Philisha and Dave Riddell last week received the keys to their newly built home at Walloon, pushing the city’s population up to 250,000.
THE official population count for Ipswich reached a milestone last week with the city welcoming its 250,000th resident.
Dave and Philisha Riddell last week received the keys to their newly built home at Walloon, pushing the city’s population up to 250,000.
The Riddells were identified as the landmark residents by Ipswich City Council’s Ipswich Population Modeller which tracks the number of wheelie bins issued to new residents.
Ipswich is Queensland’s fastest growing city, with an average of six new homes built each day and more than 6,200 new residents choosing to call Ipswich home in the past year.
The city’s annual growth rate is 2.6 per cent. The fastest growing suburbs are Ripley, Redbank Plains, Spring Mountain, Collingwood Park and Springfield Lakes.
Dave and Philisha Riddell said they chose Ipswich for the lifestyle the city had to offer.
“We wanted to find somewhere that suited us, somewhere that was a little bit quieter. Walloon absolutely ticked that box for us,” Mr Riddell said.
“My work sometimes takes me to the RAAF Base at Amberley, so the location is convenient, and my wife absolutely loves the planes that fly overhead into and out of the base.
“We have two grown children now, and this home is for the next phase of our life. We’re really looking forward to being a part of the Ipswich community.”
The State Government’s draft ShapingSEQ Regional Plan 2023 Update recognises that rapid population growth will be a part of Ipswich in the next decade.
Council is addressing growth matters through its draft new planning scheme, Ipswich Plan 2024, to provide more opportunities for a wider housing choice across the city and supporting density increases in high amenity areas located near services and transport.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairman Paul Tully said the Riddells had joined the Ipswich community at an exciting time for the city.
“Ipswich is poised to grow significantly in the years ahead, with our city’s population projected to grow from 250,000 today to 535,000 by 2046,” Cr Tully said.
“This growth brings some challenges but also significant opportunities for families choosing to live, work and play in Ipswich. There’s no better place to be right now in South East Queensland.”
