Ipswich City Council

[aldonius]

ICC have made a submission and in it they have effectively asked for 10 councillors and single-member districts (plus an elected Mayor).

Personally, I think this is reasonable; the point of a local council is to be across specific local issues, so single-member representation is appropriate for a council of Ipswich's geographic size and heterogenous land use.

Summary of the issues with having two councillors per division: people seem to expect both of them to be at every event, and to agree on every issue.

They have also asked to go to 10 councillors up from 8 - Ipswich is rapidly growing so this is also reasonable.

Though I will note their submission understates the size of MBRC by about 10x... (whoever prepared it must've copied the density figure from Wikipedia rather than the area).

[ozbob]

ICC have made a submission and in it they have effectively asked for 10 councillors and single-member districts (plus an elected Mayor).

Support this.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1597772229193846785

[ozbob]

Ipswich Tribune --> Support for return to 10 councillors $

A PUSH from Ipswich Councillors to return to 10 councillors has been backed by Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann.

In July 2019, following the sacking of the previous elected council by the Palaszczuk Government, the Local Government Change Commission recommended the unpopular option to reduce the number of councillors to eight and divide Ipswich City Council into four multi-member divisions.

Mr Neumann has lodged a submission with the Electoral Commission Queensland as part of its review into the electoral arrangements for Ipswich City Council.

The submission supports the council's submission in seeking to have Ipswich represented by 10 councillors.

Mr Neumann said his preference would be to return to 10 single-member divisions. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1602459758409064448

[ozbob]

Ipswich Tribune --> Calls for electoral change ignored $

A REVIEW of Ipswich Council's electoral boundaries has discounted calls from the Federal Member, Ipswich City Councillors and community leaders to return to 10 councillors in separate divisions.

Submissions were lodged by 23 people and the Ipswich City Council, most calling on the State Government to increase the number of councillors back to 10, in 10 separate divisions, to improve representation. ...

[ozbob]

Kuril Drive has been chosen as the new name for a Yamanto street formerly known as Pisasale Drive.

Kuril, pronounced cure-ill, is the Yugara/Yagara word for the Hydromys chrysogaster, which translates to golden-bellied water mouse – a native aquatic mammal endemic to Ipswich's waterways which is commonly known as Rakali.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said she was delighted a decision had been made to replace the street's name with a word from the traditional Yugara/Yagara language.

https://www.ipswichfirst.com.au/new-name-chosen-for-yamanto-street/

[ozbob]

Ipswich City Council Media Statement

https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_council/media/media-releases/articles/2023/year-of-success-and-fiscal-responsibility

Year of success and fiscal responsibility

31 October 2023

Ipswich City Council's Annual Report 2022-2023 showcases the city's thriving population and robust economy and shares Council's plan for the delivery of infrastructure and services for the year ahead.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said new residents increased by 29 per cent compared to the previous year.

"In the past financial year, 6,228 new residents now call Ipswich home and on average six new houses were built every day. Ipswich really is a city on the move," Mayor Harding said.

"From the redevelopment of the city centre at Nicholas Street Precinct, to the burgeoning new suburbs on our eastern, southern and western growth fronts, Ipswich is changing rapidly, while still maintaining our history and heritage."

The city's economy has shot past the $12 billion mark in the 12 months to 30 June 2023, with a $614 million year-on-year growth.

"I'm very proud of the strong financial management throughout the year, which has enabled Ipswich City Council to deliver an operating surplus of $5.4 million," Mayor Harding said.

"More than a year on after the devastation of the February and May 2022 floods across the city, our efforts to rebuild have focused on fiscal responsibility and sustainability – efforts that have been met with support from the community."

Mayor Harding said council was well placed to face the challenges that come with being the fastest growing city in Queensland with major work on the draft new Ipswich Planning Scheme and draft Local Government Infrastructure Plan carried out in 2022-2023.

"This new draft planning scheme is the first since 2006 and is designed to help manage sustainable growth in the community," Mayor Harding said.

She said the 2022-2023 Annual Report also showed council continued to achieve great results for Ipswich.

"We have a new community funding program which provides groups with up to $5,000 of financial support, there was $229 million invested in upgrading local roads, parks, sporting fields or transport projects and the continued redevelopment and activation of the Nicholas Street Precinct – there's a lot to be excited about for our future," Mayor Harding said.

"Ipswich City Council has $4.3 billion in assets, including infrastructure, so managing them in the most efficient way is crucial.

"There's a lot of effort towards efficiencies within council with the first year of an Effective Asset Management Project improving the governance, structure, policy, plans, culture, and training in asset management."

The Annual Report details council's activities between 1 July 2022 and 30 June 2023 and was endorsed at October's Ordinary Council meeting after being audited by the Queensland Audit Office on behalf of the Auditor-General.

To read the full report, visit Ipswich.qld.gov.au

Key statistics from the 2022-2023 financial year:

. 1340 development applications determined
. 6,228 new residents
. 125,000 wheelie bins collected each week
. 8496 tonnes of kerbside green waste to compost
. 107,325 free plants distributed
. 31.52km of additional pathways and bikeways
. 22.69km of additional local roads

====

ICC Budget 2023-2024

https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_council/media/corporate_publications/budget-2023-2024

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 'Completely vindicated': Former mayor cleared of fraud will run for council $

Former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli will eye a return to politics in March's council elections, declaring himself "completely vindicated" after being cleared of fraud.

Mr Antoniolli will stand as a candidate in Ipswich City Council's division three at the March 16 election.

The then-mayor was charged with fraud in 2018 following a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation into his purchase of charity auction items using council cash. ...

[ozbob]

https://x.com/IpswichCouncil/status/1750675717057110050?s=20

[ozbob]

The current Mayor Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has been re-elected.  This was the expected result.

Mayor Harding has done a good job IMHO, and deserves to continue.

[ozbob]

ICC: New committees and chairs set for new term of council

https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_council/media/media-releases/articles/2024/new-committees-and-chairs-set-for-new-term-of-council

[ozbob]

Resignation of Ipswich City Councillor David Cullen

https://www.ipswichfirst.com.au/resignation-of-ipswich-city-councillor-david-cullen/

Division 4 Councillor David Cullen has resigned from his role for health reasons, Ipswich City Council Chief Executive Officer Sonia Cooper said on Thursday (29 August).

Ms Cooper said Cr Cullen had advised her that he would be stepping down from his duties as of Friday, 30 August, 2024.