Ipswich kicks Olympics and Paralympics Games legacy goals
Published on 28 November 2025
Ipswich is already delivering on its Leveraging 2032: Our Roadmap to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with Brighton Homes Arena locked in as an Olympic venue, new transport links underway, and construction about to begin on the North Ipswich Reserve western grandstand.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said Ipswich’s achievements are building momentum two years on from the Leveraging 2032 roadmap shaped by the community, being put in place.
“Ipswich is making consistent progress with these milestones reflecting our determination to secure lasting legacy outcomes for the community.” Mayor Harding said.
“Brighton Homes Arena has been confirmed as a Games venue in the 2032 Delivery Plan. Being a co‑host city means our community will share directly in the economic, cultural and sporting benefits of the Games, creating opportunities that will last well beyond 2032.
“Major transport projects are advancing including the Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor with the Queensland Government finalising its preliminary evaluation of the Options Analysis Stage 2 Business Case. Stage one of the Better Bus Network is now rolling out which is key to our plans to ensure spectators and workforce can move efficiently during the Games themselves and long after.
“There has also been ongoing work with local sporting clubs to increase capability and capacity, progress on the Hotel and Short Term Accommodation Plan, and the installation of solar power in the Nicholas Street Precinct.”
Mayor Harding said a progress report endorsed at the November Council Ordinary Meeting noted 59 key actions with 14 per cent of those now completed, 61 per cent on track, and 21 per cent remain not started or are on hold pending decisions at a state level.
“Council is escalating its advocacy for the delivery of the Games legacy projects in Ipswich, in collaboration with other levels of government, by adding this to the list of Regionally Significant Advocacy Projects, the list of the top priorities for the city,” Mayor Harding said.
“This will focus our advocacy on critical initiatives such as attracting pre-Games training opportunities, the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct, and a new synthetic athletics track.
“Ipswich’s grassroots sporting culture continues to thrive, producing some of our nation’s most successful athletes including Paris 2024 Olympic Games multiple gold medallist Mollie O’Callaghan and athlete Gout Gout, to name a few.”
Cultural and Economic Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Pye Augustine said council’s Advocacy Advisory Committee considered the report at its October meeting and was delighted with progress.
“The committee discussed the key achievements to date including the securing of Brighton Homes Arena as a competition venue and Ipswich being a host city; the due diligence work underway to identify the location for the synthetic athletics track; finalisation of the Team Attraction Brochure so that the brochure can be used as another tool to promote Ipswich; Centre of Excellence; and refining the list of advocacy priorities,” Cr Augustine said.
“We also considered a report concerning the final list of proposed venues for inclusion in the City of Ipswich Team Attraction brochure for elite training, particularly in the context of pre-Games training in the leadup to the Games.
“Much progress is being made but we know the final six years will go quickly, so we have to be Games ready as soon as possible.
“With Brighton Homes Arena slated as a competition venue under the 2032 Delivery Plan, we will continue to work with Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee as they finalise the sports program over the next 10 months.”