THE population in the Rosewood district in 2024 was estimated at almost 16,000 according to figures published by the Ipswich City Council.

But by 2041, it is anticipated that the number of residents calling the town and surrounding districts home will have reached 60,000.

That is a 275 percent increase in the space of 17 years.

A point of clarification needs to be made in respect to what localities the word, ‘districts’, encompass.

Again, according to the council website, the districts include all the following:

Amberley, Ashwell, Calvert, Ebenezer, Grandchester, Ironbark, Jeebropilly, Lanefield, Mount Marrow, Mount Mort, Tallegalla, Thagoona, The Bluff, Walloon, Willowbank and Woolshed, parts of the localities of Haigslea, Lower Mount Walker, Marburg, Mount Forbes, Mount Walker West, Mutdapilly and Peak Crossing, most of the locality of Goolman, and part of the locality of Purga. (The remaining parts of the localities of Lower Mount Walker, Mount Forbes, Mount Walker West, Mutdapilly and Peak Crossing are located in the Scenic Rim Regional Council area. The remaining parts of the localities of Haigslea and Marburg are located in the Somerset Regional Council area. The remaining parts of the localities of Goolman and Purga are included in the Ripley small area.)

The land area covered by the area described by the Council as ‘Rosewood and districts’ is 684.5 square kilometres.

The population density in 2024 was 23.25 persons per square kilometre.

If the growth projection eventuates, the population density in 2041 will be 87.35 persons per square kilometre.

That represents a 275 percent increase in 17 years.

Lots of figures indicating a population boom and there will be an even greater need for an infrastructure boom to cope with the expectations, and the needs, of the old and new residents.