IPSWICH is positioned as the industrial powerhouse of the southeast according to the latest development report from the Property Council of Australia.
The Council’s report No Room To Grow – Industrial Land Supply & Vacancy identifies Ipswich as the key industrial land supply in South East Queensland, with the potential to unlock more industrial land than Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan and Moreton Bay combined.
The report predicts greater Brisbane will run out of industrial land within five years, with 210ha of industrial land set to be absorbed each year.
Almost 8000ha of potential industrial land supply has been identified in Ipswich, dwarfing the capacity of other southeast local government areas which can only unlock about 1000ha each.
The Scenic Rim has more than 2000ha of potential supply, located within the Bromelton area.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the report from the Property Council of Australia came as no surprise, as major businesses continued to gravitate to Ipswich to take advantage of the city’s population growth, proximity to major freight routes, as well as its current supply of industrial land.
“Ipswich has more greenfield industrial land on offer than any other council in South East Queensland, and as the region grows into the future, we continue to offer opportunities to expand our industrial footprint,” Mayor Harding said.
“In recent years, we have welcomed major investment from global and national companies such as Coles, Australia Post, Loreal, Suntory Oceania and Bapcor as they relocate their Queensland manufacturing and distribution centres to Ipswich.
“Most recently, we announced the arrival of Officeworks to Ipswich as they commenced construction of a new 77,100sqm facility at Redbank Motorway Estate.”
Cr Harding said the location was a strategic choice, with the site enabling Officeworks access to 2.8 million consumers within a 60-minute drive.
As the region continues to grow, Ipswich offers the ability to unlock new industrial opportunities such as the Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area.
“This is one of Council’s highest advocacy priorities, calling on the Queensland Government to deliver catalyst infrastructure to accelerate this site’s potential,” Cr Harding said.
“The Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area has the potential to unlock 3500 full time jobs for Ipswich residents across high-value industries.”
Queensland Property Council Executive Director Jess Caire said the region needed a clear plan to provide well-located industrial land across South East Queensland to avoid an inflationary impact on the cost of goods.
“Queensland is in the midst of responding to a housing crisis, delivering on the Olym pics and constructing a record infrastructure pipeline, however, one shortage that does not receive the attention it deserves is our critical undersupply of employment land,” Ms Caire said.
