community safety Archives - Springfield Lakes

Young Drivers Take the Wheel at Queensland Raceway in Police-Led Safety Program

Queensland Raceway becomes the centre of a practical road safety program as police work with young drivers on real-life emergency scenarios.

At Queensland Raceway in Willowbank in Ipswich, young drivers are being placed in a rare real-world situation most only face under pressure, learning how to respond safely when police lights appear behind them, as Queensland Police run live night-time driving sessions on the circuit to reduce serious crashes on local roads.

The Learner Drive Night will take place on Thursday, 5 February 2026.

Community Road Safety in Focus

The program is part of an ongoing partnership between the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Raceway, designed to give young drivers hands-on experience in a controlled environment rather than learning through trial and error on public roads.

Police work directly with participants during nighttime sessions, using real emergency vehicles to simulate common traffic encounters that can cause confusion or panic for inexperienced drivers.

Drivers take part in short safety briefings before heading onto the Queensland Raceway circuit in their own vehicles. Police guide them through what happens when emergency vehicles approach, how drivers are expected to respond, and the safest ways to slow down, pull over or allow emergency vehicles to pass without creating further risk.

Learning What to Do Before it Matters

Queensland Police describe the sessions as an opportunity for drivers to build confidence and understanding before facing these situations on busy streets. The experience includes simulated roadside stops, interactions similar to random breath testing, and practice responding calmly to flashing red and blue lights while driving at night.

While learner drivers are encouraged to attend, the program is open to all young drivers, including those on provisional licences. Learner drivers must attend with a supervising passenger who holds an open licence and is over the age of 25. Organisers note that bookings must be made in the name of the driver taking part, not the supervisor.

Reducing Serious Crashes Through Education

Queensland Police state that education programs like Learner Drive Nights support broader efforts to reduce road trauma across the state. Police data shows serious crashes are often linked to what they describe as the Fatal Five behaviours: speeding, drink and drug driving, failing to wear seatbelts, fatigue and distraction.

Police aim to reduce panic-driven decisions that can lead to collisions if learners have direct exposure to emergency scenarios in a safe setting. The program also allows young drivers to ask questions and interact with police in a non-enforcement setting, helping build understanding and trust.

Queensland Police also encourage road users to learn more about staying safe on state roads through their Fatal Five road safety information.

Published 8-Jan-2026

Frontline Police Deployment Boosts Springfield and Nearby Suburbs

Photo Credit: QPS

Springfield has received an additional frontline police officer following the graduation of 118 new constables, with further deployments also made across Ipswich and Goodna.

Graduation Marks Major Intake

A graduation ceremony held on 5 December, 2025 welcomed 118 new officers into the Queensland Police Service. The intake forms part of a high-volume recruitment year, bringing the total number of officers sworn in during 2025 to almost 1,200.

The graduates join more than 1,000 First Year Constables already inducted this year, with a final cohort scheduled to graduate later in December.

Deployments Across Ipswich and Springfield

As part of the Southern Region deployment, five officers have been assigned across the Ipswich district, with one officer allocated to Springfield, Ipswich, Goodna, Karana Downs and Yamanto. The placements contribute to increased frontline coverage across established and growing residential areas.

The wider Southern Region distribution also includes placements in Toowoomba, Gatton, Kingaroy, Dalby and St George, contributing to increased frontline coverage across both urban and regional areas.

Diverse Experience Among Recruits

The graduating officers range in age from 18 to 54 and bring experience from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including education, healthcare, defence, social services, hospitality and trades.

Recruitment activity during 2025 included record attendance at academy open days in Brisbane and Townsville, alongside the largest graduating cohort recorded in more than three decades earlier in the year.

Springfield police deployment — *Photo Credit: QPS*

Ongoing Recruitment and Training

Recruitment remains active, with more than 840 recruits currently undergoing training and over 1,160 applicants progressing through the recruitment process.

Future graduations are expected to continue increasing frontline capacity across Queensland, including Springfield, Ipswich and Goodna.

Published 5-Jan-2026

Springfield Lakes E-Scooter Pilot Ends with Lessons for Queensland

Photo Credit: IpswichCityCouncil/Facebook

The quiet streets of Springfield Central, Springfield Lakes, and Spring Mountain saw a short-lived transport experiment come to an early end, despite solid community support and growing rider numbers.

A popular ride cut short

The trial ran in those suburbs from July 2023 until October 2024 under a partnership between Ipswich City Council and Beam Mobility. Council data showed between 60 and 89 trips a day, with riders typically travelling 2.4 kilometres in about 11 minutes.

An earlier Shape Your Ipswich project page shows the company initially deployed up to 125 scooters and trained riders through its Beam Safe Academy. When the pilot was extended in late 2023, the data looked promising. But by late 2024, Beam had informed Council that it would not continue operations beyond the Springfield Lakes zone.

The most common routes linked the Orion Springfield Central shopping centre, the University of Southern Queensland campus, and the Springfield train stations, revealing demand for short, flexible travel within the growing suburbs.

The official trial summary confirmed that Beam’s withdrawal was voluntary, not due to local performance issues.

Safety before speed

Although only one minor incident was recorded throughout the trial, officials were wary about e-scooter use on busy footpaths and near pedestrian areas. Beam Mobility had introduced strict safety controls, such as speed caps in high-traffic zones, automatic braking or shutdown when riders left approved areas, and restricted parking in unsafe spots.

These measures were well received, and 63 per cent of respondents in a Council survey said e-scooters felt safe to use. Still, it was concluded that community safety had to outweigh convenience.

What’s Next?

Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee chairman, Andrew Antoniolli, said many remained uneasy about the pace of e-mobility growth. While the Springfield Lakes trial had proven that residents were willing to use e-scooters responsibly, he noted that the laws governing personal mobility devices had not kept up with public use.

Mr Antoniolli said they were waiting for guidance from a national inquiry into e-mobility safety and regulation, which has received more than 1,200 public submissions. Council officials said they remain open to future trials once clear safety and legal frameworks are in place.

Published 28-Oct-2025

Mother’s Heartbreaking Loss in Ipswich Sparks Sophie’s Law Discussions

Photo Credit: Haylee Loccisano/Facebook

Haylee Loccisano’s life was forever changed after a head-on collision in Ipswich claimed the life of her unborn daughter, Celeste.

The incident occurred on Ipswich-Boonah Road when a 17-year-old driver veered into oncoming traffic. The accident, which left Ms Loccisano critically injured, has reignited conversations around Sophie’s Law, the state’s legislation recognising unborn children lost due to criminal offences.

A Tragic Event on Ipswich-Boonah Road

On 16 May 2024, Ms Loccisano, 26 weeks pregnant, was travelling with her mother near Ipswich. The crash occurred when the teen driver, reportedly distracted by a passenger’s phone, crossed double white lines and collided with Ms Loccisano’s vehicle. Despite emergency efforts, her unborn daughter could not be saved following an emergency C-section.

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A post shared by Haylee Loccisano (@hayleelocc)

Ms Loccisano suffered life-threatening injuries, spending a week in a coma and undergoing eight surgeries. The crash left her reflecting on how her life had changed forever in an instant as she travelled at 100 km/h and saw the approaching car fail to round the corner. The impact of the accident and subsequent coma left doctors unable to assure her family of her survival. She expressed profound heartbreak over losing her daughter Celeste, describing how her suffering would have been bearable if her child had survived, but instead, she now faces a long recovery while physically impaired and grieving her loss.”

Sophie’s Law and Its Significance

Sophie’s Law Ipswich — *Photo Credit: Pexels*

The death of unborn infants in criminal occurrences is recognised as an aggravating factor in punishment under Sophie’s Law, which was passed in 2023. Sophie Milosevic, an unborn child killed in a drunk driving crash in 2014, inspired the law’s name.

The teen driver in Ms Loccisano’s case became one of the first individuals sentenced under Sophie’s Law. In 2024 November, she received 100 hours of community service and a six-month driving disqualification. No custodial sentence was imposed due to her age, remorse, and inexperience.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has acknowledged the community’s concerns regarding the sentencing under Sophie’s Law. She has stated that further legal advice is being sought to ensure that penalties align with the gravity of such incidents and meet public expectations.

Community Sentiment and Reactions

Haylee Loccisano calls for stronger penalties for Sophie's law — *Photo Credit: Haylee Loccisano/Instagram*

Ms Loccisano has said publicly how devastated and disappointed she is with the punishment decision, saying that it was not enough for the like that was taken away from her. She called Celeste a “miracle baby” following four prior miscarriages and said in a victim impact statement that the loss was incalculable.

Sophie’s Law proponents Sarah and Peter Milosevic agreed, claiming the penalty was insufficient for the seriousness of the offence. Concerns have also been raised by the community regarding the light punishments for crimes that result in such severe losses.

Renewed Calls for Stricter Penalties

The case has sparked discussions about strengthening legal responses to reckless driving incidents, particularly those resulting in fatalities. Advocates are urging policymakers to revisit sentencing guidelines under Sophie’s Law to ensure justice for victims and deter dangerous behaviour on the roads.

Moving Forward

As Ms Loccisano continues her recovery, she remains committed to honouring her daughter’s memory and advocating for greater accountability under Sophie’s Law. The tragedy has highlighted ongoing challenges in balancing legal reforms with considerations of age and intent in sentencing.

Haylee Loccisano remains committed to advocating for Sophie's Law — *Photo Credit: Haylee Loccisano/Instagram*

For the Ipswich community, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of distracted driving and the importance of robust laws to protect lives.

Published 24-Dec-2024