THE Ipswich to Springfield rail loop project will move to the next stage with Ipswich City Council approving the proposed scope of the project at last week’s council meeting.
As reported in Local Ipswich News in September, Transport and Main Roads handed down the Preliminary Evaluation report to Council in June, leaving State and Federal Members questioning the delay and calling for the release of the report.
Details of the report, which includes an options analysis, remained secret with Council closing the meeting to the public to discuss the report.
With Council agreeing to the scope and “progress or otherwise” of the project, a Detailed Business Case will now proceed to the State and Federal governments’ consideration.
The Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor is one of Council’s Regionally Significant Projects and a priority advocacy project for the city.
Council completed the Strategic Assessment / Stage One Business Case in 2020 and Infrastructure Australia included the project on its Infrastructure Priority List for the first time that same year.
The State Government allocated $1 million for an Options Analysis / Stage 2 Business Case in 2020.
The Federal Government secured a further $1 million for the project as part of the SEQ City Deal for an Options Analysis in 2022.
Ipswich City Council contributed $500,000 towards the Options Analysis.
A $7.5 million tripartite funding commitment was secured as part of the SEQ City Deal to progress a Detailed Business Case in 2024.
