Qld Govt gives $4m for study into second inner Ipswich bridge with new Ripley Valley school set to add to bus woes

The Queensland Government is to spend close to $60m on policing resources and $4m on a feasibility plan for a second bridge in inner Ipswich.

The projects are part of the 2025-26 state budget funding package for Ipswich.

The government will also spend $925m to upgrade Ipswich Hospital, including a new acute clinical services building.

Government will spend $4m on a detailed business case plan for a second bridge (Norman St) over the Bremer River in inner Ipswich.

The plan is dependent on a preliminary report from Ipswich City Council which has been waiting for the money to be allocated, it says.

Council says that a new bridge will future-proof the inner city roads, reduce flood risk and improve driving conditions.

It says the project is on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list as an early proposal, to date.

Ripley is to get a new $38m police station with a $15m upgrade of Goodna police station and $4m for extra POLAIR flight hours.

There will also be $73.2m spent on 192 social housing homes, government says, with a new primary school for Ripley Valley and upgrade of the Esk-Blacksoil route on the Brisbane Valley Highway.

MP for Lockyer Jim McDonald says the budget is fully funding the hospital rescue plan and restoring services.

RIPLEY VALLEY BUSES

While the budget talks about a new school for the valley, no mention is made of bus services.

In March, local parents and local MPs protested over the state of public school bus services.

They say students have to wait 90 minutes to catch overcrowded buses with some students unable to board.

The combined enrolment of 2000-plus students at local schools is placing growing pressure on the bus system and it is only going to get worse.

Ripley Valley State Secondary College P&C President Sarah Yarham says constant advocacy has proven fruitless.

“It’s being compounded by the new estates on the other side of the school. We have houses going up everywhere all within our catchment area which adds to the number of students at our school,” she says.