Ipswich City Council’s Federal Election campaign is on the right track after it secured a $10 million tripartite commitment for the Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor (I2S) as part of the SEQ City Deal.
The I2S commitment is one of several announced for Ipswich as part of today’s $1.8 billion SEQ City Deal signing, delivering $28 million in local investment plus access to more than $400 million in regional funding pools.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said today’s SEQ City Deal signing signalled the start of two decades of investment in Ipswich from three levels of government working in collaboration.
“It is a great feeling to be able to kick off our Federal Election campaign with a commitment to our highest priority project,” Mayor Harding said.
“A tripartite commitment of $10 million to the Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor will fund both the Options Analysis and Detailed Business Case to move this project to shovel-ready status.
“The objective of the SEQ City Deal is to have three levels of government working in unity to supercharge our economy. This is the start of a great opportunity for Ipswich.”
In addition to $10 million for the I2S Options Analysis and Detailed Business Case, council secured the following commitments:
- $105 million for resources recovery infrastructure, including a Materials Recovery Facility for the Sub Regional Waste Alliance (an initiative of Ipswich, Logan and Redland councils)
- $40 million for the Resilient Rivers Initiative, a regional catchment management program delivering investment into key waterways including the Bremer and Brisbane rivers
- An allocation of more than $12 million for Ipswich council as part of the SEQ Liveability Fund
The SEQ City Deal is a joint agreement between three levels of government to prioritise and deliver regionally significant projects across South East Queensland.
Mayor Harding said today’s announcement represents the first tranche of commitments for a City Deal that will span the next 20 years.
“The SEQ Mayors have been pushing for a SEQ City Deal for many years. While it has been a long time in the making, the next 20 years of investment in Ipswich will make it worth the wait,” Mayor Harding said.
“We are excited to see the Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor recognised as a critical project for the south-east, and look forward to watching this project and many more come to life over the next two decades of the SEQ City Deal.”
The SEQ City Deal is a 20-year partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and 11 councils of the Council of Mayors (SEQ), which provides a shared commitment to transform SEQ and deliver region-shaping infrastructure.
It will deliver a significant foundation investment of more than $1.8 billion that will generate thousands of local jobs, boost digital and transport connectivity, enhance liveability and support one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
The SEQ Mayors initiated the push for a City Deal for South East Queensland in 2014, as a way to drive economic growth in the region and enable a successful 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Additional information on the SEQ City Deal is available here.
