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An Updated Guide to the Best Ipswich Walks

Ipswich has some of the most incredible but underrated walking trails in Queensland that both casual and experienced walkers. Only less than an hour’s drive from Brisbane CBD, Ipswich walks are family-friendly and well-suited for prams and wheelchairs.

Time to put on your most comfortable shoes and check out these best sites to visit:

Springfield Lakes Promenade

The Promenade is an easy stretch that features a section of the Springfield Lakes. It starts off on Springfield Lakes Blvd and down to the Waterside Reserve.

Public artworks of metal crocodiles and other designs are scattered all around the walking paths so it makes for a nice and interesting walk with the little ones. There’s a barbecue area and a fenced playground at the Promenade Park and it’s a lovely place to rest or cap off a Sunday afternoon romp with family.

Nerima Gardens

Within the eastern section of Queens Park is a Japanese garden, an ideal place to find your zen and solace. Nerima Gardens has a few winding paths surrounded by native Australian plants and fir trees, some Japanese-styled bridges across calming ponds, and a verandah overlooking a lake filled with ornate flowers and greens.

If walking helps you think, this is where to go to get those creative juices flowing. This garden is well-maintained and has benches all around if you’d like to just sit, relax, breathe fresh air and relish in Mother Nature’s beauty.

Denmark Hill Conservation Park

Set at the heart of the city, this Ipswich walk delivers the best views from the west. The old quarry in this area has been closed since 1952, leaving an abundance of natural places to explore for day-trippers, pet owners, birdwatchers and families or groups.

Pick from three different walking tracks — the Waterfall track (200m), the Circuit track (800m) and the Water Tower track (800m). The old water reservoir towers now serve as a climbing spot for visitors to view the best landmarks of Ipswich.

Denmark Hill Conservation Park is also home to the Triassic park, where dinosaur footprints on preserved sandstones are found.

Kholo Botanic Gardens

A short drive north of Ipswich city is this gorgeous nature reserve that may be the best place to reset, rejuvenate and recover a peaceful mental state. If you need a break from your hectic life, reconnecting with nature at the Kholo Botanic Gardens should be the fix.

The Kholo Botanic Gardens is a paradise of flora and fauna amidst a spacious green open space. This subtropical bushland offers heaps of walking paths, varying from 400m to 800m.

There’s a bit of history here, too, with the restored and preserved structure of the Redbank Uniting Church from 1904. This is actually a favourite spot for small weddings.

The botanic gardens provide public toilets, drinking water stations, BBQ and picnic areas.

Ipswich Heritage Trail

If you have a full day to spare, reconnect and rediscover the city and join the Ipswich walk through the heritage trail. The “Then and Now” series come highly recommended for both kids and adults who want to learn more about the people, places and events that shaped Ipswich.

You’d surprised at how much fun, educational, and physically rejuvenating the heritage trail walk can be. Secure the maps at the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre at Queens Park if you’d like to set your trail at your own pace.

About 700 Jobs to Open at New Ipswich Call Centre

Stellar Asia Pacific, a business processing outsourcing provider with a global presence, is set to open 700 call centre jobs for Ipswich residents, who will handle queries for the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

A spokesman for the ATO said that its new call centre will be housed at the GE Building at Springfield Central, where workers are expected to “to provide appropriate levels of service and support to the community.”

The ATO has been receiving an increasing number of enquiries about superannuation benefits and the government’s stimulus package for the coronavirus crisis.

The job opening comes as thousands of Ipswich workers have become unemployed due to the shutdown of businesses, especially in the retail, travel, and hospitality industries.

Currently, the call centre is hiring Australian citizens on a contractual basis but employment prospects may extend after October 2020.

“We need people who are committed to working as a team providing outstanding customer service over the phone to our clients customers, whilst demonstrating a high level attention to detail, taking accountability for their actions and displaying an enthusiastic attendance at work ethic,” the job announcement stated.

Stellar Asia Pacific CEO Kelli Hayes said that they have been looking forward to operating the call center in the Springfield area because of its quality facilities and the city’s growth rate.

Job applications may be coursed online via the job ad on Seek.

New 50-Bed Acute Mental Health Facility to Rise at Ipswich Hospital

As part of the West Moreton Health Master Plan, a new 50-bed mental health unit will be built on the site across from Ipswich Hospital.

The new facility, which will be bounded by Chelmsford and Kallara avenues and Walker Street, will be connected to Ipswich Hospital via an enclosed overhead bridge.

Aurecon has been appointed as manager of the project, which has been described as a state-of-the-art mental health care facility. The project manager has proven experience in health facilities in the state. Their past projects included Longreach Hospital, the Emergency Unit at Gladstone Hospital, Queensland Children’s Hospital, and the Roma Hospital redevelopment.

Acute Mental Health Unit

The new mental health unit at Ipswich Hospital aims to provide health care services that will promote the mental wellbeing and mindfulness of the patients. The design offers a residential feel, with easy access to the courtyards, gardens, and outdoor areas

Demolition of the seven properties on the site will happen in July 2020 to prepare the site for cleaning and early works. The actual construction will commence in early 2021, and the project is expected to be completed by late 2022. The project is projected to generate 100 jobs during the construction period.

The project is part of the $146.3-million commitment of the Queensland Government to the Master Plan to meet the infrastructure demand of the health sector in Ipswich. This master plan also includes the addition of a new high-tech MRI at Ipswich Hospital, a new 26-bed ward in the Ipswich Hospital Ward Block, and the acquisition of land for future Ipswich Health Precinct Stage 2.

The MRI suite opened in December 2019 to provide quick diagnosis of life-threatening diseases. It also means that people in Ipswich will no longer need to travel outside to access this type of service.

The new Ipswich Hospital ward will increase capacity at the hospital in anticipation of the population doubling by 2036.

Springfield Central Park ‘n Ride Part of $400M Road Stimulus Package for QLD

A major influx of new jobs is in the cards for Queensland as the state government rolls out its roads and transport projects and announces over $400 million in new, accelerated funding for state roads, to supercharge the economy through the coronavirus recovery period.

Queensland Jobs and Projects

While on a visit to the $812-million Bruce Highway upgrade on the Sunshine Coast, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that major projects along the length of the Bruce Highway, along with billions of dollars’ worth of upgrades for the M1, Capricorn Highway, Ipswich Motorway and Smithfield Bypass are on the rollout schedule for 2020.

“Queenslanders are already seeing major road projects nearing completion in places like Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Central Queensland, Wide Bay, the south east and across regional Queensland, but that’s just the tip of iceberg,” Mr Bailey said.

He also stressed that over 21,500 jobs will be supported by the $23-billion investment in roads and transport investment, including 13,500 jobs for regional Queensland.

The program is part of The Queensland Economic Recovery Strategy: Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs, which aims to help the state focus on backing QLD jobs to aid in COVID-19 recovery.

Springfield Central Park ‘n Ride

Photo Credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads

In Springfield, the new Springfield Central Park ‘n’ Ride will add 44 construction jobs and will also increase the Springfield Central station parking precinct’s total capacity to approximately 1,100 commuter carpark slots.

It will also improve safety and connectivity for customers who are using the slots in their daily commute.

The detailed design for the carpark have taken into consideration pedestrian movements and access arrangements. Care has also been taken to ensure that the overall design complements the surrounding area.

Other Projects

The list of major projects getting underway in 2020 include:

$1 billion Bruce Highway upgrade Cooroy to Curra Section D– 576 jobs
$1 billion M1 upgrade from Varsity Lakes to Tugun near the NSW border – 837 jobs
$662 million Bruce Highway upgrade from Caboolture to Steve Irwin Way – 664 jobs
$481 million Bruce Highway upgrade from Edmonton to Gordonvale in Cairns – 466 jobs
$749 million M1 and busway upgrade at Logan – 721 jobs
$712 million Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A – 760 jobs
$550 million Sunshine Coast rail upgrade – 333 jobs
$301 million Bruce Highway upgrade at Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges – 382 jobs
$110 million Mackay Northern Access upgrade – 154 jobs
$150 million Bruce Highway interchange upgrade at Deception Bay – 270 jobs

Meanwhile, other major projects already underway include:

$104 million Cairns Southern Access upgrade from Kate Street to Aumuller Street – 113 jobs
$514 million Haughton River Floodplain project at Giru, 40km south of Townsville – 544 jobs
$497 million Mackay Ring Road – 534 jobs
$121 million Rockhampton Northern Access Upgrade – 260 jobs
$75 million Capricorn Highway duplication, Gracemere – 187 jobs
$812 million Bruce Highway upgrade from Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway – 680 jobs
$400 million Ipswich Motorway upgrade from Rocklea to Darra – 471 jobs
$195 million M1/M3 merge upgrade – 257 jobs
$152 million Smithfield Bypass in Cairns – 115 jobs
$197.5 million M1 upgrade from Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes – 257 jobs
$80 million Sumners Road interchange – 105 jobs
Warrego Highway upgrade at the Chinchilla open level crossing

Expressions of Interest Sought for a Vertical School for Greater Springfield

Expressions of Interest are now being sought for the first vertical school in Greater Springfield, a project that could be open by 2024.

Springfield International School will offer an international education to students and will adopt a trailblazing, vertical, high-rise design, something that Springfield City Group Education and Health Services believes may be adapted by all schools built in the area in the future.

Photo Credit: https://www.greaterspringfield.com.au/education/international-school/

Project Phases

The project will be divided into five phases. Phase 1 involves site selection / reservation and has bee completed. Currently, the project is in Phase 2. This involves a 3-month process collecting Expressions of Interest and selecting a project partner from among the submissions.

Phase 3 involves Consortium Development and lasts approximately six months. Once this is done, Phase 4 kicks in. This is a two-year Design & Construction stage.

The final stage, Phase 5, involves Commissioning & Systems. This is envisioned to be a 3-month process, just in time for school opening, tentatively in 2024.

International Baccalaureate Program

The school will deliver an International Baccalaureate program, aimed at providing 16- to 19-year-olds with internationally accepted credentials for entry into universities worldwide.

By the time the project is completed, the vertical school model would have reimagined “…what a school provides and how it functions… (forcing) educators and architects to consider how teaching and learning spaces must perform and how they might need to perform in the future,” Ms Noonan said in a statement to other press.

Meera Honan, the director of Springfield City Group Education and Health Services, said that the fee structure would depend on the final business case that the project partners will decide upon.

Initially though, the idea is to operate the school under a private, selective entry for 1,500 paying students in Years 7-12. Emphasis is being made to ensure that Greater Springfield’s student population will receive a facility worthy of being in one of SEQ’s biggest growth areas.

As a major growth area, Springfield has several attractions for first-time home buyers or young families looking for an ideal place to live, such as excellent lifestyle amenities and rail transport links to the city.

Greater Springfield has six state schools. Access to desirable school catchments is a major driver of real estate sales and here, the area does not disappoint.

Looking for a Partner

An experienced consortium partner for Springfield International School is now being sought. The call for Expressions of Interest is now open.

In a handout available for download from their site, potential partners are expected to “… be comfortable becoming an active member of the community of existing providers through ongoing participation in The Learning Coalition.”

Furthermore, the briefing document goes on to explain that the project may be delivered by an independent operator or joint venture structure formed specifically for the project.

Interested parties may visit the website.

Here’s What You Need to Know About Uber Pets Trial in Brisbane

Photo Credit: Pexels/Pixabay

Want to take your fur baby for a ride but can’t do so because you don’t have a car? Travelling with pets will be a whole lot easier this time with the launch of Uber Pets across Brisbane.

Presently, the feature is in trial stage as the ridesharing company is testing the market before rolling it out nationally. It will be launched as a permanent option if riders and drivers like it.

“This new product gives riders peace of mind that their much-loved companions will be welcomed along for a comfortable and reliable ride. Not only is it a win for pet owners, Uber Pet also provides drivers who stay opted in to pick up furry friends with another opportunity to earn more,” Uber said.

The trial, which started on 10 March 2020, will also be offered in Sydney. Here’s what we know about Uber Pets in Brisbane so far:

Any domesticated animal is welcome for a ride, but it’s subject to the driver’s discretion when they book a ride through their app
It will be available in the Uber app as a separate product
It will attract a $6-7 surcharge (rates will vary by market).
Riders should control their pet while on the trip, hence, Uber strongly encourages the use of a leash or harness. Otherwise, all other animals must be contained in an enclosed pet carrier.

Take note that this feature will not replace Uber’s existing service animal policy. If you have a service animal, you can continue using their regular Uber option. You can get further updates about this new product through Uber’s website or Facebook page.

Update regarding coronavirus: Uber encourages the public to stay home. If you must travel, wash your hands before and after a ride, cover your mouth and nose if you sneeze, and sit in the back to give your driver space. Should you need to buy food or treats for your pet, consider buying through Coles via Uber Eats.

Urban Pantry To Remain Open For Great Takeaway Food

Well-known for its tasty burgers, good brews and delicious menu line-up, Urban Pantry continues to rise to the occasion, despite concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The Greenbank eatery is committed to remaining open for customers who are staying or working from home who still want to keep eating delicious, homemade meals without the need to prepare it themselves.

The tiny cafe announced that it will keep serving takeaways despite adjusting its trading hours.

We are open…We will be trading as long as we are allowed…To allow us to do so we have Social Distancing Measures…
Posted by Urban Pantry on Saturday, March 28, 2020

“We will also be taking extra precautions to make sure that everything is sanitized and as clean as possible,” the store owners said on Facebook.

“If you have any concerns about waiting for your food please phone ahead and we will give you the best approximate wait time that we can. If you chose to come in and order and wish to wait in your car please let the staff member know when placing your order and advise make and colour of your vehicle…we will run it out to you.”

Take note of the Urban Pantry’s store hours during this indefinite period:

Monday	5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday	5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday	6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday	7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The store can prepare dim sums, pulled pork sandwiches, and various combination meals or family bites for group takeways. Please phone 3462 9065 ahead of time to make arrangements for your orders and the pick-up:

Urban Pantry used to be in Ipswich but has since moved to Greenbank in late 2019.

“Great food, the pulled beef loaded fries was to die for and the service and hospitality was awesome”
Marie Longworth, Facebook

“Awesome fresh made food exactly how you like it.. friendly staff who go the extra mile to give you the best service possible.”
Neil Briscoe, Google Reviews

Latest Updates On $400M Ipswich Motorway Upgrade

Photo Credit: arcadis.com

Locals experienced a major traffic switch in Ipswich following the demolition of the old westbound bridges, to make way for a 3-km upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway between Granard Road, Rocklea and Oxley Road, Oxley.

The traffic change will allow for the establishment of the new, higher westbound motorway lanes and bridges over Oxley Creek floodplain. This is the next important milestone for the first stage of Rocklea to Darra project.

During the traffic change weekend, the Department of Transport and Main Roads assured that access to local businesses on Ipswich Road (northern and southern service roads) will be maintained.

Here are benefits of the $400-million Ipswich Motorway upgrade:

Reliability – improved traffic flow and reduced congestion creating more reliable, consistent travel times.
Safety – upgraded road safety on the motorway with improved sight distances, safer access to and from the motorway.
Connectivity – enhanced local connectivity for all road users, pedestrians and cyclists with new service road connectors reducing the need for local trips on the motorway.
Flood immunity – improving the motorway’s flood immunity by constructing higher bridges over Oxley Creek.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the switch is a major milestone for the project and a key part of upgrading the motorway from four to six lanes between Granard Road, Rocklea and east of Oxley Road Interchange.

“These bridges will carry more than 85,000 vehicles daily and will boost the motorway’s flood immunity by being built to current standards,” Mr Tudge said in a media statement.

During the works, DTMR will place detours, signage and variable message sign (VMS) advising of the changed traffic conditions. The department advises residents to allow extra time when planning their travel.

Based on the department’s project timeline, construction is due for completion in early 2021. For more information and latest updates about the project, visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.

Ipswich Teen Wins Big At 2020 Queensland Youth Week

Photo Credit: Queensland Government

A piece of art depicting passion and diverse creativity of young Queenslanders has landed an Ipswich student the top prize at the Queensland Youth Week 2020 artwork competition.

Taking the title for the overall winner is Hanna Jones, a 16-year-old aspiring artist from North Ipswich. She included seedlings in her artwork, a move that impressed judges because for this year’s Youth Week, the State Government will be giving out bookmarks with seeds for young people to plant.

“It includes some of the goals and influential aspects of our lives including music culture and a collective drive to protect our environment. I enjoy experiencing and belonging in the creative community and seeing people the same age as me making a positive impact,” she said about her piece.

Hanna’s piece, entitled “Salad,” has been described as “a riotous splash of colour and movement, with hidden details and messages for young people throughout,” by judge Di Farmer, Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women.

Ms Farmer said Hanna’s artwork would be used to promote Queensland Youth Week on the department’s website, through social media and on downloadable collateral to support the week. Aside from the opportunity to be featured in this year’s Youth Week, she has also won a:

$500 Mastercard
graphic design tablet (Wacom Intuos Pro Medium with Pro Pen 2 valued at $399)
gimbal (DJI Osmo Mobile 3 Gimbal valued at $159)

Competition runners-up, Murphy McDonald-Smith from Flagstone Creek and Kayla Smith-Bharda from Koongal, each won a $100 JB Hi-Fi gift voucher.

Ms Farmer added that a gallery showcasing entries will be online soon to share some of the wonderful entries. For the meantime, you can view all entries submitted this year by checking out the State Government’s ehub.

Queensland Youth Week 2020

Queensland Youth Week will run from 1-9 April 2020 and will see 25 projects delivered across the state, each receiving a share in $50,000 worth of grants, marking the week and celebrating the enormous contribution of youth to the state.

The theme for this year is ‘Yeah the youth!’ – It’s a call to friendship, strength and unity between young people and a celebration of who they are and what they offer to Queensland.

New Catholic School in Redbank Plains Welcomes Foundation Students

Queensland’s newest Catholic school has recently welcomed its 98 foundation Prep to Year 3 students and officially joins Brisbane Catholic Education’s network of south-east Queensland archdiocesan schools.

On 29 January, St Ann’s Primary School officially opened its gates, joining Brisbane Catolic Education’s network of catholic schools, being its 142nd school. Located at 67-87 Halletts Road, Redbank Plain, the School will grow by one school year at a time and is expected to be a four-stream school when it reaches Year 6 catering for 780 students with around 50 teachers and support staff.

New Catholic School in Redbank Plains open — *Photo credit: St Ann’s School, Redbank Plains / Facebook*

Foundation Principal Sonny Smith said that he is excited and humbled to have been given the opportunity “to bring an affordable Catholic education to the community of Redbank Plains and surrounding areas.”

“Ipswich City Council’s latest development report shows that Redbank Plains is now the fastest-growing suburb of Ipswich, and this momentum is expected to continue as new suburban developments are rolled out all the way to the Ripley Valley,” Brisbane Catholic Education Executive Director, Pam Betts, said.

“Brisbane Catholic Education is committed to ensuring that high quality and affordable Christian schooling is available to young families throughout the region, with other new schools planned for Springfield, Ripley, Greenbank and Flagstone over the next decade.”

Apart from St Ann’s, seven other catholic schools were recently opened including Good Samaritan Catholic College, Bli Bli; St Joseph’s College, Coomera; McAuley College, Beaudesert; Clare’s Primary School, Yarrabilba; St Benedict’s College, Mango Hill; Good Shepherd Primary School, Springfield Lakes; and Mother Teresa Primary School, Ormeau.

St Ann’s Primary School also joins eight new state schools across the state that were also opened in late January 2020. It was indeed a day that marked a milestone for education in Queensland as it recorded the highest number of schools to open on the same day in more than 30 years.

The eight state schools that opened in 28 January, 2020 were Fortitude Valley State Secondary College, Calliope State High School, Foxwell State Secondary College in Coomera, Mango Hill State Secondary College, Yarrabilba State Secondary College, Ripley Valley State School, Ripley Valley State Secondary College and Lee Street State Special School at Caboolture.

St Ann’s Primary School was named in honour of Virgin Mary’s mother, grandmother of Jesus, and patron saint of miners.