Ipswich Welcomes 340 New Jobs

Bruce Harper general manager of Investa with Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale stand at the Swanbank Enterprise Park where global company Holcim intend to build a multi-million dollar contrete pipe manufacturing plant in early 2012. Photo: Claudia Baxter

IPSWICH has received another major jobs boost with Swiss-based company Holcim set to announce it will invest $75 million building a manufacturing plant here.

The plant, proposed for the city's new industrial precinct Swanbank Enterprise Park, will produce high-quality concrete pipe, products and structural precast.

Holcim representative David Wheeley said the development would deliver 200 jobs during construction and about 140 jobs once it was fully operational.

Mr Wheeley said work on the plant was expected to start by early next year after an approvals process with Ipswich City Council.

Investa, which is developing Swanbank Enterprise Park, is scheduled to join with Holcim and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale to officially announce the new industrial project this morning.

Investa general manager Bruce Harper said while $75 million would be invested to develop the new manufacturing facility, the announcement also triggered more than $25 million to start stage one of the 500ha park.

Mr Harper said today's announcement was a significant deal for the Ipswich region.

“To attract the interest of one of the world's largest and most respected construction materials companies is a coup and firmly puts Swanbank Enterprise Park on the map as a prime industrial and manufacturing precinct serving a rapidly expanding region,” Mr Harper said.

He said Swanbank Enterprise Park comprised 260ha of general industry land, 40ha of business park land and 200ha of buffer.

He said the project was set to be the catalyst for turning disused coal mining land into one of Australia's biggest business and industry precincts.

“We've had this site for a number of years, wondering how we can open it up and this will do that,” he said. “We've got 500 hectares of land and we've always said it really takes a major investor to come in as a cornerstone.

“This creates the impetus for a major industrial site. It has the potential to create up to 15,000 jobs when it's finished.”

Mayor Pisasale hailed the announcement as another win for the Ipswich region.

“There is no greater confidence booster than having large companies such as Investa and Holcim supporting the region through multi-million dollar investment and jobs,” he said.

“For the past two months we have worked very hard together to make this happen. It's probably the biggest industrial land sale in south-east Queensland for a decade. This is going to open up the Swanbank Enterprise Park and the Ripley Valley.”