$14m bill to move workers to city
AN army of public servants is coming to Ipswich - and taxpayers will foot a $14 million bill to accommodate them in their new home.
The arrival of 1200 public servants at the Icon Ipswich office development in the CBD was confirmed yesterday with the LNP's first budget revealing the hefty cost of fitting out the Bell St building.
More than $14 million will be set aside in 2012-13 with another $20.5 million to come in the following financial year.
The funds will cover everything from desks to the walls and wiring for the office space, which will be 90% occupied by public servants.
The government's 15-year lease begins on October 1 next year.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls also confirmed that some 14,000 positions will be lost from the public service, with redundant employees receiving an average payout of $57,000.
Ipswich MP Ian Berry welcomed the investment in jobs for Ipswich.
"This initial $14.3 million in fit-out funding is the first stage of $200 million the LNP Government will invest into the Ipswich economy over the next 15 years," he said.
"Ipswich is a great place to both live and work, and I'd like to see as many public servants currently based in Brisbane choose Ipswich because of the great lifestyle and our family friendly community."
Other Ipswich budget highlights include $55 million towards the new Blacksoil interchange, $219 million for the Warrego Hwy and $2.9 million for a new fire and rescue station Brassall, to go with the Ripley station previously announced.
Mr Berry said the new station would bring an additional 18 firefighters to Ipswich.
Funding worth $1.5 million was also announced to update the hydrological and hydraulic models of the Brisbane River catchment following the 2011 flooding disaster.
Bundamba Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller said the LNP Government has recycled a host of her former government's projects for the Ipswich region.
She said the budget did nothing to address cost of living issues.
"While the ALP delivered for the future needs of Ipswich, the LNP are turning back the clock," she said.
The budget confirmed already allocated funding of:
- $60 million to continue the Ipswich Hospital expansion
- $183 million towards the Springfield train line
- $4.7 million to complete stage 2 of Sringfield State School
