Ipswich Today

Why did Ipswich City Council hand back half a million dollars to the Australian Government? Flying foxes return to Queens Park, a new era for law at USQ Ipswich campus, 25 years of Enviroplan, Woodlinks State School welcomes a new crossing supervisor and more local news in case you missed it. Published: 23 February 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: School crossing supervisor Brenton Wratt...

Over The Back Fence is back! Ipswich locals Ashleigh Mac and Walter Williams join me to discuss when is a full-time councillor not a full-time councillor, juggling infrastructure dollars, the gift giving value of potholes and should divisional offices be reopened. All this and more on the show in this episode of Ipswich Today. Published: 18 February 2021 Music: www.purple-planet.com Stream audio r...

From February's Growth Infrastructure and Waste Committee: Councillors voice their concerns about a backlog in spending the allocated budget on local road maintenance and new works. It was also groundhog day with a motion prompted by delays in keeping parks and reserves mowed more often. Councillors are feeling the heat from residents who are up in arms because of overgrown parks, reserves and foo...

What is life really like at the coalface of politics and what drives someone to run as a candidate? In this one-on-one chat with former member for Blair Cameron Thompson, you'll hear some surprising and insightful answers including the impact of Pauline Hanson during the 1998 election campaign. It’s an honest discussion which also reveals the highs and lows of being a local member in federal parli...

Local news ICYMI: Ipswich Hospital welcomes new interns, Ipswich's oldest business still trading gets a fresh coat of paint, more new jobs in Carole Park and local Indigenous artworks celebrated in Tulmur Place in the Nicholas Street Precinct Ipswich. Published: 9 February 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: CJ Vogler, Brisbane Street Ipswich Tulmur Place: https://www.ipswichfirst.com.au/ips...

The Ipswich Show plans to roar back to life in May so how confident is Ipswich Show Society that it will go ahead? Show president Darren Zanow explains the latest Covid-safe arrangements. Braille Lego is being made available for vision impaired residents with help from USQ Springfield Central and Vision Australia, new arrivals at Ipswich Nature Centre and how you can help shape Ipswich’s future de...

What does it take to be Ipswich’s Citizen of the Year and Senior Citizen of the Year? In this episode meet Glen Smith and Pam Lane. Council is back from the holiday period with the first meeting of the year held January 28. Highlights include good news for footpath dining permit holders, there’s a half million dollar commitment from council towards making the Ipswich Central to Springfield Central...

Ipswich Today introduces a new panel discussion with Ashleigh Mac and Walter Williams. In this episode: Quirky Ipswich – what possesses someone to litter their front yard with a dazzling display of defamatory signs, can Ipswich be flood-proofed and is Ipswich a city of divided communities? Published: 25 January 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Book for Swich Summer Sounds event: https://www.ihfo...

Ipswich’s 2021 Citizen of the Year and Senior Citizen of the Year announced along with other award nominees and winners, can student video gamers gain an edge in the classroom, and Ipswich City Council scores a win for diversity in the male dominated transport industry by actively recruiting and training female drivers for Ipswich Waste Services. Published: 21 January 2021. Music: www.purple-plane...

George Hatchman represents that admirable quality we need more of in the community – being a volunteer. George talks about his life in the RAAF, and becoming part of the heart and soul of Amberley and Willowbank. Also in this episode, local artists on show at Ipswich Art Gallery, Inland Rail accepting submissions and U3A Ipswich calls for volunteers and students in 2021. Published: 15 January 2021...

Ten years ago on the morning of Tuesday January 11, 2011, Ipswich had woken to the news the city was in for a major flood to rival 1974. It was raining on and off for what felt like months. The ground was saturated and could not take any more rain. Further falls caused instant runoff into creeks and rivers. Multiple flood warnings for the Bremer and Brisbane rivers were issued during the day and e...

Ipswich welcomes the new year with fireworks at not one, but four council sponsored locations, and a rundown of low cost or free activities to attend in January. Published: 3 January 2021. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Tulmur Place (Ipswich City Council) Givit: www.givit.org.au Discover Ipswich: www.discoveripswich.com.au Ipswich Art Gallery: www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au Ipswich Librarie...

The end of 2020 is in sight and what a long haul it has been. Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce president Phillip Bell sums up the feelings of 2020 and offers a positive view for 2021. Also in this episode a summary of low cost or free activities for families including a Covid-safe New Year's Eve, plus Ipswich hailstorm-affected residents are still in need of help. Published: 23 December 2020. Mu...

The year of coronavirus has reshaped the economy, probably no more so than in travel and tourism. In this episode I take a closer look at Ipswich tourism – more specifically tourism visitor numbers. Was it possible for Ipswich to double its number of visitors to the city in just five years from 2014 (pre Covid-19)? Published: 20 December 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich City Counc...

Ipswich councillors are keen to introduce random drug and alcohol testing for themselves but the best way forward is still up in the air. At the 10 December 2020 ordinary meeting of council Cr Paul Tully’s notice of motion was defeated, replaced by another from Cr Marnie Doyle. Published: 16 December 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: https://www.freeimages.com/photographer/lucuella-37706....

Raynuha Sinnathamby is managing director of Springfield City Group and joins Ipswich Today to share her story. This conversation begins with early childhood memories including when the family moved from Kuala Lumpur to Perth then to Brisbane. Hear about Raynuha's decision to make her own way in life by studying law and how that became a fortuitous career choice before Maha Sinnathamby eventually c...

Ipswich City Council’s 10 December 2020 meeting turns almost farcical with debate over the use of the word 'implied'. This comes as some councillors are increasingly using the notice of motion option to make a point or raise issues without notice. Cr Tully put a motion this week to repeal a council decision made last month which resolved that councillor expenses for current serving councillors are...

In a year which has thrown up more than its fair share of surprises, including a housing boom, a major developer talks about housing trends and a new child care centre in the Ipswich suburb of Deebing Heights. The city’s new $17 million library is now open, several Ipswich state schools set for a boost in buildings and improvements, and school holiday fun at Ipswich Art Gallery. Published: 8 Decem...

Highlights from November’s ordinary meeting of Ipswich City Council held 26 November 2020 including the CEO’s performance appraisal panel, a Safe City advisory group re-established, council remains committed to a joint approach with neighbouring councils on managing waste, and will random drug and alcohol tests be introduced for councillors in 2021? Published: 5 December 2020. Music: www.purple-pl...

Dangerous Animals in the Home - a soon to be published book - is the true story of Karyn Webber who, on the surface, has it all with a successful business, popularity, loving family and friends. But beneath the surface there is much more. With her book Karyn aims to dissolve the taboo surrounding the subject of paedophilia and allow other victims to start a conversation. Published: 3 December 2020...

You've heard of a tree change, or even a sea change. But what a about a sea change actually living on the sea? Nine years ago long-term Ipswich residents Rob and Karen Oberg sold the family home to take an 18,000 nautical mile blue water journey to the Mediterranean and UK. Their story is one of most amazing adventures you'll hear, including a hair-raising near miss closer to home that was inches...

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully votes against more transparency measures, Ipswich’s famous McMahon’s soft drinks return for a limited time, Jamie’s Ministry of Food reopens for the holidays and West Moreton Covid testing reaches 100,000. Published: 27 November 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Cr Paul Tully (Ipswich City Council). Council agendas and minutes: https://bit.ly/2JlrVKY Council's...

Tickets to Ipswich’s Christmas Wonderland (Friday Dec 11 - Tues Dec 22) go on sale, the new interim children’s library opens its doors in South Street, Ipswich council to become food truck friendly, and Ipswich Enviroplan chalks up 25 years of conservation. Published: 23 November 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Christmas Wonderland (Ipswich City Council). Christmas Wonderland tickets: ht...

From this week’s committees: Ipswich City Council’s local disaster management policy under review following recent severe weather, the latest on council’s Transparency and Integrity Hub, and Covid-19 fees and charges relief extended to June 2021. Published: 20 November 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Cr Russell Milligan (Ipswich City Council). Council agendas and minutes: https://ipswich...

Mao’s Last Dancer author and Queensland Ballet artistic director Li Cunxin visits Ipswich to give a morale boost to the local arts community and raise the profile of creative industries at a council-hosted summit. Also in this episode council’s now-closed Whitwood Road landfill site at risk of causing environmental damage without remedial works at a substantial cost. Published: 16 November 2020. M...