Infrastructure and the Brisbane 2032 Games
At the Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Infrastructure Summit, I had the opportunity to join Urbis Managing Partner James Tuma and Brisbane 2032 Sunshine Coast Program Lead, Sunshine Coast Council Grantley Switzer, to explore how strategic precinct planning can unlock long-term investment and drive regional economic transformation.
Brighton Homes Arena stands as a compelling example. Since its launch in 2022, it has become a catalyst for growth in Ipswich. Not just as the Brisbane Lions’ headquarters and AFLW ground, but as a hub for high-performance sport, community engagement, and economic activation. The $20 million Council contribution, part of an $80 million multi-stakeholder investment with government, the AFL, and the Lions, has delivered tangible outcomes: elite pathways for female athletes through the Lions Institute of Business and Sport (in partnership with TAFE Queensland), major sporting events, commercial partnerships, and enhanced visibility for Ipswich’s priority initiatives.
Brighton Homes Arena, known as Ipswich Stadium in the Brisbane 2032 masterplan, has been included as a Games venue since the initial 2032 bid through to the most recent 2032 Delivery Plan released by the Queensland Government earlier this year.
Reinforcing the City of Ipswich’s role as a Brisbane 2032 co-host city, I have been appointed to the Brisbane 2032 Host Mayors Advisory Group which will help guide Games delivery across Queensland.
The Host Mayors Advisory Group will provide guidance to the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee to actively shape the decisions and delivery of the Games over the next seven years.
By having a seat at the table, our city is well positioned to advocate for greater investment and better legacy outcomes from the 2032 Games.
The Brisbane 2032 Games present a generational opportunity to reshape our region’s economic landscape. For Ipswich, the focus is clear: leverage our competitive advantage in industrial land availability to attract national and international manufacturers, and ensure our infrastructure pipeline supports sustainable growth beyond the Games.
While we’re proud to be a co-host city, our advocacy remains firm, infrastructure investment must be distributed equitably across South East Queensland. Ipswich is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities. From sport and logistics to advanced manufacturing and community development, we’re not just preparing for 2032, we’re positioning ourselves as a regional leader for the decades to follow.
Help us shape next era of Ipswich City Council
Community consultation is open now for council’s next Corporate Plan.
The Corporate Plan 2026-2031 will be council’s primary strategic document, guiding organisational decisions around future projects and services.
It is one of council’s most important documents so it’s vital we gain input from our principal stakeholders – the people of Ipswich.
That includes you as members of our city’s thriving business community.
With a population of more than 265,000, this is a crucial time as our city and region undergo significant growth and change in the years leading to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
We want to ensure Ipswich remains a great place to live.
A series of pop-up events are being held throughout the city at events, shopping centres and community centres.
Feedback can also be provided online through council’s Shape Your Ipswich website.
Community consultation is open to 14 November 2025, so please take the time to share your thoughts.
Talking all things sport
I know that many of you wear a range of different hats beyond your business, including participating in or helping to run local sporting organisations.
Council recently hosted the Ipswich Sports Forum to begin a conversation about new opportunities for local clubs.
Sport and activities are a major part of the fabric of life in Ipswich, bringing people together to enhance our city’s social and cultural dynamic, as well as improving health outcomes.
With a rapidly growing population, it is important that council has a clear understanding of how we can continue to support and grow our sporting clubs while ensuring our community sporting landscape is sustainable in the long term.
The Forum was a great success.
Participants heard success stories, discussed management models for clubs and the importance of developing a sustainable tenure model that empowers clubs with the support of council to both grow and prosper into the future.
I am extremely passionate about ensuring our sporting clubs have the support and knowledge needed to build a strong future, which is why this was an election commitment of mine for this term.
The Forum is just the beginning of this conversation and council will continue to actively engage and work with our city’s sporting clubs.
Christmas in Ipswich – already!
Do you hear what I hear? That’s right, it’s November already and Christmas is just around the corner.
Our city’s extremely popular Christmas in Ipswich program kicks off this month – in fact the annual Christmas Lights competition has already opened.
I have also launched the Mayor Teresa Harding’s 2025 Christmas Card Competition.
I am asking Ipswich primary school children to create a card cover that captures what they love best about Christmas in Ipswich. There are great prizes and the winning entries will be printed as my official Christmas card cover. Entry forms can be downloaded from my social media pages or email me at mayor@ipswich.qld.gov.au and I can email you the entry form. Entries close 4pm Friday 21 November.
I’m pleased to confirm that once again council will be supporting businesses and the community with a citywide program of family-friendly festive fun.
Annual favourites including the Christmas Lights competition, lighting of the city Christmas tree, Santa & Sirens and St Nicholas Precinct are back as well as the popular New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Council is also supporting a range of community events, big and small, including the 2025 Springfield Christmas Carol event.
For everything you need to know about this year’s Christmas in Ipswich program, keep an eye on the Ipswich Festivals website later this month.