Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding has wrapped up a busy week celebrating local achievements, major community events, and new milestones for the city — including national recognition for the Nicholas Street Precinct and planning for key infrastructure upgrades.
Mayor Harding said recent days have been filled with awards and community celebrations, including the Apprenticeships Queensland Awards, where Jordan Reynolds was named Apprentice of the Year, and the Ipswich Netball Association’s Centenary Awards Night, marking 100 years of local netball. The week also included the Ipswich Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards and the Queensland Tonga Sports Association Rugby League Cup, held in Ipswich for the first time.
Looking ahead, Mayor Harding invited residents to attend this weekend’s Ipswich Sustainability Festival at Tulmur Place, featuring free workshops, stalls, and guest speaker Craig Reucassel, best known for ABC’s War on Waste. “It’s getting bigger and better each year,” the Mayor said. “Craig is a fantastic speaker, and I encourage everyone to come along.”
Council has also approved design and planning work for a full upgrade of Champions Way, a vital road connecting to the Ipswich Motorsport Precinct and the Queensland Raceway. “It’s great to see investment in this key route, particularly with events like CMC Rocks and the V8 Supercars drawing huge crowds,” Mayor Harding said.
Meanwhile, Ipswich’s Nicholas Street Precinct has earned national acclaim, taking out the Best Social Infrastructure Development award at the 2023 Property Council of Australia Awards. Mayor Harding said the recognition highlights the city’s transformation. “To go from a derelict mall to a thriving, award-winning community precinct is phenomenal. The people of Ipswich deserve it.”
The precinct now hosts more than 50 free public events each year, supports 83 new businesses, and has welcomed new dining favourites Vapiano and Hello Harry’s.
Mayor Harding also addressed rumours about a potential name change for Ipswich ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, confirming there are no plans to rename the city. “Ipswich is Ipswich — we’ve been a city longer than Brisbane has,” she said. “We’re proud of who we are.”
To finish a packed week, Mayor Harding congratulated the Ipswich Jets on launching pickleball at the Redbank Sports Centre, calling it one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
“It’s wonderful to see Ipswich continuing to lead the way — in sport, sustainability, and community,” she said.
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