Ripley Valley track wins $2.5m council backing, tied to community access

Ipswich City Council has committed $2.5 million towards a synthetic athletics track at Ripley Valley State Secondary College, with the contribution conditional on an agreement guaranteeing community use of the facility.

Councillors endorsed Providence Athletics’ proposal as part of the organisation’s application to the Games On! Partnership Fund. The proposed track would be located at the college and would provide an athletics facility for students, sporting organisations and residents in the Ripley Valley area.

The funding condition requires Ipswich City Council and the Department of Education to reach an agreement to ensure community use of the proposed facility. The resolution commits $2.5 million to the co-contribution.

Cr David Martin briefly proposed changing the wording to commit “up to $2.5 million”. After discussion and information from the General Manager Community, Cultural and Economic Development and the Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic proposed returning to the original wording. The mover and seconder agreed.

The original resolution was then carried. Cr Jacob Madsen moved it and Cr Pye Augustine seconded it. Cr Jim Madden was recorded as voting against it, while Crs Madsen, Augustine, Jonic, Tully, Antoniolli and Martin voted in favour.

Council also directed its Chief Executive Officer to provide Providence Athletics with a letter of support forthwith for the Games On! Partnership Fund application.

The letter supports Providence Athletics’ bid for external funding to develop the proposed track. The council’s $2.5 million co-contribution cannot proceed until the community-use agreement with the Department of Education is reached.

The resolution was passed at Ipswich City Council’s 5 August 2026 meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic in the absence of Mayor Teresa Harding. The resolution remains subject to confirmation at the next scheduled Ordinary Council Meeting.