THIS year’s record $779 million Ipswich City Council Budget invests money where it matters most for Queensland’s fastest-growing city, with children set to play in upgraded parks, families travelling on safer roads and local sporting clubs enjoying improved facilities.
Nine out of every 10 capital works dollars will be spent in the suburbs, an increase from last year’s 80 per cent, delivering more than $210 million for roads, parks, sporting precincts and community facilities in the areas where Ipswich’s population is growing and welcoming residents fastest.
Mayor Teresa Harding said this year’s Budget delivered Council’s largest-ever three-year Capital Works Program while providing meaningful cost-of-living relief for residents.
“This is a Budget for all of Ipswich, with 90 per cent of the Capital Works Program to be spent outside of the Ipswich CBD,” Mayor Harding said.
“This Budget invests money where it matters, recognising cost-of-living pressures facing local households while respons-ibly managing the rapid growth shaping our city.
“It’s a future-focused approach aimed at allowing our city to grow and prosper, while maintaining some of the lowest rates and charges in South East Queensland.”
The Budget includes more than $210 million in capital works this financial year, with an additional $100 million injected into infrastructure spending over three years to create Council’s largest-ever Capital Works Program worth $672 million.
Among the biggest projects are $108 million over three years for Stages 1 and 2 of the Ripley Rd upgrade, $35 million over two years to complete the North Ipswich Reserve Western Grandstand, $22.4 million for Stage 2 of the Springfield Parkway upgrade and $11.5 million for upgrades to Tivoli Sporting Complex.
Other major investments include $8.8 million towards the School Rd upgrade at Redbank Plains, $8.1 million for improvements at Limestone Park, $5 million for a new sports facility adjacent to Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield Central and $3 million to upgrade the Marburg Detention Basin for improved flood mitigation.
In a boost for household budgets, residents will also receive a free waste disposal voucher from September, allowing up to 500kg of waste to be taken to a resource recovery centre.
The average general rate rise will be 5.45 per cent, equating to an average increase in total rates and charges of $2.99 a week, compared to an average of $3.68 per week per household in the Budget the year before.
“We understand any increase is challenging for ratepayers right now who, like Council, are feeling the impact of rising costs,” Mayor Harding said.
“We have worked hard to keep the increase as low as possible while delivering the essential services our community not only expects but deserves.”
Council also identified $6.8 million in operational efficiencies, allowing those savings to be redirected into community services, maintenance and infrastructure.
The Budget forecasts a $9.2 million surplus while reducing Council’s overall debt by $23 million.
Finance and Governance Committee Chair Cr Paul Tully said Council had maintained key concessions for those needing support.
The Budget allocates $95 million towards maintaining and expanding the city’s road network, $82.4 million for sporting and community facilities, $68.1 million for resource recovery, $24 million for environment and sustainability initiatives, $13.7 million for libraries and $9.7 million for arts and cultural services.
“Whether you’re in Rosewood and Thagoona in the west, Redbank Plains and Springfield in the east, Ripley in the south, Tivoli in the north or one of the many beautiful suburbs in between, this Budget delivers for you,” Mayor Harding said.
