07 December 2022
Ipswich residents are being encouraged to share their views on the region’s transport network as part of a major review of Ipswich City Council’s City of Ipswich Transport Plan, iGO.
iGO was launched in 2016 as a masterplan for the city’s transport future and includes policy focus areas, network maps and actions.
It was council’s first fully-integrated plan covering all transport modes and aimed to help develop a transport system that is safe, reliable and which provides for the sustainable movement of people and goods for all travel modes.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said a comprehensive review of the plan was now being undertaken to ensure it continues to effectively respond to current and future transport challenges facing Ipswich.
“Our city has grown a lot since iGO was launched in 2016. I attended the community information sessions in 2016 and found it to be very helpful,” Mayor Harding said.
“It is important that strategic guiding documents such as iGO, which steers council’s advancement of the city’s transport network, are fit for purpose and in line with changing community trends.
“We want to hear from all sectors of our community about how they interact with and experience our city’s transport system and accompanying facilities and infrastructure.
“Sharing these experiences and ideas will help council’s transport team in updating iGO and to ensure council’s strategic long-term plan is in line with community expectations and needs.
“Council is not responsible for all parts of the Ipswich transport network, such as public transport services, but it does play a leading role in the planning and delivery of some elements as well as encouraging other levels of government to do their fair share for our growing city.
“Our population is forecast to double to over 520,000 by 2041 and the transport network we have today will not meet the needs of tomorrow, so we must continue to be proactive and collaborative in our approach to addressing key transport needs of residents, commuters and visitors.”
Community pop-up stalls for the iGO review will be held in December and January 2023 across the city, and an online survey will be available via council’s Shape Your Ipswich website.
This follows two planning sessions held in November with representatives of the Ipswich Community Panel, a council-established community engagement initiative.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the goal of the iGO consultation was to develop a shared pathway to allow all in the Ipswich community to provide their thoughts and feedback.
“By understanding how our community moves around the city and changing transport needs, we can ensure council is making the right strategic calls and best allocate its resources to improve travelling in our city,” Cr Tully said.
“Under the overarching banner of the City of Ipswich Transport Plan iGO, council has also launched the iGO Active Transport Action Plan, iGO Public Transport Advocacy and Action Plan, iGO Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy, iGO Road Safety Action Plan and iGO Freight Action Plan detailing a range of policy positions and initiatives.
“iGO has played an important role in informing council’s strategic investment decisions and shaping how our city’s transport network develops and will continue to do so into the future.”
Pop-up community consultation stalls for iGO will be held throughout December 2022 and January 2023 at the following locations:
The online survey is available until 1 February 2023 at ShapeYourIpswich.com.au
An updated version of iGO is expected to be released in 2024.