Ipswich City Council will for the first time introduce a levy to help pay for a $1 billion in future infrastructure projects like roads, parks and other community services.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding made the comment while handing down the ‘Future Focused’, 2025/26 Budget today.
The total expenditure for the financial year is $678 million.
Ratepayers will also be hit with a 4.98 percent rate increase, which means they will need to find an extra $3.78 per week or $196 per year.
On top of that there will be a $513 Waste Utility charge, $63 Enviroplan Levy and $3 Rural Fire Levy.
The infrastructure levy will add an extra $55 dollars to the rates bill for the year.
Photo: Ipswich City. ICC. Supplied.
In her Budget speech, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said that the new infrastructure levy was about keeping up with the massive growth in the region.
“More than 50 houses are built in Ipswich each week and we welcome around 22 new residents each day,” she said.
“For many years our city has been significantly under funded by both the federal and state governments not even coming close to the trajectory of the growth that they’ve asked our city to accommodate”.
“While residents think that we profit greatly from these new housing developments — this is simply not the case!”
“When developers create new housing these home require access to services, which is power, water, sewerage and roads”.
“This should be funded through an infrastructure charge on the developer but this amount is capped by the Queensland Government,” Mayor Harding said.
The Ipswich Mayor argued that an infrastructure levy is the only way forward to prepare for the growth that is coming — the alternative of letting our city grind to a halt is not an option.
Photo: Artistic impression of North Ipswich Reserve. ICC. Supplied.
CAPITAL ROAD PROJECTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Ipswich City Council has committed $165 million to capital works, which is projected to grow to almost $200 million in 2026-2027 and $211 million the year after.
The Budget will focus on essential social and community infrastructure including major upgrades at North Ipswich Reserve, Tivoli Sports Complex and Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve.
There will also be a major upgrade of the popular Ipswich Nature Centre with improvements to its animal husbandry and biosecurity area, which will help protect the centre’s 200 animals and wildlife from diseases and pests.
Other highlights include:
· $9 million for Stage 1 of the Ripley Road upgrade as part of $113.8 million over four years
· $7.3 million to replace the Purga School Road Bridge with up to $5 million of that being contributed under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program
· $7 million to continue Stage 2 of Springfield Parkway road upgrade as part of $42.3 million over five years
· $4.5 million to progress the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct Stage 1 Western Grandstand as part of $40 million project
· $2.5 million for rehabilitation to Adelong Avenue, Thagoona
· $2 million to progress expansion of Tivoli Sporting Complex as part of $8.5 million over two years
· $750,000 for upgrade of Augusta Parkway and Sinnathamby Boulevard as part of $51.5 million over five years.
For more information about the 2025-2026 Ipswich City Council Annual Plan and Budget click the following link: http://Ipswich.qld.gov.au/budget
