Council progresses North Ipswich Reserve Stadium plan
Darrell Giles May 16, 2019
Ipswich City Council will commit $10 million to redevelopment of North Ipswich Reserve Stadium, subject to equal contributions from both the Queensland State Government and Federal Government, and other conditions.
The Growth and Infrastructure Committee heard that a stadium upgrade – with a 20,000-30,000-seat boutique rectangular facility – would bring enormous social and economic benefits to the city and South East Queensland.
“North Ipswich Reserve is the premier sporting facility within the City of Ipswich. Council has been investigating the upgrade of North Ipswich Reserve since 2000. The stadium upgrade can bring great social and economic benefits to the City of Ipswich. It is proposed that the stadium upgrade will allow entry of Ipswich based soccer and rugby league teams into the national competitions,” the report said.
“The upgrade of the stadium is required to support bids for soccer and rugby league bid teams entry into the national competitions. Without the appropriate facilities, both the Greater Ipswich Hyundai A-League expansion bid and the Western Corridor NRL bid team will be unable to enter into the National League competitions.”
The report said the long-term redevelopment of the stadium would cost up to $220 million, but it could be done in five stages.
Interim Administrator Greg Chemello said the North Ipswich project and the proposed Brisbane Lions’ facility at Springfield aligned with planning of major venues for a potential SEQ Olympic bid.
“The proposed stadium development will become a catalyst to invigorate the precinct including the Woollen Mill and the edge of the Bremer River. It will add a vibrancy to the CBD on event day, create a flexible platform to operate outside of major events and bring both economic and social benefits to the city.”
$4 million sporting precinct open for business in Ripley
Darrell Giles April 26, 2019
The next generation of Ipswich sports stars have a new place to hone their skills with the launch on Sunday (April 28) of a $4 million sport and recreation precinct at Providence South Ripley, in the heart of the western growth corridor. The 4.5ha precinct will provide sporting clubs, athletes and local residents with a new place to come together as a community to enjoy Queensland’s great outdoors and rich sporting heritage.
“These fields, together with a $38 million complex at Springfield Central, which is almost complete, provide some of the best facilities in the region, if not the state, and council will continue to work with community organisations and the development industry to build similar precincts and create opportunities for residents to play and be active.”
The precinct is spread over 4.5ha and will cater to the region’s various sporting codes by featuring a collection of regulation-sized fields and an integrated oval. The fields will be complemented by nearby outdoor sporting equipment and shaded play areas for clubs to congregate and where residents can spectate. The precinct will also be fully equipped with a 100-space car park, playground and barbeque facilities.
The precinct is part of the larger plan for Providence Parklands, providing sporting and recreational space within a 200ha area which will also include formal parklands, nature reserves and additional green space. When complete, Providence Parklands will be double the size of Brisbane Botanic Gardens, City Botanic Gardens and South Bank Parklands combined.