MORE than 120,000 jobs will be created in Ipswich over the next 22 years, thanks to strong growth in the manufacturing and wholesale sectors and an abundance of industrial land.

Mayor Paul Pisasale launched yesterday the council’s Economic Development Plan 2009-2031, which placed a strong emphasis on creating jobs to coincide with a population boom.

Projected numbers from the plan reveal that by 2026 Ipswich is expected to have:

• More than seven times the current amount of manufacturing jobs (from 3842 to 28,072)
• More than 10,000 more retail jobs
• About 6000 more café, restaurant and accommodation jobs

A breakdown of 2031 job numbers into industry sectors would be released later, the council said.

Cr Pisasale said while Ipswich was leading the state in job generation – with unemployment at a Queensland low of 4.2 per cent – the council was not prepared to rest on its laurels.

"At the moment we are sitting on top.  Rather than slow up, we’re hitting the accelerator,” Cr Pisasale said.
"They key is creating jobs in a liveable community.  It can’t just be any job, it has to be across three levels – industrial, aerospace and university.

"You have to have a balance of employment.

"The reason we’ve created this roadmap is so everyone can see where we’re heading and what we’re aiming for.”

The manufacturing sector is predicted to lead Ipswich’s economic growth, with gross value added production expected to jump from $4.9 billion in 2007-08 to $12.7 billion in 2025-26.

The report states that along with the widely available industrial land, the city’s CBD, Springfield Parkland, Swanbank Enterprise Park, RAAF Base Amberley and proximity to Brisbane were key assets to Ipswich’s growth.

Ipswich Chamber of Commerce president Michael List said businesses were ready to take advantage of the jobs and population boom.

"We can already see that business is growing rapidly in Ipswich and can’t see any reason why that wouldn’t continue," Mr List said.

"You just have to look at the growth at Citiswich, plus the aerospace precinct and other industrial land around town, to see that there is a lot of room to grow.

"Retail and hospitality will also grow with that."

ZANEJACKSON
Queensland Times
Wednesday 14/10/2009
Page: 5
Section: General News
Region: Ipswich QLD Circulation: 10,961
Type: Regional
Size: 240.10 sq.cms.
Published: MTWTFS

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