Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Ipswich CBD will soon begin its transformation, thanks to a $3.8 million investment from the Albanese government to fund detailed upgrade designs by the Ipswich City Council. I was pleased, with Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic, assistant minister Senator Anthony Chisholm and local councillor Andrew Antoniolli, to be there when we announced this funding under the Australian government's urban Precincts and Partnerships Program. The project will develop designs for the expansion of the Ipswich Art Gallery and the redevelopment of the Ipswich Civic Centre, which was opened in the days of Gough Whitlam and Bill Hagan and upgraded by the governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. This will involve planning for a streetscape refresh of Brisbane Street, the integration of the Ipswich Inner CBD Cycle Network and additional urban green initiatives. The planning precinct aims to enhance economic development, and it will create jobs. It will also support our flourishing arts community in Ipswich and the new, better use of the Ipswich CBD. It will deliver an arts and culture precinct and provide a space for artists and performers to collectively work and create, and that's great for Ipswich. I'm pleased to support this and I congratulate the Ipswich City Council on getting this funding.