Improved accessibility at one of Ipswich’s biggest sporting precincts

Published on 29 September 2025

A new footpath will improve access for people of all abilities at a major Ipswich sporting precinct.

Ipswich City Council Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee Chairperson and Division 3 Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said the concrete path linking the carpark with the clubhouse at Bill Paterson Oval in Limestone Park is being funded under council’s Provisional Projects program.

“Bill Paterson Oval at the historic Limestone Park is the home of Ipswich athletics, with the wider precinct providing venues for clubs and associations in Australian Rules football, cricket and netball, among other sports and activities,” Cr Antoniolli said.

“We received a request from the Ipswich and District Athletics Club who are seeing an influx of athletes with disabilities signing up with the club.

“This trend is expected to continue as our region travels the green and gold runway towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The athletes, along with spectators with disabilities, are finding it difficult to safely get from the carpark to the Bill Patterson Oval clubhouse – so we have acted.

“The Provisional Projects program allows councillors to put forward initiatives not currently included in the three-year Capital Works program, allowing community requests for important projects to be acted on where needed.”

Division 3 Councillor Marnie Doyle said $58,000 has been designated for the project under the Provisional Projects program.

“Council is committed to promoting inclusiveness and I want to thank members of the community who raised this accessibility issue with council,” Cr Doyle said.

“As part of this project, we will also be including an additional disability parking bay in the carpark, including wheel stops, line-marking and signage.

“Building this footpath is a step in the right direction to improving inclusivity in our thriving grassroots sporting landscape.”

Ipswich and District Athletics Club President Vic Pascoe said the footpath would make a big difference for athletes and spectators.

“We now have seven para-athletes in our club, including one who uses a wheelchair on a regular basis, and quite a few parents of athletes who are also in wheelchairs,” Mr Pascoe said.

“We were finding we had to lift them up to help them get to the toilets and thought they deserved something better, because we should all be on an equal level, so reached out to our local councillors for support.

“The wheelchair access will make it so much better for people to come along and encourage more para-athletes to join our club and be a part of something they couldn’t be a part of in the past.

“I’m grateful for council’s willingness to support these improvements.”