Finance and Governance Committee - 11 Aug 2026 10 minutes after the conclusion of the Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee or such later time as determined by the preceding committee

Topics

• Council approves $34 million animal management contract with Animal Welfare League Queensland
  Ipswich City Council awarded a five-year animal management and welfare services contract worth about $34 million, with a possible five-year extension.
  The decision determines who will provide a major resident-facing service and could shape animal control and welfare operations for up to a decade.
• Springfield Parkway Duplication Stage 2 moves to contract award
  Council advanced the next stage of the Springfield Parkway duplication after a tender evaluation, but kept the successful supplier and contract amount confidential.
  Road duplication affects travel capacity, construction activity and future traffic conditions in a growing urban area.
• $3.1 million Ipswich Greening Project contract awarded for priority streetscapes
  The Landscape Construction Company Pty Ltd won the contract for design and construction of priority streetscapes under the Ipswich Greening Project.
  The project will deliver publicly visible landscaping and greening works, with approximately $3.1 million excluding GST committed.

Decisions

• Disaster recovery program management
  Council noted expenditure under Contract 19000 from 2022 to 2026, the operational factors behind higher-than-expected project and program management requirements, and the transition to Turner & Townsend under Local Buy LB505 for the Tropical Cyclone Alfred recovery program.
  Supports continued delivery of disaster recovery work and provides context for increased recovery-program management costs.
• Community leases in Redbank Plains, Karalee and Rosewood
  Council approved five-year leases without extension options for community organisations: a kindergarten site at 460-466 Redbank Plains Road for $3,150 a year excluding GST; playgroup activities at 56 Harold Summervilles Road for $1 a year if demanded; and a trustee lease at Rosewood Showgrounds for $1 a year if demanded.
  Allows community, kindergarten, playgroup and pony-club activities to continue on Council or trust land.
• Bellbird Park access easement
  Council declared Easement D within Lot 25 on SP296625 surplus to requirements and consented to its surrender.
  Changes the legal status of a Council-held access easement in Bellbird Park, although the public report does not describe a specific access change.
• Small contestable site electricity contract
  Council noted a three-year electricity contract with Origin Energy Retail Limited, executed on 26 May 2026, with a proposed value of $1.3 million including retail and network charges.
  Sets the contracted electricity supply arrangement and expenditure for the relevant Council sites.
• Animal management and welfare services
  Council awarded Tender 251113-000128 to Animal Welfare League Queensland for an approximate $34 million contract excluding GST over five years, with a possible further five-year extension at Council’s discretion. The Chief Executive Officer was delegated authority to implement the decision.
  Determines the provider of Council’s animal management services for up to 10 years.
• Robelle Domain Café 1 contract deferred
  Council considered awarding the management and operation of Robelle Domain Café 1 to the preferred tenderer, but referred the matter to the next Council meeting after questions were raised in closed session seeking more information about the proposed tender award.
  Delays a decision on the future operator of a café serving park users, event attendees and the broader community.
• Ipswich Greening Project contract
  Council awarded the Priority Streetscapes Design and Construct tender to The Landscape Construction Company Pty Ltd for an approximate $3.1 million excluding GST, with the Chief Executive Officer delegated authority to implement the contract.
  Funds streetscape greening and landscaping works in priority areas across Ipswich.
• Springfield Parkway Duplication Stage 2
  Council resolved to award Tender 5893 for Stage 2 of the Springfield Parkway Duplication to the successful supplier identified in confidential material and delegated implementation authority to the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the approved project amount.
  Advances a major road duplication project affecting Springfield Parkway users, although the supplier and contract amount were not publicly stated in the extract.
• Retail landscaping contract increase
  Council approved increasing estimated expenditure under Contract 5510 with Upstallers Pty Ltd to $3.05 million excluding GST, an increase of $1.15 million from the original approved value.
  Maintains retail landscaping services but increases the contract’s approved expenditure.
• Meeting Procedures Policy amended and adopted
  Council adopted the revised Meeting Procedures Policy subject to amendments, including rules for repealing or amending resolutions, quorum wording, procedural motions, public exclusion and re-opening, and other drafting changes. The Meeting Conduct Policy was repealed, and the Investigation Policy was repealed subject to continuing to apply to preserved existing matters. The amendments are to be referred to the Council ordinary meeting on 27 August 2026.
  Changes how Council meetings, motions, quorum, public access and certain existing investigations are managed.

Discussion

• Disaster recovery expenditure and contractor transition
  The committee noted higher-than-expected expenditure under Contract 19000 and the move to Turner & Townsend under Local Buy LB505 for Tropical Cyclone Alfred recovery activities.
  Residents may be affected by the scale, cost and continuity of Council’s disaster recovery program.
• Community use of Council land
  Five-year leases were approved for a kindergarten, playgroup activities and the Rosewood Hack and Pony Club.
  Provides continued access to local community facilities and activities at nominal or community-based rents.
• Large service and infrastructure procurements
  The meeting advanced animal management services, streetscape greening and Springfield Parkway Duplication Stage 2, alongside an increased retail landscaping contract.
  These decisions affect animal services, public streetscapes, road users and Council expenditure.
• Robelle Domain Café decision delayed
  The proposed café operating arrangement was referred to the next Council meeting after councillors sought additional tender information.
  The café’s future operator remains unresolved and may affect food and beverage services at Robelle Domain.
• Council meeting rules changed
  The committee adopted an amended Meeting Procedures Policy and repealed related Meeting Conduct and Investigation policies, subject to a further Council meeting referral and transitional protection for existing investigations.
  The changes may affect public participation, meeting access and the handling of Council resolutions and investigations.

Impacts

• Animal management and welfare services will be provided by Animal Welfare League Queensland under a contract worth approximately $34 million excluding GST over its initial five-year term.
• The Ipswich Greening Project will proceed with approximately $3.1 million excluding GST allocated to priority streetscape design and construction.
• Stage 2 of the Springfield Parkway Duplication has progressed to contract award, but the supplier and approved amount were confidential in the extract.
• The approved retail landscaping contract value increased to $3.05 million excluding GST.
• The proposed Robelle Domain Café 1 operating agreement was deferred to the next Council meeting.
• Community leases will support kindergarten, playgroup and pony-club activities at specified Ipswich-area sites.
• The amended Meeting Procedures Policy changes rules affecting Council meetings, public exclusion and the amendment or repeal of resolutions.

Places

• Redbank Plains (suburb)
  460-466 Redbank Plains Road; proposed kindergarten lease.
• Karalee (suburb)
  56 Harold Summervilles Road; playgroup lease.
• Rosewood (town)
  Rosewood Showgrounds at 1 Railway Street; trustee lease for the Rosewood Hack and Pony Club.
• Bellbird Park (suburb)
  Surrender of an access easement within Lot 25 on SP296625.
• Robelle Domain (park and café facility)
  Proposed management and operation of Robelle Domain Café 1.
• Springfield Parkway (road and project area)
  Stage 2 duplication procurement.
• Ipswich (local government area)
  Priority streetscape works under the Ipswich Greening Project.

Next

• Refer the proposed Robelle Domain Café 1 tender award to the next Council meeting for consideration.
  Next Council meeting; date not specified in the extract.
• Refer the amended Meeting Procedures Policy recommendations to the Council ordinary meeting.
  27 August 2026.
• Implement awarded contracts and delegated contractual actions for animal management, Ipswich Greening, Springfield Parkway Duplication Stage 2 and retail landscaping.
  Following the committee or Council decisions and contract processes.
• Transition disaster recovery project and program management services from Contract 19000 to Turner & Townsend under Local Buy LB505.
  For ongoing Tropical Cyclone Alfred recovery activities; exact timing not stated.

Extract

11 AUGUST 2026 FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE NO. 2026(06)] of 23 FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE NO. 2026(06) 11 AUGUST 2026 REPORT COUNCILLORS’ ATTENDANCE: Councillor Paul Tully (Chairperson); Councillors Jacob Madsen (Deputy Chairperson), Mayor Teresa Harding, Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic, Andrew Antoniolli, Jim Madden, Pye Augustine, Marnie Doyle and David Martin (Observer) COUNCILLOR’S APOLOGIES: Nil OFFICERS’ ATTENDANCE: Chief Executive Officer (Sonia Cooper), General Manager Corporate Services (Matt Smith), General Manager Environment and Sustainability (Kaye Cavanagh), General Manager Community, Cultural and Economic Development (Ben Pole), Acting General Manager Planning and Regula...