City heart’s transformation shared on Transparency and Integrity Hub
12 November 2021
The largest transformation to be undertaken in Ipswich Central in more than three decades is breathing new life into the Ipswich Central Business District (CBD) with the Nicholas Street Precinct’s journey now chronicled on council’s Australian-first Transparency and Integrity Hub.
A new ‘story’ has been published on the Hub which steps the community through the origins of the redevelopment, how it has unfolded from 2009 to now and includes financial data, major milestones and links to see what events are taking place in the precinct and at the libraries.
Mayor Teresa Harding said publishing the story was about providing the community with a more complete picture of the Precinct’s $250 million once-in-a-generation transformation.
“The Nicholas Street Precinct has turned a major corner in the past 12 months with the opening of the Ipswich Central Library, our one-of-a-kind stand-alone dedicated children’s library, 1 Nicholas Street and Tulmur Place,” Mayor Harding said.
“The incredible work has recently been recognised with Tulmur Place winning the Urban Design Institute Australia (UDIA) Queensland State Award for Best Social and Community Infrastructure.”
Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee Chair Councillor Marnie Doyle said this is great recognition of Tulmur Place as the beating heart of our wonderful city.
“In the months ahead, the Precinct will continue to grow and evolve as we welcome new businesses, including That Dumpling Place which was recently announced as the first tenant of the Precinct’s new dining hub,” Cr Doyle said.
“Through the Transparency and Integrity Hub, council has worked hard to share complex information about the redevelopment, which is held across many reports and data sets, in a format that is easy for the community to access and understand while meeting our legislative and legal requirements.
“Key milestones and major decision points, including links to the reports that informed those decisions and the design of the precinct, are also provided in the story.
“I encourage the community to visit the Hub to read how the redevelopment has taken shape over more than a decade, from its beginnings in 2009 to the present and to watch as this story evolves.”
The Nicholas Street Precinct redevelopment is a once-in-a-generation project which has included the opening of Tulmur Place civic plaza in November 2020, a new Ipswich Central Library in December 2020 as well as the delivery of a new council administration building and Australia’s first stand-alone dedicated children’s library in June 2021.
It also includes the restoration of The Commonwealth Hotel (formerly known as Murphy’s Hotel) and delivery of a new dining hub and retail spaces.
In publishing information on the Transparency and Integrity Hub, council must comply with all relevant legislation. In some instances, data which may identify individuals or companies has been masked for legal and/or privacy reasons.
The Nicholas Street Precinct story can be viewed on the Transparency and Integrity Hub at https://open.ipswich.qld.gov.au/stories