Article: Share the Ipswich vision, or get out: Lucas

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Share the Ipswich vision, or get out: Lucas

Tony Moore | February 16, 2008 - 5:00AM

The State Government yesterday issued a blunt warning to landholders in the centre of Ipswich to either invest in the city's heart, or sell up and leave.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas also warned that governments could acquire land for "transit-type" projects.

Mr Lucas yesterday launched the Ipswich Master Plan, the result of a 12-month planning process to identify a future plan for a 12km2 around the Ipswich CBD.

Mr Lucas and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale have co-chaired the master plan.

One large project is to relocate the city's bus interchange and central train station.

Mr Lucas said the 12-month planning process demonstrated that the State Government and Ipswich City Council were serious about developing a long-term plan for the Ipswich central business district.

He said the State Government was spending close to $1.5 billion on Ipswich projects.

Now he said it was time for the private sector to play its part in the city's ongoing redevelopment.

"There are a number of landholders in the CBD that either have to get with the program, get involved developing this community, or frankly get out and let someone in who will," he said.

Mr Lucas said he had walked through the Ipswich central business district and spoken to several traders as part of the master planning process.

"As you know there are high vacancy rates - I think it is up to 30 per cent in some parts of the CBD now - and that makes it very hard for other businesses," he said.

Mr Lucas said the State Government will now identify the major landholders in the Ipswich CBD, examine how their land is being used and look for new opportunities.

The study, which assumes a doubling in the Ipswich population by 2026, from 150,000 to 318,000, recommends 17 "catalytic" projects to steadily evolve the city's heart.

Mr Lucas said the Government could acquire land for "transit-orientated developments", such as the prospective bus and rail interchange in Ipswich.

"I am certainly not envisaging at this stage the need to compulsorily require to do things," he said.

"But that is available if people ultimately don't want to co-operate or share the vision."

Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said the State Government was already investing heavily in Ipswich, with much of the money directed to the Ipswich CBD.

Current projects in inner-city Ipswich include a new $92 million courthouse and a new $18 million police station. The Government has also invested $3 million in the city's redevelopment of the Ipswich Mall and the landscaped river edges.

It has spent $270 million extending the Centenary Highway to Springfield and to Yamanto.

Ms Nolan said it was now time for the private sector to invest.

"Now is the time for the private sector to step up to take the opportunity," she said.

"That is the invitation that we extend to the private sector."

[ozbob]

All the more reason to push on with triplication (? quadruplication) to Ebbw Vale.

Decentralisation with a frequent accessible rail service, Ipswich to Brisbane, importantly Brisbane to Ipswich.

This would be smart!

[Mozz]

It has spent $270 million extending the Centenary Highway to Springfield and to Yamanto.

Hmmm didn't know that the centenary highway is now completed all the way through homertown to yamanto - must have been asleep and missed that one - can anyone confirm  this is the case - if so I will have to stop driving along ipswich motorway then the cunningham highway to visit my parents who reside at yamanto and take the new centenary highway connection for a change.