A bicycle ride to work or a two-hour commute? Planning to live, work and play
12 June 2023
The new draft Ipswich Plan 2024 is not just about where we will all live, but also where we will work, places to play and the infrastructure needed for our city to grow and develop.
The new planning scheme includes zoning for specific parts of the city for industrial and commercial areas and a network of retail centres across Ipswich.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the plan was a critical document in guiding the city’s future development.
“We are planning to accommodate 535,000 people in Ipswich by 2046 and to manage this growth, the city will need to generate at least 75,000 extra jobs. The new draft planning scheme supports many economic initiatives, including jobs and great shops, restaurants and services,” Mayor Harding said.
“Some people may choose to work locally, and others may choose to work outside of Ipswich – regardless of this, we’ve got to plan now to support and advocate for critically important infrastructure and the delivery of an effective transportation network.
“This is all achieved through zoning and the way the codes and policies of the planning scheme are drafted.”
Things included in the planning scheme to ensure Ipswich has an effective future public transport network, which is funded by state and federal governments, include where existing and future transport infrastructure is likely to be located; protecting those spaces to ensure infrastructure can be delivered; and, determining where development can go to support that infrastructure.
This means, for example, that High Density Residential and Medium Density Residential zones will be located close to shops, schools, and railway stations.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said planning decisions may mean that some uses are not appropriate as they do not advance community objectives, or the use may simply be in the wrong place.
“In practice, this means that the planning scheme should support a shopping centre or commercial development in the right location and avoid it going in the wrong location,” Cr Tully said.
“A shopping centre or commercial development in the wrong location has many impacts, including compromising existing or planned centres, or the success of the proposed centre itself.
“In turn, this impacts the communities that both provide and use these services and the range and quality of activities and services available in our centres. This planning also feeds into our Local Government Infrastructure Plan, which plans for our future infrastructure to service our growing community.”
Economic and Industry Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Nicole Jonic said good planning would help secure the city’s economic prosperity.
“The right planning decisions allow us to provide housing, jobs and services for our people where it’s needed the most,” Cr Jonic said.
“The planning scheme works in concert with our Economic Development Strategy 2023-2027 to help our city grow and take advantage of opportunities as they arise, defining our competitive identity and solidifying Ipswich’s reputation as a destination of choice.
“Have your say to make sure that we are planning for the right opportunities in the right locations on the Shape Your Ipswich website now.”
The Ipswich Plan 2024 is on display until 16 July.
The Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP) is on display from 12 June to 25 July.
For more information see the Local Government Infrastructure Plan at Shape Your Ipswich.