Councillor Briefing and Workshop Session - 13 Oct 2026 9:00 AM

Topics

• Ipswich Heritage Plan completes 21 of 55 started actions in its first year
  Council’s first annual progress report shows 21 Heritage Plan recommendations completed, 31 underway and three yet to start.
  Residents can track how quickly Council is delivering its four-year heritage program and what work remains.
• Council to take proposed risk management policy to committee
  A proposed Risk Management Policy will move to the Finance and Governance Committee after councillors discussed enterprise risk and Council’s risk appetite.
  The policy could shape how Council assesses risks in future services, projects and strategic decisions, although no policy was adopted at this briefing.

Discussion

• Seqwater priorities and key issues
  Seqwater Chief Executive Officer Emma Thomas and Board Chair John McEvoy provided an update on Seqwater’s priorities and key issues. Councillors noted and discussed the presentation.
  The briefing may inform future discussions about regional water supply and water security, but no specific service change or project decision was recorded.
• Ipswich Heritage Plan annual report
  The 2025–2026 annual report for the Ipswich Heritage Plan 2025–2029 was presented. Of 134 recommendations, 55 were identified to commence; 21 were completed, 31 had commenced and three had not commenced.
  The figures indicate the progress of Council’s program for protecting and celebrating Ipswich’s heritage.
• Enterprise risk management and proposed risk policy
  Councillors discussed Council’s Enterprise Risk Management Framework, risk appetite and the proposed Risk Management Policy. A further report will be provided to the Finance and Governance Committee.
  The proposed policy may influence how Council identifies and manages risks affecting services, projects and long-term planning.

Impacts

• No immediate service changes, funding allocations, planning approvals or new charges were recorded.
• The Heritage Plan progress report provides a public update on Council’s heritage-management program.
• A proposed Risk Management Policy is expected to receive further committee consideration.

Places

• Ipswich (city/local government area)
  The Ipswich Heritage Plan and its annual report concern the city’s heritage management and conservation program.

Next

• Prepare and provide a report on the proposed Risk Management Policy to the Finance and Governance Committee.
  Future committee meeting; date not specified.
• Continue implementing the Ipswich Heritage Plan recommendations and report progress through future annual reporting.
  Ongoing; next reporting timing not specified.

Extract

13 OCTOBER 2026 COUNCILLOR BRIEFING AND WORKSHOP SESSION MEETING NO. 2026(21)] of 3 COUNCILLOR BRIEFING AND WORKSHOP SESSION MEETING NO. 2026(21) 13 OCTOBER 2026 REPORT COUNCILLORS’ ATTENDANCE: Mayor Teresa Harding; Councillors Jacob Madsen (via audio-link), Pye Augustine, Paul Tully, Marnie Doyle, Andrew Antoniolli, David Martin and Jim Madden COUNCILLOR’S APOLOGIES: Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic OFFICERS’ ATTENDANCE: Chief Executive Officer (Sonia Cooper), General Manager Planning and Regulatory Services (Brett Davey), General Manager Asset and Infrastructure Services (Seren McKenzie), General Manager Environment and Sustainability (Kaye Cavanagh), General Manager Corporate Services (Matt Smi...