Rates & spending · Ipswich City Council
Committee recommends more design work before Bill Paterson Oval funding decision
A carried committee recommendation calls for investigation of Options 2 or 3 to inform funding allocations in the next capital program.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Further investigation and design work for Bill Paterson Oval would inform future funding allocations under an amended recommendation carried by the Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee on 15 October. The recommendation calls for Council to consider supporting Options 2 or 3 for rectification of the oval.
The amended recommendation replaced a proposal to consider Option 1 as an immediate response within the current financial year. Under the recommendation, further work would identify the best-value outcome for Options 2 or 3 and inform funding allocations for inclusion in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
The report relates to improving Bill Paterson Oval to the grass athletics-track standards required by Ipswich District Athletics, Ipswich Little Athletics, other users and the general public. The committee also carried a recommendation that Council continue consulting relevant groups about access to and closure of the oval for any rectification works.
The amended recommendation does not approve construction funding. The public committee record states that the motion was carried, with no councillors listed in the negative column. It does not state when the design work would finish or whether either option will ultimately be funded.
The report's attachment material was classified as confidential under section 254J(3)(i) of the Local Government Regulation 2012. Detailed option scopes and costings are not provided in the supplied public record.
What deserves a closer look
The record states that the committee motion was carried. Its wording recommends Council consideration of Options 2 or 3, investigation and design, future funding allocations and continued consultation rather than approving construction funding.
The supplied record does not establish subsequent Council adoption or implementation of the committee recommendation.
The public record does not disclose detailed scopes or costings for Options 2 or 3.
Questions for follow-up reporting
If the proposed investigation and design work proceeds, when would it be completed?
What are the estimated costs and detailed scopes of Options 2 and 3?
What access or closure arrangements would apply if rectification works proceed?
Will either option receive funding in a subsequent capital-program budget decision?
What happens next
The recommendation calls for Council to consider supporting Options 2 or 3 with further investigation and design to determine the best-value rectification outcome.
Under the recommendation, that work would inform funding allocations for inclusion in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
The recommendation calls for Council to continue consultation with relevant stakeholders 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 report addresses a request for costings for works to improve Bill Paterson Oval to grass athletics-track standards required by Ipswich District Athletics, Ipswich Little Athletics, other users and the general public.
This report addresses recommendation B and C from the Notice of Motion, which in part were: 'detailing costings for a scope of works to improve Bill Paterson Oval to the Grass Athletics Track standards required by Ipswich District Athletics, Ipswich Little Athletics, other users and the general public'.
Item 2, report description
Open original minutes ↗The recommendation proposed that Council consider supporting Option One as an immediate response for rectification of Bill Paterson Oval within the current financial year.
That Council consider support of Option One to be undertaken as the immediate response for rectification of Bill Paterson Oval within the current financial year. B. That Council consider supporting further investigation and design activities to determine the best value outcome for further rectification works to inform future years funding allocation during the next capital program budget deliberations.
Item 2, original recommendation A
Open original minutes ↗The amendment proposed that Council consider supporting Option 2 or 3 with further investigation and design to determine the best-value rectification outcome and inform funding allocations for inclusion in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
C. That Council continue consultation with the relevant stakeholders regarding access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval to complete any rectification works. Councillor Marnie Doyle proposed the following amendment to the original motion: RECOMMENDATION Moved by Councillor Marnie Doyle: Seconded by Councillor Andrew Antoniolli: 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. This will inform funding allocations required to complete either Option 2 or 3 to be incorporated in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
Item 2, amendment and recommendation A
Open original minutes ↗Recommendation B called for Council to continue consultation with relevant stakeholders about access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval to complete any rectification works.
15 OCTOBER 2026 INFRASTRUCTURE, PLANNING AND ASSETS COMMITTEE NO. 2026(08)] Page 5 of 11 B. That Council continue consultation with the relevant stakeholders regarding access to and closure of Bill Paterson Oval to complete any rectification works.
Item 2, amended recommendation B
Open original minutes ↗The record states that the motion was carried and lists no councillors in the negative column.
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE Councillors: Councillors: Antoniolli Nil Tully Harding Augustine Doyle Martin Madden The motion was put and carried. ADJOURN MEETING RECOMMENDATION Moved by Councillor Andrew Antoniolli: Seconded by Councillor Marnie Doyle: That the meeting be adjourned at 10.19 am to reconvene at 10.50 am.
Item 2, vote and outcome, before the adjournment motion
Open original minutes ↗The report's attachment material was classified as confidential under section 254J(3)(i) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.
'relevant council officers conduct engagement with Ipswich District Athletics and Ipswich Little Athletics for their knowledge and information'. "The attachment/s to this report are confidential in accordance with section 254J(3)(i) of the Local Government Regulation 2012." RECOMMENDATION A.
Item 2, confidentiality statement
Open original minutes ↗The recommendation states that further investigation and design for Option 2 or 3 will inform funding allocations required to complete either option, to be incorporated in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
That Council consider support of Option 2 or 3 with further investigation and design activities to determine the best value outcome 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.
Item 2, amended recommendation A
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied public report of Ipswich City Council’s Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee meeting held on 15 October 2026. The supplied record does not establish its confirmation status.
Key facts from the minutes
- The committee meeting on 15 October 2026 carried an amended recommendation that Council consider supporting Bill Paterson Oval Options 2 or 3 with further investigation and design.
- Under the recommendation, investigation and design would inform funding allocations for inclusion in the next capital program during budget deliberations.
- The committee also carried a recommendation that Council continue consultation about access to and closure of the oval for any rectification works.
- The report relates to grass athletics-track standards required by Ipswich District Athletics and Ipswich Little Athletics, among other users.
- The report's attachment material was classified as confidential, and the supplied public record does not provide detailed option costings.
Why it matters
- Athletics groups and other Bill Paterson Oval users could face access or closure arrangements if rectification works proceed; the recommendation calls for continued consultation.