Ipswich City Council is asking for the community to have their say on the potential North Ipswich Reserve Sports and Entertainment Precinct.
Council has launched a survey as part of the community consultation process on Shape Your Ipswich with responses due by 1 March.
Community engagement and support of the North Ipswich Reserve Sports and Entertainment Precinct through the survey on Shape Your Ipswich is important to demonstrate to the Queensland Government the importance of supporting the redevelopment of this key inner city asset.
General Manager of Community, Cultural and Economic Development Ben Pole said this forms part of the business case for the North Ipswich Reserve, which is looking at options including upgrades to meet national sporting competition requirements, and a potential staged approach to a boutique stadium development.
“North Ipswich Reserve Sports and Entertainment Precinct would provide a vital piece of community infrastructure and a focal point for the sporting community, provide ongoing opportunity to attract and secure high profile events, and would stimulate investment that would promote economic growth, employment opportunities and secure critical transport infrastructure for the region,” he said.
Mr Pole said the business case broadened its scope from the North Ipswich Stadium to the North Ipswich Reserve Sports and Entertainment Precinct to acknowledge that a stadium is most successful when surrounded by a range of complimentary functions.
This broadened scope provides avenues to explore additional value for the community, and improved economic development opportunities.
“A precinct approach allows for the consideration of private and public sector investment,” he said.
The business case follows a previously prepared feasibility and project definition report, which prompted council to in-principle commit $10 million to the redevelopment subject to equal contributions from both the Queensland Government and Federal Government, plus other conditions.
Council has been investigating the upgrade since 2000. The current business case considers minimum requirements to strengthen the bids for Ipswich-based football and rugby league teams to enter into the respective A-League and NRL national competitions and provides the opportunity to attract high profile music events to the region.
The North Ipswich Reserve Sports and Entertainment Precinct and the Brisbane Lions’ facility currently under construction at Springfield Central aligns with planning of major venues for a potential SEQ 2032 Olympic Games bid.
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