Ipswich motorists will soon benefit from new smart parking meters, as the city celebrates its 166th birthday and prepares for continued growth.
Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic said the existing paper-based parking meters have reached the end of their lifespan and will be replaced with modern “pay-by-plate” technology.
New Smart Parking System on the Way
The new meters will allow drivers to pay using credit card, debit card or coins, with no need to print or display a physical ticket. Instead, motorists will simply enter their vehicle registration number into the machine.
The $2.51 million upgrade will be delivered in two phases. The first phase involves replacing the existing parking meter infrastructure, while the second phase will introduce a full end-to-end management system for the new technology.
The project forms part of council’s Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy and is expected to be rolled out this year.
Council Considers Bus Route and Car Park Name Changes
At last week’s ordinary council meeting, councillors supported a motion from Councillor Paul Tully proposing a revised bus route in Goodna. The change would avoid removing limited parking along Queen Street by instead utilising existing bus stops on Smiths Road.
A second notice of motion from Councillor Jim Madden proposed renaming the Nicholas Street Precinct car park to the Tulmur Place car park. The proposal has been referred to local Indigenous and traditional owner groups for consultation before returning to council for further consideration.
Ipswich Celebrates 166th Birthday
The city is also marking 166 years since it was declared a municipality on 3 March 1860 by Queensland’s first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen.
Ipswich was officially proclaimed a city in 1904, when its population stood at just 8,637. Today, more than 275,000 people call Ipswich home, with an average of 187 new residents moving to the area each week.
Council forecasts the population will exceed 535,000 within the next 20 years. With a median age of 33 and around a quarter of residents aged under 15, Ipswich remains one of Queensland’s youngest and fastest-growing cities.
Deputy Mayor Jonic said the milestone highlights both the city’s rich history and the importance of planning for infrastructure, housing and services to support future growth.
Residents are also being encouraged to look skyward, with a lunar eclipse expected to create a “blood red” moon visible between 9pm and 10pm tonight.
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