Ipswich Today

We’ve been hearing a lot about mental health and well-being since Covid-19 hit our shores last year. In Ipswich a new project aims to talk with residents about their mental health and to help link people with local services. Joining the show to talk about assisting communities through direct connection – or ACDC - is Tristan Brownson, the project manager. Published: 5 October 2021. Music: www.purp...

Ipswich Enviroplan marks 25 years in 2021. When established its aim was to acquire key bushland within the Ipswich City Council area to create conservation estates purchased with funding from a green levy. It wasn't introduced without some controversy at the time. On the show my special guest is former Ipswich councillor and chairperson of the committee responsible for parks in 1996, Gerard Pender...

Over The Back Fence: On the show Walter Williams and Ashleigh Mac join me to talk about development applications going for external review, in particular the childcare centre proposed opposite Karalee State School, council's Independent Decision Review Panel, Ipswich real estate prices going through the roof and will Brisbane Jets become the seventeenth team in the NRL? Published: 27 September 202...

Ipswich City Council gives the green light for glass to go back in yellow-lid recycle bins, 2021 Ipswich Sports Awards finalists, have your say about council-owned facilities and the environment gets stronger support from a new council policy. Published: 23 September 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Mayor Teresa Harding putting glass back into the yellow lid recycling bin at Riverview Rec...

From September’s council meeting - decision day on the Wanless development application for a recycling and landfill operation at Ebenezer, first steps taken to review multi member council divisions, still no word on a CBD cinema operator and a temporary vaccination hub opens in Ipswich. Published: 17 September 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Development application recommendation report...

The ICON building sale this week sets the pace for likely increases to commercial property values in Ipswich CBD. It changed hands for a premium of $144.9 million. Sold for the second time in fewer than 10 years – it begs the question – what if council’s former property arm, Ipswich City Properties, hadn’t been wound up under political pressure and ICON hadn’t been sold first time round before com...

In another week when state parliament was dominated by Covid Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard joins the show. Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee told the hope of a CBD cinema is still alive but details remain confidential, and a report on milestones reached under council’s Indigenous Accord presented to the Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee. Published: 4 September 2021. Music: www.purple...

How do you solve the age-old problem of getting children to eat the right food? The Active Children Thrive (ACT) program might be the answer. Ipswich CBD vaccination clinic doubles its capacity, Ipswich SES scores an $811,000 upgrade and the Garage Sale Trail returns in November for two weekends. Published: 2 September 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Mission Australia program manager Jen...

The recent tragedy in which an aggressive bird in Brisbane caused a death highlights the need for all of us to be aware of magpies. How best to avoid swooping magpies and is it possible to make friends with an aggressive bird? All your questions answered from wildlife expert Associate Professor Peter Murray from the University of Southern Queensland, plus tips on reducing your chances of encounter...

Over The Back Fence: The new Galvanized Festival in Ipswich, the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee (PCCC) inquiry into the CCC’s investigation of former Logan councillors and related matters, what's happening with the Jets’ NRL bid, Ash Barty on fire at the Cincinnati open and West Moreton Health needs your help to name a crane. Published: 25 August 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Ga...

Ipswich City Council in hot water over cool pool temperatures as the first member of the public addresses a council meeting, Studiosity learning tool survives another year in Ipswich Libraries, the pulse survey reveals staff sentiment, FOGO trial ramps up for 1000 households, council pitches for more state government funding for infrastructure around new schools and what's behind Cr Paul Tully's m...

Ipswich City Council's on-going battles with waste companies are costing the city millions of dollars, a fresh warning about bitumen bandits doing the rounds of the region, 75 shopping trolleys cleared from the Bremer River and the city’s population continues to surge. Published: 15 August 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Shopping trolleys being cleared from the Bremer River (supplied) Ip...

From the August round of committee meetings: Council misses another deadline to announce a CBD cinema operator and new tenants, the Commonwealth Hotel agreement for leasing has progressed, but again no names have been announced and councillors divided on the cost of renewing a lease for a student study help service from Ipswich Libraries. Meanwhile this month’s Community, Culture, Arts and Sports...

Hearing daily Covid numbers during a lockdown can certainly be a dippy downer and a challenge to maintain a positive outlook. Recently I was lucky enough to hear a talk from Ipswich-based healthy habit coach and author Loz Antonenko. Her story is one that will make you take stock of your daily routine and hopefully bring about some positive changes to your daily habits. Published: 5 August 2021. M...

The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation encourages everyone to strive to be kind, Ipswich CBD adds more green, Covid vaccination and testing numbers in West Moreton, Ipswich City Council updates the Local Disaster Management Plan and one local primary school could score a visit from Johnathon Thurston. Published: 31 July 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Nicholas Street Ipswich (supplied) Alliso...

Over The Back Fence: This month Walter Williams and Ashleigh Mac give their thoughts on the vote to bring back councillor offices in the suburbs, mowing parks doesn’t come cheap, Safe City costs, did SPARK Ipswich live up to the hype, and big changes coming to how household rubbish is sorted and collected in Ipswich. Published: 26 July 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Nicholas Street Precinct: w...

From the 22 July 2021 meeting of Ipswich City Council: Councillors on track for a more permanent presence in local libraries, highlights of issues raised in council’s submission on Inland Rail, the first provisional projects report and why, and in another first, school students make their wish list pitch direct to councillors. Also in this episode residents give their feedback to mayor Teresa Hard...

Ipswich City Council begins nationwide hunt for a new CEO, a new permanent location for Ipswich Hospital’s Covid fever clinic, road safety improvements for two Ipswich schools, a significant boost for eco tourism in Ipswich, new name for sports ground and the Olympics come to Ipswich on the big screen. Published: 16 July 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Artist impression of Springfield Ce...

The new Ipswich City Council chambers at 1 Nicholas Street opens with the first committee meetings on 8 July 2021. The Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee recommends almost $3 million be approved to keep a former council landfill site safe, councillors defer re-establishing a Heritage and Monuments Advisory Committee, there's still no word on new stores for CBD tenancies and SPARK Ipswich l...

Special guest Jason Davidson moved to Ipswich in 1995 to further his career as a chef. He went on to open Figjam Café in Limestone Street, then won of the hearts, minds and taste buds of thousands of Ipswich residents through major catering contracts at events and festivals. A little over 20 years ago Jason discovered some previously unknown family history from a phone call out of the blue. Publis...

It was the end of an era for Ipswich City Council with the final council meeting held on June 24 in the South Street chambers. Only one current sitting councillor was present when the council administration building was opened in 1985 – some 36 years ago. In this episode you’ll hear Cr Paul Tully reflect on his time as an alderman, then councillor, in the corridors of Ipswich local government. Pub...

Over The Back Fence: Ipswich City Council's new headquarters at 1 Nicholas Street is now open featuring a new dedicated children's library on the ground floor. Also in this episode council is calling for property owners, local businesses, and the community to give feedback to a new online survey to help with the ongoing revitalisation of Ipswich Central and which activities would get more people t...

Ipswich rates for owner/occupiers to increase an average 2.75 per cent, more for kerb and channelling streets in older suburbs and councillors vote no to increasing their own salary. Mayor Teresa Harding joins the show to talk about capital works and other highlights from the special budget meeting of Ipswich City Council held 24 June 2021. Published: 24 June 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Ima...

In this episode the state budget with a local focus. Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard joins the show to talk about the highlights for the city including what is a satellite hospital and why do we need one, the importance of building a relationship with your GP to help alleviate pressure on hospital emergency departments, more for DV support services and finally the old Ipswich Transit Centre get...

As June 28 approaches for the opening of Ipswich City Council's new headquarters and dedicated children's library, chairperson of Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee councillor Marnie Doyle joins the show for a detailed conversation about the biggest changes to Ipswich CBD since the 1980s. When will the Commonwealth Hotel likely reopen and serve its first beer, big hospitality names set to be...