State Member for Ipswich West, Wendy Bourne MP, watched today as the Ipswich City Council’s
Independent Decision Review Panel examined multiple development applications, including those in
Thagoona and North Ipswich.
“These are significant developments that have attracted a high level of community interest,” Ms Bourne
said. “Residents have raised legitimate concerns about the loss of local amenity, the capacity of road
infrastructure to cope with this growth, and the impact on insurance premiums.”
Ms Bourne said it was crucial that the lived experience of local residents be given appropriate weight in the
decision-making process. These are the very residents who witness what heavy rainfall does to their
communities, they drive on local roads under serious pressure caused by lack of infrastructure – let’s make
sure their voices are heard.
“In April this year, I was taken on a boat tour along the Bremer River to view the site of the proposed North
Ipswich development. The natural beauty of the area is undeniable, but so too is the evidence of erosion
and environmental fragility along the riverbanks,” she said.
Ms Bourne highlighted the financial stress being experienced by nearby residents, particularly in relation to
home insurance. “Many homeowners living across the river from the proposed site, who were not
impacted by recent events, but were in the 1974 floods; are now being categorised as ‘high risk’, facing
premiums in excess of $10,000 annually. It raises serious questions about the long-term viability and
affordability of further development so close to the river,” Ms Bourne said.
“I want to be clear – I am not opposed to development. I understand the urgent need for more housing,
but development must be done thoughtfully. We need to listen to communities and factor in real-world
impacts, not just what fits neatly into a planning code.”
“This is about protecting existing communities and ensuring that new residents are not placed in harm’s
way.
Let’s get it right the first time – and build in the right places.”
For media enquiries, please contact ipswich.west@parliament.qld.gov.au
