Ipswich major projects stalled: No developments are shovel-ready

Residents in Queensland’s fastest growing city have been waiting years for vital infrastructure to come to fruition.

Corrupt former Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale.

Major projects crucial to the future of the fastest growing city in Queensland are stalled in planning stages with construction still no closer to starting after years of waiting, a trend which Ipswich’s federal MP attributed to a hangover from the Paul Pisasale administration.

The grand announcements accompanied by artists’ impressions of flashy new developments presented by the city’s corrupt former mayor were far from the reality behind the scenes.

One of the options for the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct.

After 18 months under administration, the new Ipswich City Council identified its first list of regionally significant projects it felt was integral for the rapidly-growing region.

The council is seeking funding from the state and federal governments in order to advance its hit list of projects to become shovel-ready.

These include a train line from Ipswich Central to Springfield Central, which needs $15 million to complete pre-investment planning for an options analysis and a detailed business case.

In the short term the council is asking $1 million to supplement the same amount already committed by the state government.

A second Bremer River crossing into the CBD to provide an alternative to the congested David Trumpy Bridge needs $2.5 million to complete the detailed business case.

Plans for the Ipswich Central to Springfield Central public transport corridor.

Another $2.5 million is required to fund the detailed business case for the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct.

The council also identified two major road projects, on the Cunningham and the Warrego highways, which have been held back by state government delays as priorities.

“These are projects that require government funding and support to be delivered,” Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said.

“Currently, all of these projects are in the planning stages, and require critical investment from the state and federal governments to proceed.

“While they may not be shovel-ready, they are certainly shovel-worthy.

“Council is actively advocating to all levels of government to ensure these projects maintain momentum and advance to the shovel-ready stage as soon as possible.”

Blair MP Shayne Neumann.

The Ipswich local government area is the fastest growing in the state with its population of 240,000 expected to balloon to 557,000 in the next 20 years.

Blair MP Shayne Neumann said he was “disappointed” there were no major projects in the city that were shovel-ready.

“I will work with the council as I have done over the years and I appreciate the cooperation and consultation with the mayor and councillors with the issues going forward,” he said.

“That’s a historical legacy and the current council is having to play catch up. I appreciate they’re in a difficult position.

“The current council is having to deal with the reality. There was a credibility gap between what the previous council administration used to say and what they did.

“In terms of big projects there was a credibility gap.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Ipswich major projects stalled: No developments are shovel-ready