Ipswich Today

High achieving local businesses were recognised at the annual City of Ipswich Business Excellence Awards held 7 November 2020. In this episode Ipswich Chamber of Commerce president Phil Bell congratulates the winners, reveals current business sentiment as we head into Christmas and talks about business outlook for 2021. Published: 13 November 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Phillip Bell...

Political brinkmanship was on show in the council chamber at an extraordinary meeting of Ipswich City Council held 5 November 2020. Councillors were split over selection of members to sit on a CEO performance review panel. The meeting also decided to proceed with finalising commercial-in-confidence negotiations with an operator to allow for reopening and expansion of the CBD cinema complex which i...

A week after the state election counting continues and so does analysis of the result. Are minor parties becoming irrelevant? Has the influence of social media peaked or are some candidates to blame for going overboard before and during the campaign? In this episode an independent view from political expert Professor Geoff Cockfield from the University of Southern Queensland. Published: 6 November...

As the dust settles after the state election re-elected member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard gives her thoughts on a Labor win, the local campaign and minor parties. Also in this episode Ipswich City Council announces the opening date for Tulmur Place and the new Ipswich Central Library in the Nicholas Street Precinct. Published: 4 November 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Tulmur Place events: www...

Dave Cullen returns to Ipswich Today for a revealing chat about his life. What he has to say may shock some people but it will also inspire others, and he shares his thoughts about the first six months of the new council. Also in this episode Ipswich City Council wants to hear ideas from residents for new activities in Tulmur Place (Nicholas Street Precinct). Published: 29 October 2020. Music: www...

Mayor Teresa Harding joins Ipswich Today to talk about October's council meeting which received a petition from residents of Deebing Heights objecting to the loss of green space. A one-person roadblock prevents more transparency on council’s Transparency and Integrity Hub, and the first six months of the new council. Published: 27 October 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minu...

Special episode: Does anyone really have a handle on the issues which will drive the outcome of the state election? There are so many firsts for this election including the loss of local media coverage through printed daily newspapers and a reduction or total loss of local commercial radio and TV news bulletins in some areas. And the big one – the influence of Covid-19 on voters. From the McKell I...

Covid-19 continues to take its toll on the performing arts in Ipswich – a timely report reveals the true extent of the downturn. There is some hope for local performers in the immediate future but a return to normal is still a long way off and what you need to know about Ipswich City Council's October monthly meeting on 22 October 2020. Published: 18 October 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Coun...

Ipswich City Council hits a speedbump trying to upgrade Champions Way at Willowbank, council urged to bring about more shared use of existing community facilities and a report on council’s workplace culture and whistle-blower provisions praised by councillors. Published: 15 October 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minutes: ipswich.infocouncil.biz/ Council audio: www.youtube.c...

This month councillors faced a daunting number of lists in just one committee and there’s more lists to come with a new rural roads policy also likely to be adopted in the near future. From last month - why were councillors presented with a report which detailed the organisational structure of Ipswich City Council? Published: 11 October 2020. Music: www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minute...

Brett Kitching has lived and worked in Ipswich almost all his life. Approaching 58, he will retire as general manager of Ipswich Turf Club next year. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who knows Bundamba and Ipswich any better. Brett is a fifth generation Ipswichian and joins Ipswich Today to share his life’s journey so far and is this episode’s special guest. Published: 9 October 2020. Musi...

A small but significant step towards making the Springfield Central to Ipswich rail line a reality. The new East Ipswich train station construction underway, a call from Lance McCallum for upgrades at Bundamba station and Jim Madden announces improvements at the Mt Crosby Road interchange. Meanwhile support for small Ipswich businesses during Covid exceeds half a million dollars and what you shoul...

The final act in a more than three-year saga featuring former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale had its final curtain on 30 September 2020 in Ipswich District Court. With a city's reputation stained we should never forget this chapter of Ipswich's local government history. Published: 1 October 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Stream audio recommended. If auto download enabled some apps require...

The naming of places and spaces in the new-look Ipswich CBD has begun with the official names decided on four key places and spaces. A survey on the Shape Your Ipswich website attracted close to 3,000 visitors, with 304 participants suggesting names and more than 6,500 votes recorded across those suggestions. Hear the discussions and decisions from the council meeting held Thursday 24 September 20...

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale pleads guilty to multiple charges, Cr Marnie Doyle withdraws her resignation as deputy mayor, Swifts pull the pin on buying council-owned premises in Cameron Park and what is the right price to attend this year’s Christmas Wonderland? Published: 24 September 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minutes: https://ipswich.infocouncil.biz/ C...

Christmas and New Year's Eve public events in Ipswich will look very different this year under Covid, naming of places and spaces in Ipswich CBD redevelopment moves a step closer, and the first release of customer numbers for the new Rosewood library and council's service centre. Published: 21 September 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minutes: https://ipswich.infocou...

Ipswich City Council rolls out further changes to its website home page, Mayor Teresa Harding explains why the city is a favourite location for film and reality TV producers and the shows we can expect to see, and in a further boost for local tourism and business, get ready for Google Trekker 2.0. Published: 18 September 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Stream audio recommended. If auto...

An Ipswich Today exclusive: Part two of the results from Top Office Group’s Executive Outlook local business sentiment survey. Under Covid these are challenging times for everyone. Jan Gadsden reveals how Ipswich businesses are faring during these very unusual trading conditions. Published: 16 September 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Stream audio recommended. If auto download enabled s...

It is back to the future after a council committee gave the green light to a recommendation for a new two screen drive-in movie theatre at North Ipswich – more than 50 years after the first Ipswich drive-in opened at Raceview. Jacko from the Lost Ipswich Facebook group joins Ipswich Today to reminisce about drive-ins, and Ipswich City Council renews its door-to-door dog registration inspections pr...

What is the future for 600 ex-workers from JBS Dinmore, MPs oppose waste to energy plant proposal, and from this week in state parliament: Wage theft is now a crime, new technology and tougher laws to crack down on hoons, the Torres Strait Islander Child Rearing Practices Bill passed into law and good news for craft brewers and distillers in what was also the final sitting week before the state el...

Ipswich continues its trajectory as one of the fastest growing regions in Australia and is enjoying strong population growth with the total now approaching 250,000. Meanwhile in Bell Street the old Friendly Pharmacy and doctors’ premises have been extensively refurbished. You'll hear from developer Bernie McKeering about this exciting prime site project. Published: 10 September 2020. Music: https:...

Serial candidates who seek public office, any public office, whether it be local, state or federal government. There is an increasing tendency by some candidates to cherry-pick facts and turn them into an illusion of truth to suit their own narrative. Are these same candidates sincere about the causes and issues they push or is it a case of any issue will do in order to get elected? Published: 4 S...

In the 160 year history of Ipswich City Council one of the youngest councillors ever elected is Andrew Fechner - one of two candidates aged under 30 elected in March 2020. The other is Jacob Madsen. Ipswich Today caught up with Cr Fechner this week, five months since being elected, and four and a half months after being sworn in. Published: 31 August 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Stre...

Long-serving Ipswich councillor Paul Tully in hot water over a Facebook post. You’ll hear what the post was and his response to the council meeting this week, and finally, well almost, a decision on whether council will sell Swifts Leagues Club the property they currently rent. Published: 28 August 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council minutes and agendas: https://ipswich.infocouncil....

More from August committees: Another milestone for the new CBD library with council getting keys to the door, a new policy for children, young people and families, new community funding guidelines makes applying easier and quicker, plus an update on the Transparency and Integrity Hub. Published: 25 August 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council minutes and agendas: https://ipswich.infoc...