A fresh start for Ipswich in 2025-26 Budget

Queensland Government delivers foundation for fresh start by backing hospital expansion, roads and schools.
New Primary School for Ripley Valley and new Special Schools at Ipswich West and Springfield-Redbank.
$4 million for a detailed business case for a Second River Crossing across the Bremer River in Central Ipswich.
Budget funds the delivery of the Lockyer Valley correctional centre to help restore safety where you live.
$925 million for upgrades to the Ipswich Hospital including a new acute clinical services building, as part of the Hospital Rescue Plan.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering for Ipswich with vital spending in the 2025-26 Budget for education, health, transport, and justice.

Ipswich will also benefit from the Queensland Government’s $100 Back to School Boost vouchers, the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers Program, more frontline health workers, more police on the beat and new social and community housing.

2025-26 Budget lays the foundation for the fresh start Queenslanders voted for, addressing Labor’s youth crime, health, housing and cost of living crises.

The Budget focuses on making Queensland safer, delivering a place to call home for more Queenslanders, driving down cost of living pressures for families, providing more free healthcare and building generational infrastructure for our growing State.

Major commitments for the Ipswich region in the 2025-26 Budget include:

Delivering playground upgrades and new shade sails at Ipswich North State School.
Delivering a new primary school in Ripley Valley to service the growing region.
Upgrades to the Brisbane Valley Highway between Esk and Blacksoil to improve safety and access.
$4 million for a detailed business case for a Second River Crossing across the Bremer River in Central Ipswich.
$15 million to commence the upgrade of the Goodna Police facility.

The Budget also includes investment of $73.2 million to improve social and community housing across Ipswich.

Premier David Crisafulli said the Budget delivered the foundation for a fresh start for Ipswich, just as promised.

“Today’s Budget delivers the fresh start Queensland needs and Queenslanders voted for, to address the crises in youth crime, health, housing and cost of living,” Premier Crisafulli said.

“We are delivering to restore safety where you live, health services when you need them, a better lifestyle through a stronger economy and a plan for Queensland’s future.

“This Budget delivers cost of living relief with the $100 Back to School Boost and the $200 Play On! Sports Vouchers Program, a fully-funded Hospital Rescue Plan, a new nation-leading home ownership program to reduce the deposit gap, as well more police and early intervention to make Queensland safer.”

Member for Lockyer Jim McDonald said the Budget was delivering for Queensland.

“In this Budget the Hospital Rescue Plan is fully-funded and will deliver upgrades to the Ipswich Hospital to help restore health services when we need them,” Mr McDonald said.

“Our region will also benefit from a major investment in new schools and upgraded police facilities.”

ENDS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Other projects funded in the 2025-26 Budget include:

Additional POLAIR flight hours in South East Queensland - $4 million to provide additional flight hours.
Brisbane Valley Highway - Upgrades between Esk and Blacksoil to improve safety and access.
Games On! Ipswich Tennis Court Upgrades - $780,000 for court upgrades at the iconic Queens Park tennis court in partnership with the Ipswich District Junior Tennis Association.
Games On! Musketeers Baseball Club - $150,000 to deliver grandstands.
Gatton Research Facility Glasshouse - $4.5 million for construction of a 6-bay glasshouse to support research activities.
Goodna police facility upgrade - Commencing the upgrade of the Goodna police facility, worth $15 million.
Greater Springfield new permanent fire and rescue station - $10 million for the new permanent fire and rescue station.
Haigslea State School - Delivering a new multipurpose school and community hall.
Ipswich North State School - Playground upgrades and new shade sails.
Ipswich State High School - $100,000 to deliver new grandstands.
Laidley Hospital - Planning stage for the Laidley Hospital.
Lockyer and Laidley Community Centres – $660,000 to provide community support, and address local issues.
Lockyer Valley footpath upgrades - $300,000 for footpath links in Laidley CBD, Hatton Vale and Withcott to improve connectivity and safety.
Moore Linville Rural Fire Brigade Station - $1.4 million for a rural fire brigade station.
Multipurpose recreational facility upgrade in Kilcoy - $2.9 million to upgrade the indoor sport centre at Kilcoy.
New lights at Rosewood Showgrounds - $800,000 to deliver lights at the Rosewood Showgrounds.
New special school campus in Ipswich West.
New special school campus in Springfield-Redbank.
Redbank Plains Library car park extension - $550,000 to expand the car park.
Ripley new police facility - $38 million for the new police facility at Ripley.
Second River Crossing detailed business case - $4 million for a detailed business case for a second inner city bridge across the Bremer River.

MEDIA CONTACT: Mel Wightman, 0434 391 038