CONFIDENCE IN THE CORRIDOR

CONFIDENCE is high and development is booming at Greater Springfield, Australia’s fastest-growing city.

Springfield Land Corporation (SLC) deputy managing director Raynuha Sinnathamby (pictured) has a lot to be cheerful about.

And that’s great news for the 23,000 residents and more than 200 businesses that have flocked to the master-planned city located between Brisbane and Ipswich.

In recent months SLC, ranked 16th Top Private Company in 2012, has been able to announce plans for new health-care facilities, an expanded education campus, a new IT hub, new shops and new transport options.

“We are feeling very positive about a lot of things, [especially] the State Government’s fast-tracking of works,” says Sinnathamby.

“Many of these works are locked in. We do not see challenges, unless there is a massive change to the economy.”

Sinnathamby is daughter of chairman Maha Sinnathamby, who had the vision more than 35 years ago to create Springfield from bushland that other developers at the time considered to be poorly located.

Greater Springfield is now the hub of what is the booming south-western corridor and development continues at a cracking pace.

“We are getting more staff on board to fast-track projects. We are looking for the right people who organisationally and culturally fit – and can also deliver breadth of experience and high-end work to a strict timetable,” says Sinnathamby.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has been able to expand its Springfield campus thanks to a $50 million Federal Government grant. Works have already reached the second stage, which Sinnathamby calls a “show of confidence”.

“Last year we had 8700 students across various institutions. This has since climbed to 10,300 students,” says Sinnathamby.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has pledged to provide $21.4 million in Federal Government funding for a new cancercare centre at Springfield.

The centre will offer day and radiation oncology as well as a research unit, consultation rooms and two linear-accelerators.

It is supported by Radiation Oncology Queensland and the not-for-profit Mater Health Services (MHS).

MHS will also have a strong presence at the $30 million Brookwater Retail Village, which will include a pharmacy, medical providers and shopping centre.

SLC, which is 25 per cent owned by managing director Bob Sharpless, also has completed works on an IT data centre worth $230 million.

Two train stations are also on the way for Greater Springfield. Rail works commenced last year and Sinnathamby hopes they will complete by late 2013.

“It will change how people commute to and from Brisbane,” she says.