Jim Madden is excited to be beginning a new chapter in his proud career of community service as he takes on the role of Ipswich City Council Division 4 Councillor.
Cr Madden was elected to council after announcing he would step down from his role as the State Member for Ipswich West, a position he had served in since the 2015 Queensland state election.
“I saw standing for council as another opportunity to give back to the community where I was born and raised,” Cr Madden said.
“My connection with the area stretches back five generations to when my ancestors came to Australia from Ireland; my father’s side of the family settled at Lanefield before moving to Rosewood and my mother’s side settled at Walloon before moving to Marburg.
“I’ve got a deep affinity for the community, I’ve spent Christmases here with my grandparents and those kinds of things, so lots of wonderful memories.
“I love the mix of the Division 4 community, from the historical houses in North Ipswich to the expansive acreage properties in Karalee and the truly rural properties at Rosewood and Calvert.”
Key Facts – Cr Madden
- Cr Madden was born and raised in Ipswich and is a fifth-generation resident. His family came to Australia from Ireland in 1863.
- Cr Madden studied horticulture and agriculture at UQ Gatton and worked as an agronomist before later studying law at QUT.
- Cr Madden served on Somerset Regional Council from 2012 to 2015
- He was elected to the Queensland Parliament in 2015, serving as Member for Ipswich West until he resigned in January 2024.
- Cr Madden, along with his late mother, helped revive the ANZAC Day service at Woodend in 1999.
It is not Cr Madden’s first stint on a local council, having previously served on the Somerset Regional Council from 2012 to 2015.
“Coming in what has struck me is the size of Ipswich City Council, which is a lot bigger compared to Somerset, but we have a great group of councillors who I think are up to the task and ready to serve the community,” Cr Madden said.
“This is an incredibly important time for Ipswich with our city’s population to double between now and 2041.
“We need expert stewardship and I’m confident with my experience I can bring positive input to the decision-making process.
“I plan to focus on ensuring Division 4 gets its fair share in the council’s budget. We are the second biggest division in land size, and we have a lot of roads and other matters that need to be attended to.”
Cr Madden said completing the redevelopment of Nicholas Street Precinct, ensuring community infrastructure keeps pace with the city’s growth and supporting community groups and local schools would also be key focuses.
I see my role as supporting the people who want to give for their community in every way I can.
Division 4 at a glance
- Division 4 contains rural and urban suburbs and areas with significant projected growth including Marburg and Rosewood.
- The division covers a geographic catchment of 342 square kilometres.
- It includes the suburbs of Amberley, Ashwell, Barellan Point, Blacksoil, Brassall, Churchill, Chuwar, Haigslea, Ironbark, Karalee, Karrabin, Lanefield, Marburg, Moores Pocket, Mount Marrow, Muirlea, North Ipswich, North Tivoli, Pine Mountain, Rosewood, Tallegalla, Thagoona, The Bluff, Tivoli, Walloon, Woolshed, Wulkuraka (north of the railway line) and Yamanto.
Ipswich City Council 2024-2028 Mayor and Councillors at the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, 2 April 2024.