Council - 24 Sep 2026 9:00 AM

Topics

• Ipswich council seeks return to mayor and 10 divisions
  Council will ask the Local Government Change Commission to urgently assess a return to a Mayor and ten single-councillor divisions, while beginning community consultation.
  The proposal could change how Ipswich residents are represented and vote at the next local government election.
• Ebbw Vale War Memorial soldier to be repaired before ANZAC Day
  Council has ordered the damaged stone soldier at Ebbw Vale War Memorial to be removed, repaired, re-installed and re-dedicated before ANZAC Day 2027.
  The memorial is a significant local heritage and remembrance site, and residents will want to know the repair timetable.
• Ipswich planning and development fees changed for 2026–2027
  Council adopted amendments to its planning and development fees and charges for the 2026–2027 financial year.
  Developers, businesses and residents lodging applications may face changed application costs, although the extracted minutes do not provide the amounts.

Decisions

• Proposed return to divided electoral representation
  Council resolved to seek urgent consideration by the Local Government Change Commission of a structure comprising a Mayor and ten single-councillor divisions. Council will begin community consultation in parallel with the referral process.
  Residents may be asked for their views and could see changes to how councillors are elected before the next local government election, subject to the required state process.
• Ebbw Vale War Memorial repairs
  Council resolved to remove and repair the damaged stone soldier at Ebbw Vale War Memorial. Removal will occur in accordance with the Chief Executive Officer’s advice, with repairs, re-installation and re-dedication to occur before ANZAC Day 2027.
  The memorial may be temporarily altered while works are undertaken, with completion targeted before ANZAC Day 2027.
• Planning and development fees and charges
  Council adopted proposed amendments to fees and charges for planning and development for 2026–2027, as set out in the referenced attachment.
  Applicants for planning and development services may face changed fees or charges, although the extracted minutes do not list the individual amounts.
• Planning approval changed
  Council approved a change to development approval 7213/2014/MAMC/E, originally associated with Queensland Planning and Environment Court Judgment No. 107 of 2023, subject to conditions and attachments.
  The decision changes the approved development arrangements, but the extracted text does not identify the site or specific conditions.
• Rates concessions approved
  Council approved differential general-rate concessions for properties listed in confidential attachments, including properties at 36 Moffatt Street, Ipswich; 12 and 10 Glebe Road, Newtown; 97 Pine Mountain Road, Brassall; and 10A Glebe Road, Newtown. A 100 per cent concession was also referenced for a property in Drive, Yamanto, and a concession was approved from building completion for another confidentially listed property.
  The affected property owners will receive rate relief under Council’s Rates Concession Policy, with some concessions backdated to the relevant application date.
• Road land acquisition
  Council resolved to purchase or acquire confidentially identified land for road purposes, initially by agreement with affected landowners and, if necessary, under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967.
  The decision may affect owners of the identified land and support future road works, but the locations and project details were confidential in the extracted material.
• Drainage easement changes
  Council approved surrendering an existing drainage easement where it will no longer cover the future stormwater infrastructure alignment and authorised acquisition of a replacement drainage easement, initially by agreement and otherwise under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967.
  The affected landowners may experience changes to property easements connected with future stormwater infrastructure.
• Audit and Risk Management Committee membership
  Council noted Councillor Andrew Antoniolli’s resignation from the Audit and Risk Management Committee and appointed Councillor Jacob Madsen for the remainder of the current member term, ending in March 2028.
  The change affects Council’s internal oversight arrangements rather than a direct public service.

Discussion

• 2026–2027 budget and long-term financial forecast
  Council received and noted information about the 2026–2027 Budget and Long-Term Financial Forecast.
  The forecast provides context for Council’s future financial decisions, but the extracted material does not provide new spending, rate or debt figures.
• Council financial performance
  Council noted its financial performance report for the period ending 31 August 2026.
  The report records Council’s financial position, but no specific performance figures were included in the extracted text.
• Committee recommendations adopted
  Council adopted blocks of recommendations from the Audit and Risk Management; Infrastructure, Planning and Assets; Finance and Governance; Community and Sport; Economic and Cultural Development; and Environment and Sustainability committees, with some items handled separately.
  Several committee decisions became Council resolutions, although the extracted content does not identify every underlying item.

Impacts

• Community consultation will begin on a proposed return to a Mayor and ten single-councillor divisions.
• Planning and development fees and charges for 2026–2027 have been amended, with individual amounts not shown in the extracted text.
• Eligible property owners named or referenced in the rates decisions will receive differential general-rate concessions.
• The Ebbw Vale War Memorial stone soldier will be removed, repaired, re-installed and re-dedicated before ANZAC Day 2027.
• Some landowners may be affected by road-purpose land acquisition or drainage-easement changes.
• A development approval has been changed subject to conditions and attachments.

Places

• Ipswich (city/local government area)
  Location of the Council and one property identified in the rates-concession decision.
• Yamanto (suburb)
  A property in Drive, Yamanto, was referenced in a 100 per cent differential general-rate concession decision.
• Moffatt Street, Ipswich (road/property location)
  A property at 36 Moffatt Street was listed for a rates concession.
• Newtown (suburb)
  Properties at 12 Glebe Road, 10 Glebe Road and 10A Glebe Road were listed for rates concessions.
• Brassall (suburb)
  A property at 97 Pine Mountain Road was listed for a rates concession.
• Ebbw Vale War Memorial (memorial/facility)
  The damaged stone soldier is to be removed and repaired.
• Council Chambers, Administration Building, 1 Nicholas Street (civic facility)
  Venue of the meeting.

Next

• Refer the proposed Mayor-and-ten-divisions electoral arrangement to the Minister for Local Government and Water and the Local Government Change Commission.
  As soon as practicable; Council requested urgent consideration.
• Commence community consultation on the proposed electoral change and provide outcomes to the Minister and Local Government Change Commission.
  Forthwith, in parallel with the referral process.
• Remove, repair, re-install and re-dedicate the damaged stone soldier at Ebbw Vale War Memorial.
  Removal according to the Chief Executive Officer’s advice; repairs, re-installation and re-dedication before ANZAC Day 2027.
• Apply the approved differential general-rate concessions to the eligible properties.
  Backdated to the relevant application dates where specified, and from building completion for the confidentially listed property.
• Progress road-land acquisition and replacement drainage-easement arrangements, initially by agreement with affected landowners.
  Following the Council resolution; statutory acquisition processes may be used if agreement is not reached.

Extract

of 26 UNCONFIRMED MINUTES OF COUNCIL ORDINARY MEETING 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 Held in the Council Chambers, Administration Building 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich The meeting commenced at 9.00 am 1. ATTENDANCE AT COMMENCEMENT Mayor Teresa Harding (Chairperson); Councillors Jacob Madsen, Pye Augustine, Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic, Paul Tully, Marnie Doyle, Andrew Antoniolli, David Martin and Jim Madden 2. WELCOME TO COUNTRY OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Mayor Teresa Harding delivered the Acknowledgement of Country 3. OPENING PRAYER Pastor Claude (Claudine) Hawkins – Kruger Baptist Church 4. APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE Nil 5. CONDOLENCES Nil 6. TRIBUTES AUDREY KICKBUSCH Councillor Jim Madden delivered...