ipswich Archives - Page 9 of 13

New Building With Childcare Centre, Commercial Spaces Proposed For Brisbane Street Ipswich

Plans for a four-storey building have been submitted for Brisbane Street, Ipswich to accommodate a new childcare centre along with several commercial establishments.

Read: New Primary School Officially Named Ripley Central State School

The highlight of the mixed-use building, to be located at 7 Milford Street and 3-5 Limestone Street and 2 Brisbane Street, Ipswich is the childcare centre with spaces for 100 children.

The 797 sqm childcare centre will feature an outdoor play area and will be located on the ground floor, in conjunction with the cafe/lobby component to create activation of the street.

“This building has a commercial role to play, and it has been designed with a practical eye that also utilises the design principles of scale, context, presence, articulation, rhythm, order, and consideration of the sub-tropical design ethos that defines Southeast Queensland architecture. It creates a building that suitably reinforces its landmark contex,” designers at Sparc Architects said.

The rest of the 2,997 sqm property will be used for business purposes or as commercial offices. A medical centre and educational establishment uses have been added to the proposal to allow for flexible uses within Levels 1 and 2 in the future.

The two driveway locations along Limestone and Milford Street will be kept as part of the development. The site itself is currently vacant and does not contain any buildings or structures.

The applicant is also seeking to establish an undercroft car parking that can accommodate 63 cars, three motor bikes and five bicycles. Access to the building will be via Limestone and Milfors Streets.

Read: New Woogaroo Creek State School to Open Next Year

For more details about the development application, see the City of Ipswich application enquiry with the application number 7576/2022/MCU.

Springfield Childcare Worker Injured After Stepping on Lego Awarded $200,000

A former Springfield childcare worker, who suffered ligament damage after stepping on a piece of Lego at work, was awarded nearly $200,000 in damages.

In his 94-page court decision, Ipswich Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren said that Woodcrest Early Education Centre in Woodcrest Way, Springfield was negligent in fixing the lighting inside a storage shed where Chomba Annie Kabwe Nkamba had her accident in August 2017.

Mrs Nkamba was at the shed at 6:00 a.m. to prepare the childcare centre for the day when she stepped on the Lego block, rolled her ankle, and writhed in pain. She alleged that the Lego was not properly packed away after use and she did not see pieces on the floor as it was still dark and the shed had poor light quality.

Although she received treatment for the ligament damage, Mrs Nkamba’s movements remain limited to this day and have led to her depression.

A week prior to her accident, the Springfield childcare worker said she informed the centre’s supervisor about the shed’s defective light. She also discussed the light with a senior employee and was told it was on the maintenance book.

Woodcrest Childcare Centre Springfield — Photo Credit: Google Maps

Queensland Childcare Service, however, argued that Woodcrest Early Education Centre had not been negligent and that Mrs Nkamba tripped after she knocked the Lego blocks off the shelf. They also claimed that the former staff suffered only minor muscle strain.

The judge, however, sided with Mrs Nkamba and ordered Queensland Childcare Service to pay her $197,013.98 in damages.

“Her ankle inverted. She fell. How the block came to be there is central to this case,” the judge said.

The plaintiff and defendant are expected to file submissions of costs in January 2023.

Ipswich Launches Green Street Art Competition for All Ages

Calling artists of all ages in Ipswich! Here’s your chance to have your work on display for the public to appreciate. Join the Green Walkable Streets art competition.

Across Ipswich Central, 11 Energex boxes will be painted with unique works of art based on original designs from local creatives as the Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee launches the Green Walkable Streets Artwork Project.

The project aims to revitalise public spaces with creative artworks that bring out the “vitality into the heart of the city,” per the project’s chairman, Councillor Marnie Doyle.

“Council invites artwork based around the concept of ‘green street art’ with urban art designs that incorporate or reimagine trees, leaves, grass, flowers and flora,” Cr Doyle said.

“Local artists should look to Ipswich’s dozens of native species of flora and fauna for inspiration.

The artists who wish to submit their design ideas have until Wednesday, 18th of January 2023, with a brief description of themselves and their work, as well as how their design incorporates the theme of Green Walkable Streets. They may also choose a particular Energex Box from which their designs will appear if their entry has been picked as one of the 11 creative choices.

Energex Green Street Art — Photo Credit: Green Walkable Streets Artwork

The contest is open to both individuals or groups who may want to collaborate together. Aside from getting their work public, the winning entries will receive a $250 gift card.

Be sure to read the competition guidelines carefully before submission. Winning entries will be judged based on design, artwork statement, and the green theme.

Radio Host Matty Acton Walks from Bowen Hills to Ipswich, Raises $50k

Photo Credit: Supplied

Matty Acton, a familiar voice on Brisbane radio, has walked 50 kilometres from Bowen Hills to Ipswich to raise more than $50,000 for a cause he passionately cares about.

From the B105 studio complex on Campbell Street, Matty reached the Raceview Hotel in Ipswich all whilst wearing a 10kg weighted vest, symbolising carrying the weight of mental health.

Along the way, Matty was uplifted by heaps of people who tooted their car horns, walked with him, or stopped him to express their support. Raceview Hotel also donated $2,000, as well as its loyal patrons.

Early this year, the B105 breakfast show host spoke to an ambassador of the Top Blokes Foundation who encouraged him to get involved with the charity.

“Top Blokes shines a light on mental health and suicide prevention, and they run workshops in schools to help develop great men for the future,” the radio host said.

“It’s a difficult time for young men who are trying to find their place in the world. The wrong influences can send them on the wrong path. They are helping grow boys into great men, not fix broken men in the future.

He also spoke about this on his radio show weeks before the day he walked for a cause:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by b105 (@b105brisbane)

In total, Matty Acton was able to successfully rake in $50,885 for doing this journey.

“It also struck a chord with me when asked, as I lost a cousin to suicide last year. When someone loses their life that way it leaves so many questions and I saw this as an opportunity to honour him and help other young men.

“Being a father of 2 boys, a Foundation like Top Blokes is something I would want for them if they needed it.”

Swifts Sports Club Proposes to Buy Cameron Park Land to Proceed with Upgrades

For more than 20 years, the sports facility at Cameron Park in Booval has been the home of the Swifts Sports Club. Plans have now been made to sell the land and buildings so that the club can proceed with some much-needed upgrades.

Ipswich’s Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee has received the club’s expression of interest to buy the property and begin a $7.4 million refurbishment over the next few years.

According to Council, allowing Swifts Sports Club to keep its lease, as per the original arrangement, would mean the use of public funding to complete its refurbishment.

However, the budget allocated for the club’s facilities will not be enough to cover the required construction work.

“The club has made a proposal to purchase the land and will upgrade the facilities at its own cost but if the sale doesn’t go ahead, the Council will have to pay for refurbishment,” per Mayor Teresa Harding, who is also the chair of the Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee.

“The sale would only affect the land on which the club facilities are built – the rest of Cameron Park will remain as it is, owned and managed by Council.”

If the sale pushes through, Swifts Sports Club may be able to file a development application for their new building proposal.

“The community would have further opportunities to comment on any changes the club proposes in their development application which considers building heights, noise, parking and visual amenity,” Ms Harding added.

In November 2021, the Council resolved to sell the property after a series of meetings with the club and consultations with the community. Whilst the public consultation has closed as of 17 Sept 2022, locals may still provide feedback about selling the property to Shape Your Ipswich at communityengagement@wsp.com or via phone at 3368 6693.

Swifts Sports Club, a semi-professional rugby league club, was founded in 1919.

Foul-Smelling Cell Within New Chum Landfill to Shutdown in 2023

Cleanway Waste Management has decided to shut down a foul-smelling cell within the New Chum landfill in 2023, following orders to reduce the volume of its intake and rehabilitate the area.

In June, Cleanway was slapped with an Environmental Protection Order to assess its gas management for Cell 3B and come up with a plan to reduce its emissions after residents complained of the odour reaching their homes.

The New Chum landfill was heavily affected during the February floods and had to undertake excessive remediations. More rains, however, impacted the facility and added to the damage of a new cell, which was yet to finish construction.

According to the State Government, 4.9 ML of water still remains in the new cell as of the end of August 2022, which is roughly the size of two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Cleanway has until the 6th of September 2022 to comply with the Notice of Proposed Amendment with the Department of Environment and Science before the company will be cleared for expansion.

Cleanway has been pumping and dosing the water, whilst aeration and deodorising have continued. These remediations have apparently cost the company millions in expenses.

“As a result of the extended timeframe for remediation, the site is likely to be closed throughout FY23,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Teresa Harding said that whilst Cleanway has been working closely with Council, the Department and the community, the State Government’s action is already a win for Ispwich.

“Unfortunately, our residents are all too familiar with the offensive odours that arise from private landfills sites in Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.

“The extreme rainfall from Ipswich’s February floods had pooled in a landfill cell at the Cleanaway site which has contributed significantly to a powerful odour blanketing several suburbs.

“Residents will no doubt be relieved to hear that the State intends to direct Cleanaway to permanently close the landfill cell and fully restore it.”

HOYTS Named Flagship Cinema for Nicholas Street Precinct

The redeveloped Nicholas Street Precinct will soon have a state-of-the-art cinema with six screens and power recliner seats after securing HOYTS as its newest tenant.

Dubbed “one of the world’s leading entertainment corporations,” the movie company will be established at the Venue Building and open in late 2023, offering more than 90 jobs.

The site was formerly occupied by Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas, which shut down in mid-2019 due to the “declining retail environment” and the redevelopment of the precinct.

HOYTS Nicholas St Precint — Photo Credit: Google Maps

“Activating the cinema site is critical to the precinct’s success, which is why Council has endorsed additional investment to deliver this important piece of the puzzle,” Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said.

“The total boost to the local economy from the Nicholas Street Precinct is expected to total $1.196 billion between 2020 and 2032, so in the long-term, this is a great outcome for the city.

“The opening of the cinema will be a huge step forward in reinvigorating this area by providing an anchor tenant that will not only bring additional people to the Nicholas Street Precinct but will also create local employment and have a positive economic and social impact on the surrounding areas.”

Location IQ, a property economics consultancy, produced a report indicating Ipswich has an undersupply of cinema venues.

However, the operator of Limelight Cinemas nearby has opened a petition to stop Ipswich City Council’s plan to bring a “foreign mega-conglomerate to operate these cinemas, in direct competition with existing local operators.” The petition has since garnered more than 2,000 signatures.

Leda Holdings Chairman Bob Ell, who owns the said boutique arts-style cinema just 500 metres away from the Venues Building, said that while he supports the rejuvenation of the precinct, he believes Council should have invested in providing office spaces for companies and government departments instead of more retail and lifestyle tenants.

New Owners Prepare to Reopen the ‘Haunted’ Rosewood Hotel near Ipswich

Not even rumours of ghosts and hauntings can dissuade the new owners of the Rosewood Hotel, located west of Ipswich, from an extensive renovation and reopening.

Luke and Lynette Chalmers are intent on revitalising the hotel, also known as the Middle Pub, more than six years after it was shut down.

However, they have admitted to some spooky small encounters with the paranormal whilst been doing extensive renovations.

The Chalmers were aware of the hotel’s reputation when they bought the property from its previous owners, David Pahlke and Carol Moore. Luke and Lynette said, however, ended up falling in love with the historical place despite the stories they’ve learned from Carol.

Though none of the ghostly encounters may qualify as horrific, the former owners said they often found odd things like losing items, furniture getting rearranged, or hearing piano music when there was no piano at the hotel.

Luke said that when they visited the place to check, he thought he spotted someone at the corner of his eye by the flight of stairs. Luke’s father felt someone tapping on his shoulder.

Standing on a 2,418-square-metre block, the Rosewood Hotel was a family hotel with 11 bedrooms and four bathrooms. Originally constructed in 1870, it was one of four buildings in the area during its early days.

However, in 1912, the hotel completely burned down and was reconstructed. Apparently, some of its previous occupants never left. One was dubbed the “water ghost” for allegedly causing water to overflow at the veranda.

Over decades, clairvoyants and paranormal investigators have been to the hotel. They said that there are at least two spectres hanging around the place, a red-haired Scotsman and a spirit with a sad streak.

The Chalmers, who helped with the refurbishment of Collins Place as the Little Big House in South Bank, have yet to detail what changes or refurbishments they are doing to the property but this site has a lot of potential given its location in the suburb’s main retail strip. They do plan on offering meals using quality local produce and live music.

The renovations are expected to finish in four months. They are eyeing an August 2022 opening.

Ipswich In Talks with Ash Barty for Statue Honouring World No.1

Tennis superstar Ash Barty will be honoured with her very own statue in Ipswich after her victorious performance to end a 44-year drought and win the Australian Open.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding confirmed in a press conference that they have been in discussions with Ms Barty’s team about creating a statue for the World No. 1.

Ms Harding said that Ipswich City Council is planning to put in an application for an Ash Barty statue after the Queensland Government established the Framework for Considering Proposals to Establish Memorials and Monuments of Significance.

“People are very keen to do a statue…so we’ll certainly put in a great application for that,” the mayor said. “Again, we’ll work with Ash’s team to make sure that it’s respectful and it’s something that’s really great.”

Ms Harding said that the community will also be involved in planning the statue. On her Facebook page, hundreds of Ipswich locals have shared their ideas on how best to honour Ms Barty.

I’m so proud to be an Aussie 💙 pic.twitter.com/ELbsqR4Vv8
— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) January 29, 2022

Following her epic win, Ipswich installed five electronic billboards to honour their homegrown talent. Ms Harding said that Barty’s success is an inspiration to the community and described the tennis champ as “down-to-earth and hardworking.”

“She is quintessentially Ipswich; down-to-earth, focused, works hard and she has achieved her dream.”

Ms Harding also said they are considering renaming a road after Ms Barty, depending on how the talks with her team work out.

In 2017, Ipswich gave Ms Ash Barty the key to the city for her outstanding contribution to tennis, besting Grand Slam singles results in the 2017 Australian Open and the 2017 US Open. This was also the year Ms Barty climbed the WTA Top 100 world rankings to end at 17. Tennis centres across Ipswich have also been named after her.

Ms Barty’s accomplishment also brings pride to the First Nations people. The 25-year-old is a proud Ngarigo woman.

Last year, two petitions were opened for an Ash Barty bride and an Ash Barty statue in Springfield Central in Ipswich, where she grew up.

“Ultimately, whatever Council and the community come up with, we will need to see what Ash feels comfortable,” Ms Harding said.

Ipswich Excavation Unearths 120-Yr-Old Handmade Brick Drain on Milford Street

Photo credit: Ipswich First / ipswichfirst.com.au

A handmade brick drain believed to be over 120 years old has been unearthed during an excavation carried out along Milford Street near Queens Park.

The historical find appears to be in great condition. The discovery of the clay brick arch stormwater drainage system happened whilst Ipswich City Council field crews were working on the site as part of the Eastern Ipswich Bikeway Link project.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding explained that a section of the artefact was exposed during the excavation. Realising the historical significance of the discovery, the field crews handled the brick drain with extra care whilst successfully connecting the new pipes into the existing and still fully functioning brick drainage network.

A 1947 ‘The Queensland Times’ article with a photo showing replacement work being undertaken on the old brick drainage structure

Photo credit: Trove / trove.nla.gov.au/

“I would like to acknowledge the staff that uncovered the drain, recognising they had dug up something special,” Ipswich Central Redevelopment Committee Chair Councillor Marnie Doyle said.

“Council officers trawled through the history books to discover when the drain was built and unearthed the whole story behind it, which speaks volumes about our city pride and commitment to preserving local history.

Council research revealed that drainage works were carried out at the site in the 1880s and in 1910. At the time, the most prominent brick maker in Ipswich was the Welldon Company which was established in the 1860s by Thomas Welldon – acknowledged as a pioneer in the brick-making trade in Ipswich.

“While we may be the state’s fastest-growing city, we are also a city steeped in heritage and it is vitally important to protect historical artifacts where possible, “ Cr Doyle said.

“This wonderful piece of history is now part of a future bikeway and it is an example of how the future and past can sit together when both are valued.”