Ipswich Today

The majority of Ipswich City Council’s new committees met for the first time this week. One of the most detailed reports about the health of Ipswich waterways, including the Bremer River, has been made public and council cautiously works its way towards a final recommendation on the future of Swifts in Cameron Park. Published: 21 August 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council minutes an...

Ipswich Today began as Ipswich Election Watch last February. In episode six I took a break from the local government election campaign to look back when the city was shaken to its core by a major fire which destroyed Reids department store. I spoke with Lisa Jarrold who worked for the management team of the adjoining Ipswich Centre Plaza in 1985. This episode features a replay of the interview fir...

As the western corridor population grows faster than most regions, hear the latest on medium to long term plans for the Dinmore to Helidon section of the Warrego Highway. Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard joins Ipswich Today for a regular update, which also includes more school upgrades in Ipswich, another round of the Skilling Queenslanders program and this week in state parliament. It’s also th...

First time Ipswich councillor and deputy mayor Marnie Doyle reveals the difference between what she imagined the job would be like versus how it really is. Just like life, there was no rehearsal for being a councillor. We also talk about Ipswich CBD and the role of committee chairperson overseeing the current redevelopment with a brief look into the past and why the project stalled. Published: 10...

A waste to energy expert reveals Australia is more than 20 years behind Europe in waste management practices. There are in excess of 400 waste to energy (WtE) plants across 23 European countries. What exactly is a WtE plant and what are its impacts on the environment? Associate Professor Prasad Kaparaju from Griffith University has over 20 years of experience in environmental engineering and waste...

A recap of Ipswich City Council's 28 July 2020 meeting. Council rejected a stray cat reduction program proposed by the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation, five new committees established to replace the short-lived General Purposes Committee, major parcel of council owned property approved for sale to West Moreton Health, and two mayoral minutes adopted to establish a waste and mining working group...

Margaret also talks about her strong interest in history and heritage. A River With A City Problem has been nominated for the 2020 Courier Mail People's Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award. See voting link below. The book explores the history of flooding in the Brisbane River catchment with a focus on the major floods in 1893, 1974 and 2011. Published: 31 July 2020. Music: https://www.purple-...

Mayor Teresa Harding marks 100 days in office, the latest on the future of Swifts tenure in Cameron Park, council standing committees about to be six in number in a sensible move which dispenses with the mega General Purposes Committee, a stray cat management proposal for dealing with unwanted domestic felines and the mayor cleared by the CCC over allegations centred on the 2020 election campaign....

Our chat begins in 1931, the year Gary's grandfather started a one man business from the seat of a pushbike. The business went on to become a retailing icon. Hear in Gary's own words his first memories as a child growing up and living in Roderick Street through to the dizzy heights of corporate America and back again. The story of RT Edwards and Sons is part of the story and fabric of Ipswich. Pub...

Mayor Teresa Harding joins Ipswich Today to talk waste to energy and the proposed plant at Swanbank, what council can do to help workers who will soon be without a job when Bradken's Karrabin site is closed, and the future of Swifts and Cameron Park under the microscope at this week's General Purposes Committee meeting of Ipswich City Council. Published: 20 July 2020. Music: https://www.purple-pla...

This week-end marks 100 days since Lance McCallum MP won the Bundamba by-election on March 28. Now in the hot seat he talks exclusively with Ipswich Today about growing up and those who influenced his political views and career. Also in this podcast he discusses education, the proposed waste to energy plant at Swanbank, this week in parliament and Covid-19. Published: 18 July 2020. Music: https://...

After the ambushing of mayor Teresa Harding which curtailed discussion on some reports presented at the last council meeting, the next round of committee meetings should be more than interesting. On the General Purposes Committee councillors will be discussing the future of Cameron Park Booval and in particular Swifts. Also up for discussion - the Ipswich Central to Springfield Central public tran...

Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard talks about the Remondis waste to energy proposal called-in by the Coordinator General, the state government announces new projects in Ipswich under the Covid Works for Queensland program, and state public servants who live in Ipswich offered the chance to drop the daily commute to their Brisbane office. Published: 10 July 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Strea...

Mayor Teresa Harding bitterly disappointed about debate being shut down by a procedural motion, a six month CBD free parking trial to start in October, school speed zone decision overturned, and the Commonwealth Hotel reconstruction finally moves towards a start. Published: 6 July 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minutes: https://ipswich.infocouncil.biz/ Additional au...

Budget meeting special: Ipswich City Council hands down its 2020-2021 budget, a pay freeze for councillors and senior council executives, and the surprise adoption of a new councillor Discretionary Funds Policy. Published: 30 June 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Council agendas and minutes: https://ipswich.infocouncil.biz/ Additional audio from council's YouTube channel. Image: https://...

A trial of free parking periods on the way for Ipswich CBD, Mayor Harding’s promised Mining Waste Round-table added to recommendations for council’s waste reduction and recycling plan, and a report on public assets named after dismissed councillors raises more questions than answers. These stories and more from the General Purposes Committee meeting held 23 June 2020. Published 25 June 2020. Music...

This week councillors will consider abolition of Saturday parking fees in Ipswich CBD for a six-month trial and to trial a 15-minute grace period for metered parking. What will councillors decide on the thorny issue of public assets named after dismissed former and current councillors? The Queensland Audit Office interim report flags two new deficiencies while there have been improvements. Publish...

Council ups the ante on its commitment to buy local with a formal ‘buy Ipswich approach’ in the new procurement policy. Why is council using emergency powers under the Local Government Regulation to extend some contracts? And a ratepayer reprieve on selling properties for overdue rates even though they have been unpaid for at least three years. Highlights from the extraordinary meeting of Ipswich...

As Covid-19 restrictions slowly ease there's finally some good news from Ipswich Art Gallery. Also in this episode a casual wide-ranging chat with Jennifer Howard MP, who reveals talks have resumed on the future of the derelict Ipswich Transit Centre and why it has been an eyesore for so long. We also talk about landfills, schools, defence industry, a new train station for East Ipswich, the arts,...

It has been talked about for years – a National Rugby League team based in Ipswich. A revamped bid is on the table again in 2020 with the view to a new team launching in 2022. Ipswich is not the only region vying for a new NRL licence. In this episode Mayor Teresa Harding reveals the latest on the western corridor bid, and former Fox Sports league publicist Graham Snow gives his views on Ipswich’s...

Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and Ipswich City Council renew their partnership with strong support from mayor Teresa Harding. Chamber president Phillip Bell explains the significant improvement in relations since the election. Later: Ipswich City Council’s quarterly development report reveals the current state of home building activity across the city. Published: 3 June 2020. Music: https://w...

The co-founders of Liworaji Aboriginal Corporation are sisters Lilly and Maria Davidson. On National Sorry Day they spoke at Ipswich City Council’s monthly meeting and gave a heartfelt Welcome to Country with moving personal stories. During National Reconciliation Week, which runs until June 3rd, Ipswich Today presents highlights from their address in the council chamber. Published: 30 May 2020. M...

While Covid-19 remains top of the news agenda we continue to see and hear reports of how the lockdown is devastating so many business sectors. Today’s first guest offers hope for new jobs and economic green shoots in Ipswich, Lockyer Valley and the wider region. Colin Dorber explains more. Later: The most significant announcement for media since the internet was invented was made today by News Cor...

Meeting highlights: Ipswich City Council voted to establish a new standing committee to deal specifically with the on-going redevelopment of Ipswich CBD. Clarity sought on funding for the new Lions training stadium in Springfield Central. And former councillor David Pahlke will not get a recognition plaque on the new Rosewood library. Published: 26 May 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com St...

Jan Gadsden is owner of Top Office Group and creator of Executive Outlook - the only local annual survey of business leaders - talks about current business sentiment in Ipswich. Under the cloud of Covid-19 it is throwing up some positive surprises and heartbreak for others. Published: 25 May 2020. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com Stream audio recommended. If auto download enabled some apps req...