Brett, Nicole and Addison McGrath at their Ripley home.
Once the butt of jokes, Ipswich is experiencing major growth
From an economic decline after the collapse of traditional mining and rail industries to a population that’s rising almost twice as quickly as Greater Brisbane, Ipswich is now the fastest growing city in Queensland. By 2036, Ipswich’s population will be up to half a million people, Greater Springfield will be home to more than 130,000, and Ripley Valley will explode to 120,000.
The State Government’s draft South East Queensland Regional Plan stated that jobs growth would fall behind population, and this lag would create a huge commuter problem as many will head into Brisbane for work. However, Mayor Paul Pisasale simply states that they are wrong. “We are creating jobs here to relieve congestion there. Brisbane needs Ipswich a lot more than Ipswich needs Brisbane,” he said. Ipswich still has a healthy, growing manufacturing sector and is also targeting other logistics, manufacturing and warehousing companies.
Ipswich is also attracting families with a family-friendly lifestyle and affordable properties. The city offers a less stressful lifestyle away from the city, and many residents state they are seeing big savings compared to living in Brisbane. Nicole McGrath, a new Ripley resident, stated, “There is an astronomical difference in prices compared to Brisbane. Ipswich is now becoming its own little hub where we no longer need to travel to Brisbane to enjoy a nice café or night life.”
Original article and photo: #GoQld: Ipswich is Queensland’s fastest growing city