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.

Council: Ipswich City Council

Meeting: 15 October 2026, 9:00 am

Recorded status: approved


BRIEF

Ipswich City Council’s Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee carried an amended recommendation that Council consider supporting Bill Paterson Oval rectification Options 2 or 3 with further investigation and design. Under the recommendation, that work would inform funding allocations in the next capital program. It also calls for continued consultation on access and closure arrangements. The amended recommendation does not approve construction funding, and the supplied public record does not disclose detailed option costings.


KEY FACTS

- 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.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- 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?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- 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.


SOURCE PASSAGES

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)


SOURCES

https://ipswich.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/10/IPAAC_20261015_MIN_4042.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/ipswich-infocouncil-infrastructure-planning-and-assets-committee-15-oct-2026-9-00-am-15-oct-2026-9-00-am-minutes-committee-recommends-more-39da1e4aa2/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.