governance · Ipswich City Council
Ipswich backs $15 million security contract and local law review
Ipswich City Council has approved a two-year electronic security contract worth about $15 million excluding GST and advanced road, riverbank and sports projects, while sending 16 local law topics to the next stage of review.
Ipswich City Council has approved a two-year electronic security services contract worth about $15 million excluding GST, after its Finance and Governance Committee met in Ipswich on 16 June 2026. The tender covers Safe City Network services and Asset Protection / Corporate Security, and councillors also delegated implementation powers to the chief executive officer.
The committee resolved to award Tender No. 250910-000127 / VP500584 to the suppliers listed in a confidential attachment. Council will enter contracts at an approximate combined purchase price of $15,000,000 excluding GST over two years, with extension options of up to eight one-year terms for each portion at council’s discretion.
Council also awarded Tender 5946 for road rehabilitation works at Augusta Parkway, Augustine Heights. The work was secured through the Local Buy 313 arrangement, and the CEO was delegated power to implement the contract, provided expenditure does not exceed the council-approved amount in the confidential attachment.
A separate contract was approved for the River Heart Bank Stabilisation Project. Council awarded Tender 5857 and again delegated contractual action to the CEO within the approved amount.
At Limestone Park, councillors approved Tender VP499697 for resurfacing the netball courts. The committee also repealed the Active City Policy, which was adopted on 10 December 2019, because its intent is now captured across current council strategies and policies.
Council adopted a revised policy titled Provision of Information for Legislative Purposes Policy. It replaces the former policy on provision of information to law enforcement agencies and sets a clearer framework for external legislative requests while protecting privacy and handling information securely.
The committee also adopted the recommendations of the Regulation Advisory Committee and backed 16 community-engaged topics to move to the next phase of the local law review. The topics include busking and touting, council cemeteries, declared traffic areas and off-street parking, entertainment venues, events, food trucks and roadside vending, footpath dining, heavy vehicle parking, kennels and catteries, landscaping on nature strips, public swimming pools, residential building sites, the Special Entertainment Precinct in Ipswich Central and temporary homes.
Councillor David Martin, recorded as an observer, asked about slumping under Bradfield Bridge and rocks on the River Heart side in relation to the bank stabilisation project. The committee also noted the monthly financial performance report for the period ending 31 May 2026.
Draft local laws are due back to committee around November 2026, with formal community consultation planned for late January or early February 2027.
Reference minutes
Ipswich City Council Finance and Governance Committee minutes, 16 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council awarded electronic security services tender No. 250910-000127 / VP500584.
- The security contract is worth about $15,000,000 excluding GST over two years, with extension options.
- Road rehabilitation works at Augusta Parkway, Augustine Heights, were awarded under Tender 5946.
- The River Heart Bank Stabilisation Project and Limestone Park netball court resurfacing were also approved.
- Council repealed the Active City Policy adopted on 10 December 2019.
- Council adopted the revised Provision of Information for Legislative Purposes Policy.
- Sixteen community-engaged local law topics were sent to the next phase of the review.
Why it matters
- The meeting locked in a major security contract and advanced works on roads, riverbanks and sports facilities, while also pushing ahead with policy changes and local law review topics that will affect how Ipswich is run.