Advocacy Advisory Committee considers significant projects in inaugural meeting
12 September 2024
The new Ipswich City Council Advocacy Advisory Committee discussed several regionally significant projects for the city in its inaugural meeting this month.
Senior council officers briefed Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding, who chaired the meeting, and fellow councillors, including Economic and Cultural Development Committee Chairperson Cr Pye Augustine.
The Advocacy Advisory Committee reports to the Economic and Cultural Development Committee.
The information from officers included an update on North Ipswich Reserve, which has been earmarked for an upgraded stadium and potential venue for an NRL franchise and/or matches. All three levels of government have committed $40 million to the project.
“The committee’s first meeting was extremely productive and set the agenda for the next three and a half years,” Cr Augustine said.
“It was great to advocate for projects that will improve the liveability and infrastructure of Ipswich.
“On North Ipswich Reserve, council is determined to see this important sporting hub developed into a future home for our young and emerging athletes, to be a place where they can see their sporting heroes run out onto the field, and train to become the next generation of greats.
“This will be an important and ongoing advocacy matter.”
Cr Augustine said the role of the Advocacy Advisory Committee is to consider matters specifically relating to council’s advocacy program, including its regionally significant projects, and the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ipswich is one of the host venues for the event, with modern pentathlon to be held at Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield Central.
The committee, which also includes Cr Marnie Doyle as deputy chairperson and Cr Jim Madden, will meet next on 3 October 2024.
Council has established three other advisory committees for this term, the Regulation Advisory Committee, reporting to the Finance and Governance Committee; the Libraries and Customer Services Advisory Committee and the Sport and Recreation Advisory Committee, reporting to the Community and Sport Committee.
They will meet as required, with the agenda and minutes published online and meetings open to the public.