Ipswich households can now choose between a free waste disposal voucher or Council’s existing large-item collection service each financial year, as Ipswich City Council rolls out a new option aimed at giving residents greater flexibility and saving families money.
Speaking on West Bremer Radio, Mayor Teresa Harding said the new waste voucher scheme had officially commenced, allowing eligible households to decide which of the two free services best suited their needs.
Under the new option, residents can use a voucher to dispose of up to 500 kilograms of domestic household waste at either the Riverview or Rosewood Resource Recovery Centre without paying the usual disposal charge.
Mayor Harding said the initiative represented a saving of about $24 for households choosing the voucher.
“We know that families are doing it tough, so every little bit counts,” Mayor Harding said.
Each eligible household can access one of the services per financial year — either the new waste voucher or the existing large-item kerbside collection using the blue FlexiSkip.
Residents who prefer the FlexiSkip do not need to change how they use the service.
Mayor Harding said one advantage of the existing collection system was its recycling performance, with more than 80 per cent of material placed in the FlexiSkips currently being recycled.
Residents can find further information about accessing the waste voucher through Ipswich City Council or by calling 3130 0412.
Local artists wanted for community gallery
Ipswich City Council is also calling on local artists and arts groups to put forward their ideas for the next round of exhibitions at the Ipswich Community Gallery.
Expressions of Interest have opened for 13 exhibition opportunities between March 2027 and February 2028.
Located in d’Arcy Doyle Place alongside the Ipswich Art Gallery, the Community Gallery provides emerging and established creatives with an opportunity to present their work to the public.
Mayor Harding said the space could be particularly important for artists taking their first steps into exhibiting their work.
At least 70 per cent of the available exhibition opportunities will be reserved for artists or arts groups with a strong connection to Ipswich.
However, Mayor Harding said Council also recognised the value of allowing the local arts community to connect and collaborate with creatives from outside the city.
Successful applicants will be eligible for up to $2,000 in exhibition support, while the Ipswich Arts Foundation also supports the program by assisting with gallery hire fees.
Expressions of Interest close on October 2, with Mayor Harding encouraging local artists to submit their proposals through the Ipswich Community Gallery website.
Haigslea State School celebrates 150 years
It was also a weekend of significant milestones across the region, including the 150th anniversary of Haigslea State School.
Mayor Harding joined past and present members of the school community for Saturday’s celebrations, which brought former students back together and featured activities for children, historical photographs, artwork and displays celebrating the school’s history.
Mayor Harding described the anniversary as a special occasion and said it was wonderful to see so many former students return for the milestone.
Local business marks a decade
From Haigslea, Mayor Harding travelled to Churchill to help Kedgies Rural Supplies celebrate another milestone.
Renee and Neil have now owned the business for 10 years, with customers, suppliers and members of the community joining the anniversary celebrations.
The family business has strong links with the local community, including its involvement with the Rosewood Show Society.
Celebrations included a sausage sizzle and a major customer raffle, with suppliers contributing prizes for the occasion.
Mayor Harding said celebrating milestones with local residents, schools, organisations and businesses remained one of the highlights of her role.
She also attended the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland’s multicultural Unity Dinner in Milton on Sunday night.
Held during Multicultural Queensland Month, the event brought together representatives from a range of cultural communities for an evening focused on connection and celebrating diversity.
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