Sustainability Strategy grows a cleaner, greener Ipswich

Published on 09 April 2026

Ipswich City Council is cleaner and greener as a result of a five-year Sustainability Strategy that has seen about 30 actions completed between 2021-2026.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the 81 per cent completion rate as of March 2026 involved some substantial projects which had been implemented over multiple years and/or ongoing in nature.

“Some of our success stories include a draft decarbonisation plan, rooftop solar projects, green energy precincts, and improvements to the organisation’s emissions profile,” Mayor Harding said.

“A prime example is the rooftop solar project at the Nicholas Street library (200kW), which was completed in August 2025 has been operating for over six months and is using about 15 per cent of its previous electricity requirements, while the cost of electricity has halved.

“This is an excellent result from five years of council focussing its efforts on being clean and green. We are an environmentally friendly organisation, and this is reflected in many sustainable projects being completed.

“Actions were committed to in the implementation plan across five focus areas: Sustainable Council, Climate Adaptation, Transport and Mobility, Natural Environment and Healthy Waterways, and Circular Economy/Waste and Resource Recovery.”

Council launched its sustainability strategy in 2021 to build on existing work and introduce new actions to make Ipswich a more sustainable place to live.

As council moves into the final year of its 2021-2026 plan, the final progress report on the five-year strategy has been presented to council and highlights successful actions including:

  • Development of a decarbonisation plan to help reduce council's carbon emissions over the medium and long term.
  • Establishment of the Southeast Queensland Climate Resilient Alliance (SEQCRA) to help build regional capacity for councils to respond to climate change
  • Rooftop solar projects, including at Robelle Domain Lagoon Café (60kW), which is underway and due for completion this year
  • Solar farm feasibility assessment, to determine the economic viability of developing a solar farm (and batteries) within Ipswich, including an analysis of expected costs, benefits, and long‑term financial performance
  • Local flood guides for the high-flood risk suburbs of Goodna, Brassall, North Booval, Bundamba, Grandchester and Karalee (including Barellan Point and Chuwar) are in final drafting phases.

Mayor Harding said in the lead-up to the strategy's expiration in 2026, a thorough review will be conducted to assess progress and inform future directions. 

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