs of the new council was to identify and prioritise regionally significant projects; work with project leads and agencies on the prioritisation of projects; and develop and coordinate advocacy and stakeholder plans.
She said the top five included:
- Ipswich Central to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor
- Norman Street Bridge
- Ebenezer Willowbank Intermodal and Industrial Estate
- North Ipswich Entertainment Precinct
- SEQ City Deal and 2032 SEQ Olympic Bid
“By 2036 the population in the corridor between Ipswich Central and Springfield Central is projected to grow from approximately 95,000 to 259,000,” Mayor Harding said.
“The impacts of not delivering the Ipswich Central to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor will see economic growth constrained, population growth not achieved, increased social inequity and barriers to opportunity, unacceptable levels of congestion, increased environmental costs and increased expenditure on road upgrades.”
She told the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce she was “preaching to the converted” about how vital it was to have a transport corridor featuring a rail line extended from Springfield Central to Ipswich Central (taking in growth spots such as Ripley, Deebing Heights and Yamanto) and improved roads to feature more buses.
“Council has invested and prepared a Strategic Business Case to move this project forward. We are required by the State and Federal Governments to provide a Preliminary Business Case and then a Detailed Business Case, and that will cost about $5 million in total. We are seeking investment from the State and Federal Governments for these next vital steps,” she said.
Mayor Harding said the importance of people living and working along the rail line would mean people spending money at shops and businesses within the region, something that was needed more than ever in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She revealed there had been a reticence by State and Federal Governments to invest in Ipswich because they “did not have trust” in the previous city council. She said that would change with our new council and the council’s transparency and integrity hub which would provide real data on where ratepayers’ money was spent.
Mayor Harding also dealt with council’s rapid and expansive response to the Covid-19 crisis, local business and industry development – including sustained focus on the booming defence industry – and how she would make her council the “most open, honest, truthful and one that does its job properly”.
In a question-and-answer session, including one from another of the city’s most influential female leaders Raynuha Sinnathamby, Managing Director of Springfield City Group, the mayor covered a wide range of topics despite being only 15 days in the job.
Subject matter included the staple rates, roads and rubbish; waste, recycling, health and how to attract business to the region.
She was asked how to mend the Ipswich-Springfield divide.
“The transport corridor is vital,” she said.
“There is a bit of a misconception that all our money is spent in Springfield … but developers have spent a lot of money in Springfield and previous councils have taken a lot of kudos for that.
“The transparency and integrity hub will address some of that. People will see exactly how and where their money has been spent.”
Asked about the importance of defence contracts for Ipswich, Mayor Harding said council would continue to pursue defence industry investment from Canberra, similar to Rheinmental’s multi-billion-dollar armoured vehicle centre at Redbank. She said the significance was defence provided long-term contracts, good-paying jobs, a wide variety of employment and that would ensure more money is invested and spent in Ipswich.
Mayor Harding also dealt with providing infrastructure for a population expected to more than double from its current 230,000 by 2040. She said the loss of $78 million by the previous council was “coming home to roost” and many urgent projects could not be afforded at the moment, however the new council is working out an approach as part of the budget process.
“We are trying to attract businesses to set up their headquarters or hubs here. We want to attract a wide variety of industries here. We want people to live and work in Ipswich,” she said.
Ipswich businesses praised for helping each other out in a crisis
Mayor Teresa Harding has paid tribute to the incredible spirit of cooperation between the business community in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.
She cited the example of Springfield Central’s Orion Hotel – closed down because of state and federal restrictions – and how it was offering a free service to other businesses via its huge electronic billboard at the shopping centre.
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce has promoted the offer: “Is your business still open but just working a little differently? Here’s a fantastic opportunity to advertise your business in a prominent location for free. Thanks to the Orion Hotel’s generosity, we have organised for your business to be advertised on their large LED sign on the outside of their building. The sign is located on North Star Crossing.”
Mayor Harding said it “gave me goosebumps”.
“Businesses are going through tough times but are still there for each other. I think that is amazing,” she said.
Mayor Harding thanked Orion Hotel manager Sarah Knopke, who stood for Division 2 at the recent council election, and said some businesses were making little or no money in the Covid-19 crisis but still wanted to help the community.
“It is very inspiring”
For small business owners who would like to take this opportunity to advertise, please provide your image in 1024 x 576 pixels and send it to Leila Stewart at [email protected].
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A new mayor and here we go again..SPRINGFIELD, SPRINGFIELD, SPRINGFIELD. There is more to Ipswich than SPRINGFIELD. Tired of hearing about SPRINGFIELD and all the progress it receives while the remaining suburbs get VERY LITTLE !!.
What a brilliant, knowledgeable and relevant article. While i agree with the transit line between Springfield and Ipswich and the benefits of bring defence jobs to the area, there is still smaller infrastructure projects which could be considered. In particular, those that are seasonally effected due to weather such as storm drains that are full and culverts that need redesigning due to age.
I am looking forward to the transparency of this new look Council and hope i’m surprised for the right reasons.
How much is expected to be spent on the transparency and integrity hub?