IT’S hard to escape the fact that Ipswich’s population is increasing rapidly, and it comes with growing pains.
In the Ripley suburbs, population increased by 2700 in 12 months. Citywide the number is 4308, taking the population to 263,757.
We’ve heard ad nauseum about the need for new housing to be built at a quicker rate, but not much about how this will be achieved.
There’s been another call this week to fast-track planning approvals for residential and industrial land in Ipswich.
Thao Le is developer of new factory units in Briggs Rd. She claims the south-east is about to witness the largest interstate migration of tradies since World War II and only Ipswich has the available residential and commercial land to cope.
Le also said building for the Olympics was effectively Queensland’s Snowy Mountains Scheme.
Mayor Teresa Harding noted this week Ipswich had a growth rate of 3 per cent making it one of the fastest growing areas in the south-east in the next 20 years.
To prevent the city grinding to a halt, all levels of government need to stop talking and start doing. Anyone sick of hearing about business cases?
You know the list. It starts with Ipswich to Springfield Central rail via Ripley, Norman Street Bridge, and Amberley and Mount Crosby Rd interchanges. This list is long and now more urgent than ever to address.
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