Ipswich

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Ipswich is the fourth largest local government area in the State and a key regional centre of South East Queensland. With the completion of several major projects in recent years, the City is currently undergoing the most remarkable period of development and modernization since its origins.

This vibrant centre offers experiences, benefits and achievements for those who choose to live visit or invest within the greater Ipswich area. The real estate market within Ipswich and surrounding areas is growing by 8% p.a and in the first 3 months of 2007 the average house price had increased by 7% (Source: Matusik report). This trend is only set to continue.

Why?

Increased Population Growth over 5000 new residents each year A commitment by industry and local government to build new infrastructure etc (read below) Under supply of new homes within the Great Ipswich Area, this of course helps to keep rents quite high in the local area.

Price Point (Land is still available at a reasonable price; this will however change over the coming 12 months. Within the last 6 months we have seen land increase over $20,000 within some developments)

Ipswich is a leader in economic development and new technology initiatives which have been buoyed by an increasing influx of successful businesses eager to participate alongside the traditional industries from which Ipswich was built. The Wesroc region of South East Queensland (which comprises the municipalities of Boonah, Esk Gatton, Ipswich, Laidley and Toowoomba), is gaining in population (and new development) at increasing rate.

Currently, around 285,000 people live across the Wesroc area, and the region’s population has been increasing by an average of 2,700 new residents each year since 1999. Last year 3,600 new people moved into the region, and based on a new Queensland Government study, the regions growth rate over the next five years is expected to average 5,900 new residents per annum.

Within ten years, 355,000 people are likely to live across the Wesroc area. Much of this growth (and total population) is to be housed in Ipswich City. An integral part of this investment surge is River Heart Vision- the catalyst for the revitalization of the Ipswich CBD. Also adjacent to River Heart is Riverlinks- a $100 million project-being developed by Leda and is the largest-single development in the history of the Ipswich CBD.

Due to changing demographics- and in this case an increase in the number of empty nesters- there is an opportunity to provide alternate housing product to the Ipswich audience.

To support the growth of the Wesroc region corridor, the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) has developed a package to focus on upgrading existing, and constructing new roads and public transport. This will support the population growth and employment opportunities around the centers of Ipswich, Springfield and Ripley, and Strengthen freight links in this corridor.

These upgrades will include:

• Ipswich road upgrades Centenary Highway upgrade
• Extended rail links through Western corridor: Ipswich, Ripley, Springfield and Toowoomba

The Queensland State Government describes Ipswich as a truly great place to live and work. Thanks to its central location, in South East Queensland, just 35 minutes from Brisbane, modern infrastructure, subtropical climate, affordability and impressive economic performance, promising great new job opportunities, Ipswich is enjoying unprecedented growth.

Located in the most dynamic corridor of Australia's growth state, Ipswich has truly come of age. Today, Ipswich is a vibrant business hub boasting Australia’s largest aluminium extrusion plant, and an aerospace precinct housing global players including Boeing, Qantas and Defense Services. This makes Amberley Australia’s largest defense base. Current on-going and proposed Ipswich investment and development projects:

• Capral – 130 million automated aluminium plant development
• Swanbank Paper Plant- One billion dollar development producing high quality gloss magazine paper
• Boulder Steel- 750 million dollar development producing specialty steel for the Australian domestic market
• UQ Ipswich Campus- Queensland’s newest university campus Education City- Assignation of University of Southern Queensland as part of its exclusive learning provider portfolio
• Orion- Australia’s largest regional business and shopping centre is also being built not far from Ipswich and Springfield, incorporating a carefully planned retail environment with more then 175,000 sq/mt (over 1.6 million sq/ft) of floor space. This centre has opened in March 2007

These exciting projects also includes the RAAF Amberley Airbase which currently employs 2,700 service and civilian personnel, and when the planned $285 million expansion is completed by the end of 2010, its direct employment base is expected to increase to 3,500. Once the proposed Amberley Aerospace Park-adjacent to the RAAF base- is completed (by 2015), this number is expected to rise to 8,500. When looking across all market segments, there is currently more than $10 Billion worth of new investment (across 40 projects) throughout the Wesroc area. This investment is to generate over 200,000 new jobs.

House Prices have increased from $75,000 in 2002, to $250,000 in 2006. This trend is only set to rise. Capital growth in the local area is at around 8%, this once again is set to rise to around 15% over the coming 18 months.

Future Job Creation in the Ipswich Region:

Carole Park/ Synergy Park

10,000 jobs

Swanbank Enterprise Park

14,000 jobs

RAAF Amberley Air Base

6,000 jobs

Amberley Aerospace Precinct

2,500 jobs

Ebenezer Industrial Park

94,000 jobs

Bremer Business Park

7,500 jobs

CBD Ipswich, River Heart

20,000 jobs

Springfield

20,000 jobs