Ipswich City Council has welcomed State Government funding for 12 projects under the COVID Works for Queensland program.
Mayor Teresa Harding, who met with Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe at Redbank Plains last month to discuss the economic stimulus package, said the projects will promise jobs for the city at a crucial time.
“The new council is committed to improving trust and developing productive partnerships with the State Government for the long-term benefit of the community and we very much welcome this and further investment by all levels of government,” Mayor Harding said.
The lion’s share of the funding will go to the next stage of the Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve, with $1.8 million allocated from the program for a dedicated toddler area with fencing, shade sails, lighting, toilet block and car park.
The mayor, minister and local Bundamba MP Lance McCallum inspected the site of the new playground works on 26 June.
Mayor Harding said council will be contributing to the project cost as well, as it forms part of the council’s wider masterplan for the recreation reserve.
“This project will provide a new toddlers’ playground as an extension to an existing playground area, new connection pathways, lighting, the removal and replacement of an existing toilet block and an upgrade and extension to the existing car park area,” she said.
“Ipswich is a great family friendly city and this council is committed to ensuring youth facilities and parks that can be enjoyed by all ages, are accessible across the region.
“This project will create 12 jobs during construction and our new Buy Ipswich Procurement Policy has been designed to give extra consideration to local businesses and ensure we keep ratepayers money circulating in Ipswich.”
The State Government will provide about $4.4 million towards the cost of the 12 projects as part of the statewide $200 million COVID Works for Queensland program.
They include:
- Orion Lagoon, Springfield Central, supply and installation of new water treatment plant
- Moodai Reserve, Bellbird Park, water quality improvements to existing drainage reserve
- Clancy’s Reserve Pathway, Springfield, rehabilitation of existing gravel pathway
- Richardson Park, Goodna, replacement of floor, ceiling and internals wall to change rooms
- Fail Park, North Booval, improvements to existing creek filtration system
- Queens Park, Ipswich, upgrade to existing croquet green irrigation
- SES Depot, Ipswich, new amenities building
- Ipswich CBD, reconstruction of existing asphalt pathway to concrete pathway
- North Ipswich Corporate Centre, replacement of existing carpet
- Sarah Drive, Yamanto, water quality improvements to existing drainage reserve
- Walter Zimmerman Park, Pine Mountain, improvements to existing creek filtration system
“This program is specifically designed to help councils get their communities back on their feet as quickly as possible and minimise any long-term effects of the global coronavirus pandemic which is impacting economies around the world,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
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