The Amex Ripley Project (ARP) is Amex’s largest project and encompasses approximately 670 hectares in the Ripley Valley.
Located approximately 35 km from the Brisbane CBD and 10 km from the Ipswich CBD, Ripley is an integral part of the South-east Queensland Regional Plan’s aspiration for the western corridor to accommodate approximately one quarter of the future population growth of South-east Queensland.
Currently in the pre-development phase, Amex has worked closely with the Ipswich City Council and the State Government since late 2004 to complete the Structure Plan for the Ripley Valley. As a ‘first’ for South-east Queensland, the Ripley Valley Structure Plan was officially endorsed by the Planning Minister in September 2008 and a subsequent Scheme Amendment was made in September 2009 to incorporate the Structure Plan in Council’s Planning Scheme.
Ultimately, Ripley is proposed to accommodate 120,000 people. Amex’s landholding is capable of accommodating approximately 17,500 residents in approximately 7000 dwellings.
Amex’s long-held objective for the development of the ARP is to espouse ‘world’s best practice’. Ipswich City Council shares this view and has adopted Traditional Neighbourhood Design (TND) and Transect Based Planning as its community creation philosophy. Essentially, TND refers to communities, villages, cities and towns that are made up of a series of traditional style neighbourhoods; places people easily relate to which are well ordered, relatable and generally reminiscent of our older suburbs. TND advocates that communities function best when neighbourhood facilities, services and attractions are within walkable distances, have mixed use elements, through streets (not cul-de-sacs), are well provided for in terms of open space, meeting places and the like and feel safe and pleasant to reside in. In essence, TND represents the opposite of urban ‘sprawl’.
Amex aspires to create one of the first residential communities in the Ripley Valley and anticipates commencement of construction in mid 2011. Importantly, Amex commends the Queensland Government for the completion of the Centenary Highway extension from Springfield to Yamanto (opened in July 2009). Amex firmly believes that the Ripley Valley can only be delivered in partnership with all levels of Government, the business community and other landowners in the Valley.
