Finance and Governance Committee - 15 Sep 2026 10 minutes after the conclusion of the Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee or such later time as determined by the preceding committee

Topics

• School Road upgrade moves towards land acquisition
  Council has authorised land acquisition steps for the INF04371 School Road Upgrade, including a four-lane road, cycle lanes, shared paths and signalised intersections.
  Affected landowners may be approached to sell land by agreement, while the project could change road access and transport conditions for the surrounding community.
• Council backs new drainage easement for School Road works
  A current drainage easement is to be surrendered and replaced to support stormwater infrastructure for the School Road Upgrade Project.
  The decision affects property rights and is intended to secure long-term access and maintenance of future stormwater works.
• Council changes AI policy and schedules two-year review
  Council approved updates to Sections 12 and 16 of its Artificial Intelligence Policy and added a review in two years.
  The policy will shape how the local government manages and uses AI, with a formal opportunity to reassess the rules.

Decisions

• Artificial Intelligence Policy updates approved
  Updates to Sections 12 and 16 of Council’s Artificial Intelligence Policy were approved, with an amendment requiring the policy to be reviewed in two years.
  The policy will guide Council’s use and governance of artificial intelligence, with a scheduled review to assess whether changes are needed.
• School Road Upgrade land acquisitions supported
  Council resolved to purchase or acquire land identified in a confidential attachment for the INF04371 School Road Upgrade Project. Agreement with affected landowners is to be pursued first, with compulsory acquisition available if agreement cannot be reached.
  The project is intended to improve road safety, traffic capacity, cycling and walking connections, public transport access and emergency-vehicle access.
• Replacement drainage easement supported
  Council supported surrendering an existing drainage easement and acquiring a replacement easement for stormwater infrastructure associated with the School Road Upgrade Project. Agreement with affected landowners is to be attempted first, with statutory acquisition available if required.
  The easement arrangements are intended to secure future access and maintenance rights for stormwater infrastructure.
• Planning and development fees amended
  Proposed minor amendments to the 2026–2027 Register of Fees and Charges for planning and development were recommended for adoption following the Regulation Advisory Committee report.
  Changes may affect people and organisations applying for planning, development, social impact assessment, community benefit agreement and Priority Development Area services. The supplied extract does not specify the amended amounts.
• General-rate concessions granted or supported
  The committee considered rate-concession applications under section 120 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 and Council’s Rates Concession Policy. The supplied extract identifies a 100 per cent differential general-rate concession for 55 and 59 Sarah Drive, Yamanto, and concessions involving properties at 36 Moffatt Street, Ipswich; 12 Glebe Road, Newtown; 10 Glebe Road, Newtown; 97 Pine Mountain Road, Brassall; 10A Glebe Road, Newtown; and properties in confidential attachments.
  Approved concessions reduce the differential general rates payable by eligible property owners. Some property-specific details and outcomes remain confidential or are unclear in the extract.

Discussion

• Dangerous-tree local law review
  The committee considered a variation to an earlier recommendation about regulating dangerous trees. The discussion supported Council continuing to address genuine public hazards and nuisances while generally treating disputes confined to neighbouring private properties as civil matters under the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011 and QCAT processes.
  Residents may need to use civil dispute and QCAT pathways for private neighbour tree disputes, while Council retains a role where a public hazard or nuisance is involved.
• School Road transport and stormwater works
  The INF04371 project includes a four-lane median-divided School Road, dedicated cycle lanes, shared paths, signalised intersections and improvements for public transport and emergency vehicles.
  Affected landowners and road users may experience property, access, construction and transport changes as the project progresses.
• Confidential property matters
  Land acquisitions, easement arrangements and some rate-concession information were considered under confidentiality provisions of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
  The public extract does not identify all affected properties, compensation details or individual concession outcomes.

Impacts

• Eligible property owners may receive reductions in differential general rates, including a 100 per cent concession for the identified Yamanto properties.
• Planning and development applicants may be affected by amendments to the 2026–2027 fees and charges; exact changes were not provided in the extract.
• Landowners affected by the School Road Upgrade may be approached to negotiate land purchases or drainage easements.
• Road users, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users may benefit from planned School Road safety and connectivity improvements, subject to project delivery.
• Residents involved in private tree disputes may need to use the statutory neighbour-dispute and QCAT processes rather than seek Council intervention.

Places

• School Road (road/project area)
  Location of the INF04371 upgrade project and associated land acquisitions and drainage easement changes.
• Yamanto (suburb)
  55 and 59 Sarah Drive were identified in connection with a 100 per cent differential general-rate concession.
• Sarah Drive (road)
  Properties at 55 and 59 were identified in the rate-concession report.
• Ipswich (city)
  36 Moffatt Street was identified in the rate-concession material; the committee is an Ipswich City Council committee.
• Moffatt Street (road)
  36 Moffatt Street was identified in the rate-concession material.
• Newtown (suburb)
  Properties at 12, 10 and 10A Glebe Road were identified in the rate-concession material.
• Brassall (suburb)
  97 Pine Mountain Road was identified in the rate-concession material.
• Pine Mountain Road (road)
  97 Pine Mountain Road was identified in the rate-concession material.

Next

• Undertake a review of Sections 12 and 16 of the Artificial Intelligence Policy.
  Within two years of approval; exact date not stated.
• Pursue negotiated land purchases with affected landowners for the School Road Upgrade Project.
  First instance acquisition method; timing not stated.
• Pursue negotiated granting of the replacement drainage easement, with statutory acquisition available if agreement fails.
  As required for the School Road Upgrade Project; timing not stated.
• Apply the adopted or supported planning and development fee amendments through the 2026–2027 Register of Fees and Charges.
  2026–2027 financial year; exact commencement date not stated.

Extract

15 SEPTEMBER 2026 UNCONFIRMED FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE NO. 2026(07)] of 14 UNCONFIRMED FINANCE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE NO. 2026(07) 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 REPORT COUNCILLORS’ ATTENDANCE: Councillor Paul Tully (Chairperson); Councillors Jacob Madsen (Deputy Chairperson), Mayor Teresa Harding, Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic, Pye Augustine, Marnie Doyle, Andrew Antoniolli, Jim Madden and David Martin COUNCILLOR’S APOLOGIES: Nil OFFICERS’ ATTENDANCE Chief Executive Officer (Sonia Cooper), General Manager Corporate Services (Matt Smith), General Manager Asset and Infrastructure Services (Seren McKenzie), General Manager Planning and Regulatory Services (Brett Davey), General Manager Community, Cu...