Refreshed workspace to improve representation for community

Published on 21 August 2026

Ipswich residents will be better able to connect with the city’s councillors about matters important to them and the community with a refresh of elected representative office space at Ipswich City Council’s administration building.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the refreshed workspace was an investment in effective local governance and would improve how the community could interact with decision-makers.

“Prior to council entering interim administration in 2018, 10 divisional offices operated across the city at a cost exceeding $2 million per year,” Mayor Harding said.

“When the 1 Nicholas Street administration building was designed and approved prior to the return to elected administration of Ipswich, the standalone divisional offices model was discontinued in favour of a centralised approach.

“The intent was to improve consistency, collaboration and reduce costs. As a result, the building did not include dedicated offices for all elected representatives, but instead a small number of offices combined with open plan shared workspaces.

“Under this approach, councillors have experienced limitations in how they go about their work, including limited access to private meeting and work areas needed to support community engagement, confidential discussions and governance responsibilities.

“Practical experience over several years following the return of elected representatives to council has clearly demonstrated the shortcomings of this approach.

“For example, it has been difficult for divisional councillors to give residents an appropriate level of privacy during meetings where sometimes confidential discussions are necessary to provide appropriate community representation.

“The inequitable combination of offices and shared open plan workspaces do not adequately support the practical requirements of divisional councillors seeking to represent their communities.”

The renovations will provide each divisional councillor with an office as well as dedicated shared meeting spaces, while avoiding a return to the costly divisional offices operating model.

No changes will be made to the Mayoral, Deputy Mayoral or CEO office spaces.

“This about ensuring the city’s divisional councillors have fit-for-purpose facilities so they can effectively carry out their important civic duty of representing the residents of Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.

“This is a necessary investment in the effective functioning of council and the services it delivers to our growing community.”

The refurbishment will cost $950,000, including costs such as construction of new internal walls, flooring, painting, electrical and data wiring and fire safety measures.

The works have started this month and are expected to be completed in October.

“A large part of level 8 of council’s administration building where elected representatives’ offices will be unchanged by these works, including the council chambers, Mayor and Deputy Mayor offices, CEO office and amenities,” Mayor Harding said.

“In reconfiguring two existing spaces to deliver these improvements, every consideration has been made to keep the cost as minimal as possible, including maximising the effectiveness of the existing floor plan.”

There will be no impact on community members attending committee and Ordinary Council meetings, which are held on the same level as elected representative offices.