Ipswich delivers with new and improved parks and sports fields in 2021-22 Budget
24 June 2021
Ipswich City Council will deliver more than $8.6 million from the 2021-22 Budget on new and existing parks and sports grounds across the city, plus upgrades, extensions and rehabilitation to other facilities.
Chair of the Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Andrew Fechner said the significant investment in the outdoors reflected the community’s passion for parks, sport and the environment.
“Our city has some wonderful parks and playgrounds, marvellous walking and cycling paths, and a natural backyard that draws visitors from all parts to explore and enjoy,” Cr Fechner said.
“Our fields and ovals, trails and tracks, pools and courts attract athletes of all age and abilities.
“On these grounds, fitness is honed, local legends are made and future champions bred.
“However, maintaining and improving our city’s numerous parks and sports grounds is expensive – particular as Ipswich’s unprecedented growth has dramatically increased the demand for new and upgraded facilities.
“As a council, we are committed to spending ratepayers’ money wisely through careful consideration and prioritisation of new and upgraded open spaces and sporting facilities across Ipswich”.
Some of the big-ticket items in the parks, sports and environment budget include:
- Atlantic Drive Sporting Complex - Rebuild sporting field and replace sport field lighting ($1.8 million).
- Rubber Softfall Replacement at various parks ($400,000).
- Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve – Replace sport field lights and poles to the AFL oval ($650,000).
- Tivoli Sporting Complex - Replacement of existing fence to the baseball field ($300,000).
- Queens Park - Stabilise and install retaining wall at the northern cliff near the Ipswich Bowl Club ($300,000).
- Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve Youth and Skate Area - Stage 1 Construction - Skate Facility as an outcome of the Regional Youth Area Design ($1 million).
- Suttons Park Skate Facility Upgrade - Remove and fully upgrade existing skate facility including skate elements, shelter, pathways, drink fountains and seating ($745,000).
- Wiley Street Park BMX Track - New Canteen, including new paths, toilet, storage ($150,000 for design works).
- Rosewood Showgrounds - New community BBQ hut in conjunction with amenities block construction and upgrade works, including BBQ, sinks, tables, seating, shelter ($863,000).
Cr Fechner said around 40 projects would be worked on in 2021-22, but across the three-year capital program there were more than 60.
About $5.4 million would be spent on rehabilitation to sports fields and parks.
“These works include signage, new retaining walls, new grass on fields, play areas, car park expansions, storage sheds, lighting, toilets, pathways – from small upgrades and improvements to far bigger projects which require more complex planning, design and construction”.
Mayor Teresa Harding said the significant investment in parks, sport and the environment was aligned to one of the key themes in council’s iFuture document, its 20-year community vision and five-year corporate plan: vibrant and growing.
“Our outcomes for 2026 includes our city’s design and development promote quality place making and liveability. Positive environmental, sustainable, inclusive, and cultural outcomes are sought. Our city is also well connected with active and public transport options,” Mayor Harding said.
“Our city is active and healthy with a variety of activities, facilities and services on offer for all to take part.
“Our strategic planning enables us to prepare and respond to the city’s rapid growth and expansion of infrastructure networks and will be underpinned by an evidence-based approach to determine community needs in meeting our growth.”
Chair of the Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Andrew Fechner said the significant investment in the outdoors reflected the community’s passion for parks, sport and the environment.
“Our city has some wonderful parks and playgrounds, marvellous walking and cycling paths, and a natural backyard that draws visitors from all parts to explore and enjoy,” Cr Fechner said.
“Our fields and ovals, trails and tracks, pools and courts attract athletes of all age and abilities.
“On these grounds, fitness is honed, local legends are made and future champions bred.
“However, maintaining and improving our city’s numerous parks and sports grounds is expensive – particular as Ipswich’s unprecedented growth has dramatically increased the demand for new and upgraded facilities.
“As a council, we are committed to spending ratepayers’ money wisely through careful consideration and prioritisation of new and upgraded open spaces and sporting facilities across Ipswich”.
Some of the big-ticket items in the parks, sports and environment budget include:
- Atlantic Drive Sporting Complex - Rebuild sporting field and replace sport field lighting ($1.8 million).
- Rubber Softfall Replacement at various parks ($400,000).
- Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve – Replace sport field lights and poles to the AFL oval ($650,000).
- Tivoli Sporting Complex - Replacement of existing fence to the baseball field ($300,000).
- Queens Park - Stabilise and install retaining wall at the northern cliff near the Ipswich Bowl Club ($300,000).
- Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve Youth and Skate Area - Stage 1 Construction - Skate Facility as an outcome of the Regional Youth Area Design ($1 million).
- Suttons Park Skate Facility Upgrade - Remove and fully upgrade existing skate facility including skate elements, shelter, pathways, drink fountains and seating ($745,000).
- Wiley Street Park BMX Track - New Canteen, including new paths, toilet, storage ($150,000 for design works).
- Rosewood Showgrounds - New community BBQ hut in conjunction with amenities block construction and upgrade works, including BBQ, sinks, tables, seating, shelter ($863,000).
Cr Fechner said around 40 projects would be worked on in 2021-22, but across the three-year capital program there were more than 60.
About $5.4 million would be spent on rehabilitation to sports fields and parks.
“These works include signage, new retaining walls, new grass on fields, play areas, car park expansions, storage sheds, lighting, toilets, pathways – from small upgrades and improvements to far bigger projects which require more complex planning, design and construction”.
Mayor Teresa Harding said the significant investment in parks, sport and the environment was aligned to one of the key themes in council’s iFuture document, its 20-year community vision and five-year corporate plan: vibrant and growing.
“Our outcomes for 2026 includes our city’s design and development promote quality place making and liveability. Positive environmental, sustainable, inclusive, and cultural outcomes are sought. Our city is also well connected with active and public transport options,” Mayor Harding said.
“Our city is active and healthy with a variety of activities, facilities and services on offer for all to take part.
“Our strategic planning enables us to prepare and respond to the city’s rapid growth and expansion of infrastructure networks and will be underpinned by an evidence-based approach to determine community needs in meeting our growth.”