Works & infrastructure · Ipswich City Council
Bill Paterson Oval rehabilitation remains unresolved as Ipswich council weighs two options
Council resolved to consider support for Option 2 or Option 3, with further investigation and design to inform funding allocations in the next capital program and consultation continuing over access and possible closures.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Ipswich City Council's unconfirmed minutes record no final choice of a rehabilitation plan for Ipswich Athletics and Bill Paterson Oval. Its recorded resolution calls for further investigation and design activities to determine the best-value approach to rectification works while considering support for Option 2 or Option 3.
The work is intended to inform funding allocations for the next capital program during budget deliberations. Council also resolved to continue consulting relevant parties about access to, and closure of, Bill Paterson Oval if rectification works proceed.
No project cost, construction approval or closure timetable for the Ipswich Athletics facility is recorded in the minutes. A separate item in the same committee report identifies a $300,000 to $400,000 estimate for Option 2 rehabilitation at Silver Jubilee Park, Spring Mountain, but that figure does not apply to the Bill Paterson Oval proposal.
What deserves a closer look
The Ipswich Athletics resolution advances investigation and design rather than approving a specific rehabilitation option or construction works.
The source records consideration of funding allocations in the next capital program but does not provide a cost or timetable for the Ipswich Athletics proposal.
The nearby $300,000 to $400,000 figure belongs to the separate Silver Jubilee Park, Spring Mountain item and should not be attributed to Bill Paterson Oval.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What are the scopes and current cost estimates for Ipswich Athletics Options 2 and 3?
When will the further investigation and design work be completed?
Which budget year will consider the rectification works through the next capital program?
What field-access and closure arrangements would be required if works proceed?
What happens next
Consider support for Option 2 or Option 3 with further investigation and design activities to determine the best-value rectification outcome.
Use that work to inform funding allocations required to complete either option in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
Continue consultation with relevant parties about access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval for any rectification works.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The minutes record adoption of the Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee recommendations, except Item 4, with Item 1 amended to proceed with Option 2 as the preferred rehabilitation option.
2026(08) of 15 October 2026 with the exception of Item 4. Councillor Paul Tully proposed the following amendment to Item 1: (i) Amend paragraph B. to read: "That Council proceed with Option 2 - Enhanced Maintenance, Soil Recovery and Turf Improvement Program as the preferred rehabilitation option to be completed by end of March 2027, with an operational budget amendment to the 2026-2027 financial year budget as required." (ii) Delete paragraph E. (iii) Amend paragraphs F. and G. as E. and F. The mover agreed to the incorporation of the proposed amendment. At 9.41am Councillor Marnie Doyle left the meeting room. At 9.43am Councillor Marnie Doyle returned to the meeting room. AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE Councillors: Councillors: Harding Nil Madsen Augustine Jonic Tully Doyle Antoniolli Martin Madden The motion was put and carried. UNCONFIRMED MINUTES OF COUNCIL ORDINARY MEETING 29 OCTOBER 2026 Page 7 of 29 This block motion adopts all items of the Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee 2026(08) of 15 October 2026, as listed below, with the exception of Item 4, as resolutions of Council: Item 1 was amended in the motion as outlined above.
Resolution C2026/00/338, amendment and adoption
Open original minutes ↗The recorded resolution for Ipswich Athletics Facility and Bill Paterson Oval calls for Council to consider support for Option 2 or Option 3, with further investigation and design activities to determine the best-value rectification outcome.
INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND ASSETS COMMITTEE – ITEM 2 RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - IPSWICH ATHLETICS FACILITY AND BILL PATERSON OVAL RESOLUTION C2026/00/340(IPAAC) A. That Council consider support of Option 2 or 3 with further investigation and design activities to determine the best value outcome for rectification works.
Resolution C2026/00/340(IPAAC), paragraph A
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text calls for funding allocations needed to complete either Option 2 or Option 3 to be incorporated in the next capital program during budget deliberations, and for Council to continue consultation with relevant stakeholders about access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval for rectification works.
This will inform funding allocations required to complete either Option 2 or 3 to be incorporated in the next capital program during budget deliberations. B. That Council continue consultation with the relevant stakeholders regarding access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval to complete any rectification works.
Resolution C2026/00/340(IPAAC), continuation of paragraph A and paragraph B
Open original minutes ↗The preferred rehabilitation option has an estimated cost of $300,000 to $400,000, with actual costs to be confirmed through further detailed investigation, scope development and market engagement.
D. That council note that the estimated cost of the preferred rehabilitation option is in the order of $300,000 to $400,000, with actual costs to be confirmed through further detailed investigation, scope development and market engagement.
Resolution C2026/00/339(IPAAC), paragraph D
Open original minutes ↗Resolution C2026/00/339(IPAAC) concerns rehabilitation of the playing fields at Silver Jubilee Park, Spring Mountain.
INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND ASSETS COMMITTEE – ITEM 1 RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF MOTION - REHABILITATION OF THE PLAYING FIELDS AT SILVER JUBILEE PARK, SPRING MOUNTAIN RESOLUTION C2026/00/339(IPAAC) A.
Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee, Item 1 heading
Open original minutes ↗The record is labelled unconfirmed minutes of the Council ordinary meeting held on 29 October 2026.
Page 1 of 29 UNCONFIRMED MINUTES OF COUNCIL ORDINARY MEETING 29 OCTOBER 2026 Held in the Council Chambers, Administration Building 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich The meeting commenced at 9.00 am 1.
Document title, page 1
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from Ipswich City Council's unconfirmed minutes for its ordinary meeting on 29 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council resolved to consider support for Option 2 or Option 3 for Ipswich Athletics and Bill Paterson Oval, with further investigation and design.
- The stated purpose is to determine the best-value rectification outcome and inform funding allocations in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
- Council resolved to continue consultation about access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval for any rectification works.
- The $300,000 to $400,000 estimate in the same committee report relates to a separate Silver Jubilee Park, Spring Mountain rehabilitation item, not the Ipswich Athletics resolution.
Why it matters
- Sporting users of Bill Paterson Oval may face future access changes, but the minutes record no funded works, final design or confirmed cost for the Ipswich Athletics facility.