Bligh promises city bright future

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and Premier Anna Bligh at Ipswich Girls Grammar.

Rob Williams

PREMIER Anna Bligh has pledged that Ipswich will not be swallowed by Brisbane as the region expands in the next decade.

Speaking at a breakfast to mark Ipswich’s 150th anniversary yesterday, the Premier said the city was “on the cusp of a great move forward”.

But she insisted the State Government would support job creation to ensure the community does not become a “satellite” of the State capital.

“When you celebrate an anniversary it’s an opportunity to reflect on where you have come from and the achievements you had along the way, but it’s also an opportunity to look at what life holds ahead of you,” she told 200 guests.

“Ipswich is right at the centre of the fastest-growing region of Australia, and it’s a city that is growing to change dramatically.

“By 2026 we expect your population to be 340,000. That’s a great opportunity and big challenge.

“We expect to see whole new communities emerge and you will be at the heart of it.

“Our challenge is to make sure that development is sustainable, both environmentally and in a liveability sense.

“We need to ensure that we bring jobs, we don’t want Ipswich ever to be a satellite city of Brisbane.

“We want people to spend time with their families – not sitting in cars getting to work.”

Ms Bligh’s breakfast speech at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School was organised by the Ipswich Region Community Church, Ipswich Chamber of Commerce and the city council to mark the city’s milestone.

Ms Bligh went on to say that the looming “renaissance” of the CBD would play a vital role ion attracting jobs to Ipswich and ensuring it is a city where people chose to live and play.

The State Government would do its bit by moving 1200 public service jobs to the city from Brisbane, the Premier said, adding that announcements on where they would be relocated were due to be made soon.

“The State Government shares Ipswich’s vision of itself and wants to work in partnership with it.

“We want this city to be everything that it can be.”