This month’s council meeting again exposed deep divisions, verging on outright hatred, between two increasingly distinct factions in the chamber. Fortunately, there was some important council business dealt with, but the future looks far from rosy for all sides. Mayor Teresa Harding joins the show after the September 12 meeting of Ipswich City Council. Recorded: 12 September 2024. Published: 13 September 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding in Nicholas Str...
Sep 13, 2024•14 min•Ep. 392
A by-election will determine who fills the Ipswich City Council Division 4 vacancy. Russell Milligan missed out on a councillor spot in March. This week he announced he will be a candidate with a platform which includes no place for party politics in local government. Will voters give him another chance? Russell Milligan is hoping so and he joins this episode. Published: 11 September 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Russell Milligan (supplied) Electoral Commission of Queensland: h...
Sep 11, 2024•16 min•Ep. 391
It all started with civility to decide which of two options councillors would vote for in order to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of former councillor David Cullen. There were tense moments, but it was clearly a done deal beforehand with the numbers having it for a by-election. Hear the arguments for and against in a special meeting of Ipswich City Council held 5 September 2024. Published: 5 September 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Screenshot of Ipswich City Council me...
Sep 05, 2024•19 min•Ep. 390
How best to avoid swooping magpies and is it possible to make friends with an aggressive bird? All your questions answered from a wildlife expert, plus tips on reducing your chances of encountering snakes around the house. Published: 3 September 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Magpie by photographer Rebecca Tregear (Pixabay) Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/ Council meeting agendas and minutes: bit.ly/2JlrVKY Cou...
Sep 03, 2024•19 min•Ep. 389
In a shock announcement first-time Ipswich councillor Dave Cullen has resigned citing on-going health problems. Dave Cullen joins this episode of Ipswich Today to discuss what's behind his decision. Ipswich City Council CEO Sonia Cooper issued a statement which confirmed that under Section 166 of the Local Government Act 2009, there are two options to fill the vacancy Cr Cullen’s resignation creates. “If it is within the first 12 months of an election, councillors must decide by resolution to ei...
Aug 29, 2024•12 min•Ep. 388
Ash Barty donates books for kids to libraries across Australia, UniSQ announces new chancellor, council shortens the shortlist for new western waste centre, Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve to open before Christmas and Galvanized festival kicks off this week. Published: 27 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: University of Southern Queensland vice-chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie with Dr John McVeigh who has been appointed new chancellor of the university (supplied)...
Aug 27, 2024•7 min•Ep. 387
Mihi Grove flood buy-back drags on while council considers what to do with other properties purchased under the scheme, Greenwood Village Road right turn issue unresolved, greyhound facility approved at Purga with additional noise conditions, regulations dropped for sex workers and why council needs, or doesn’t need, advisory committees. In this episode highlights from a three-hour August council meeting with Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding. Published: 23 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet...
Aug 23, 2024•19 min•Ep. 386
Federal member for Blair Shayne Neumann criticises Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding under parliamentary privilege, school plan for Scott’s farm quashed, countdown to the state election, copper theft costs council dearly, Galvanized heritage festival and I, Object comes to Ipswich Art Gallery. All this and more with Walter Williams and Ashleigh Mac who join the show for another yarn over the back fence. Published: 20 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswi...
Aug 20, 2024•21 min•Ep. 385
Scott’s Ripley farm saved from school plans, Ipswich councillors agonise over solutions to problem intersection on Redbank Plains Road and sex workers now in the same classification as other home-based businesses. What does this mean for the typical suburban street? Published: 15 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard and Bundamba MP Lance McCallum visit the Scott family to deliver news their farm is no longer earmarked for a future school (supplied) Se...
Aug 15, 2024•9 min•Ep. 384
Copper thieves cost Ipswich City Council more than $750,000 since 2020, the rebirth of Fire Station 101 as a place for creative arts, Riverview green waste area doubles in size, National Science Week at UniSQ and later in this episode Rachel Vickary co-creator of Queerswich joins the show (5:04 from start). Published: 11 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: The Drowsy Chaperone recent performance at Fire Station 101 (supplied) Queerswich: https://www.facebook.com/queerswich Uni...
Aug 11, 2024•12 min•Ep. 383
Technology and soundproof booths are being used to help teach young Indigenous teens in Ipswich coping with life skills. Places are now available in a new 10-week program. VitalHub’s Russ Wright joins the show to explain more. Published: 7 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com VitalHub Ipswich: https://www.vitalprojex.com/ Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/ Council meeting agendas and minutes: bit.ly/2JlrVKY Council mee...
Aug 07, 2024•12 min•Ep. 382
Labor’s Wendy Bourne hasn’t stopped campaigning since her loss at the state by-election in March. The hot issues in the seat of Ipswich West are mostly due to rapid population growth. Wendy Bourne joins the show for the first time. Published: 5 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: ALP candidate for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne (supplied) Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/ Council meeting agendas and minutes: bit.ly...
Aug 05, 2024•13 min•Ep. 381
Healthy lifestyle habits are easy to start but hard to maintain. Failed diets, lack of exercise and sleep can bring us unstuck. Ipswich-based Loz Antonenko has a fresh take on how to stick with these healthy habits in her new book with an edgy title. Published: 3 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Loz Antonenko (supplied) Loz Life: https://lozlife.com/ Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/ Council meeting agendas...
Aug 03, 2024•20 min•Ep. 380
Should councillors have a side hustle and does it pass the pub test, Indigenous wild food and culture coming to Ipswich Turf Club, Goodna park upgrade complete and a proposed revamp for d’Arcy Doyle Place. Published: 1 August 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Councillor Paul Tully, mayor Teresa Harding and deputy mayor Nicole Jonic at the newly upgraded R J Richardson Park Goodna (supplied) Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.ql...
Aug 01, 2024•7 min•Ep. 379
Ipswich councillor Jacob Madsen finally admits publicly to having a side hustle, but insists it does not impact his ability to perform the role of councillor. In this episode you’ll hear first-hand from Madsen as he reveals why he applied for a second job. Interview recorded: 25 July 2024. Published: 27 July 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich councillor Jacob Madsen (supplied) Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich City Council: www.ipswich.qld.gov.a...
Jul 26, 2024•9 min•Ep. 378
Another chapter in the Swifts saga, AI gets attention in council, Ipswich motions for the LGAQ conference later this year and Ipswich City Council’s We Can’t Wait advocacy almost nuked in this month's meeting when Andrew Antoniolli called for an immediate halt to the campaign. All this and more with mayor Teresa Harding. Recorded: 25 July 2024. Published: 26 July 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich City Council's we can't wait campaign (supplied) Ipswich Festivals: https://ww...
Jul 25, 2024•14 min•Ep. 377
Only eight years until the Brisbane Olympics and local kids are looking to participate in the games, new diabetes service at Ripley Satellite Hospital, Park2Park clocks up 20 years, Galvanized steps back in time and sites shortlisted for a new waste facility in western Ipswich. Published: 23 July 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Twenty years of Park2Park for Rob Richards (supplied) Park2Park: https://park2park.com.au Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/ Ipswich ...
Jul 23, 2024•7 min•Ep. 376
Shock health announcement from Ipswich West MP Darren Zanow and Ipswich City Council campaigns for state funding of major projects. Ashleigh Mac joins the show for another yarn over the back fence. Also in this episode RAAF Amberley supports Exercise Pitch Black and more serious health advice from West Moreton Health. Published: 14 July 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com NAIDOC Week: https://www.naidoc.org.au/ We can't wait: https://www.wecantwait.com.au Exercise Pitch Black: https://www.a...
Jul 14, 2024•15 min•Ep. 375
Ahead of the state election Ipswich council launches an aggressive push for more infrastructure spending in the region before two and a half hour commutes from Ripley to Brisbane become the norm, if nothing is done to build more critical infrastructure. Ipswich can’t wait any longer campaign launched on July 7. Also in this episode Crime Action Grants directed at Ipswich schools and Multicultural Australia's Balance Project. Published: 11 July 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipsw...
Jul 11, 2024•6 min•Ep. 374
Nominations open for this year’s Ipswich Sports Awards, SPARK Ipswich on now, Ipswich West Greens candidate revealed, Blazin' Bull Ride night coming to Ipswich Showgrounds, a new healthcare service for First Nations people living in Ipswich and West Moreton and the Peaks to Points Festival returns from July 20 to August 4 with more than 50 free and low-cost events. Published: 5 July 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: National tree planting day Sunday July 28 (supplied) Peaks to Poin...
Jul 05, 2024•7 min•Ep. 373
If you’re a male over 40 when was the last time you had a PSA blood test? In this episode a serious message about prostate cancer from ManUp! Australia, which was established in 2010 by Brian and Jill Costello after Brian was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the family had trouble finding relevant information and support about the disease. Sadly, after battling several melanomas and lung cancer, Brian passed away in March 2018. The Costello’s daughter Leah took up the fight in 2017 with her Mu...
Jul 01, 2024•18 min•Ep. 372
As sure as the sun rises Ipswich City Council increased rates in its annual budget for 2024-2025 handed down this week. In this episode you’ll hear highlights from the city’s $663 million budget delivered by mayor Teresa Harding and was that an apology from Andrew Antoniolli near the end of the meeting? Published: 28 June 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich City Council 2024-2025 budget document (supplied) Ipswich City Council budget documents: https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/...
Jun 28, 2024•10 min•Ep. 371
It was sorry business that interrupted an emerging art career and then kick-started it again 15 years later. David Pearce is an Indigenous artist from South Australia living in Queensland. David paints in his own unique style. It is Indigenous art but not as you know it. Ipswich Community Gallery highlights the works of local artists each month and from July 20 - 28 you can view Blak & Abstract - 21st Century Indigenous Explorer. Published: 26 June 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Im...
Jun 26, 2024•13 min•Ep. 370
The FO (food organics) is going from FOGO in Ipswich, fire ants fire up councillors with a report about who pays for future treatment of council-owned land, first public disagreement over recommended tenancy in Nicholas Street Precinct, Andrew Antoniolli criticises decisions of the previous council, the end is near for River Heart walkways, council establishes two new advisory committees, SPARK Festival costs revealed and councillors endorse a new expenses policy for themselves. Mayor Teresa Har...
Jun 21, 2024•17 min•Ep. 369
After a short break Ipswich Today is back and time for another yarn over the back fence with Walter Williams and Ashleigh Mac. In this episode we talk about the cost of living and its impacts on hospitality businesses, River Heart Parklands to lose its over water walkways, from horsepower to SPARK as Ipswich turns on the festivals and we remember Brisbane television’s Mike “Gibbo” Gibson. Published: 17 June 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Ipswich Festivals: https://www.ipswichfestivals....
Jun 17, 2024•22 min•Ep. 368
Can shopping for Christmas in June save you money? Consumer expert Park Thaichon from the University of Southern Queensland joins the show. He shares tips and views on saving money at the mid-year sales. Also in this episode sister city relationship strong as task force visits to help solve bat problem and West Moreton Health wants your help. Published: 8 June 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: UniSQ consumer expert Associate Professor Park Thaichon (supplied) UniSQ: https://www.uni...
Jun 07, 2024•12 min•Ep. 367
They liked the company so much they bought it. Meet new Pumpyard owners Jack Anderson and his dad Deryk. Nine years since it first launched, Pumpyard and 4 Hearts Brewing is about to have new owners. Also in this episode University of Southern Queensland climbs world rankings to crack the top 400 and Ipswich council extends CMC Rocks sponsorship until at least 2026. Published: 6 June 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: supplied CMC Rocks: https://www.cmcrocks.com/ Willowbank Raceway:...
Jun 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 366
SPARK Festival returns for a fourth year in July with a bigger program, stroke training save lives, Sutton Park lighting boost, SEQ Council of Mayors descend on parliament, Willowbank Raceway set to host 2024 Winternationals and Floating Images takes Ipswich to the world. Published: 31 May 2024. Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: SPARK Festival Common People Dance Project (supplied) National Reconciliation Week: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/ Will...
May 31, 2024•8 min•Ep. 365
The fallout continues after the second vote on disaster management chairperson in Ipswich. Andrew Antoniolli has now been endorsed twice by the majority of councillors as the chairperson of the Ipswich Local Disaster Management Group. Can councillors move forward in relative harmony after such deep divisions? Published: 29 May 2024. Audio credit: ABC Radio Brisbane Theme music: www.purple-planet.com Image: Ipswich councillor Andrew Antoniolli (supplied) National Reconciliation Week: https://www....
May 29, 2024•6 min•Ep. 364
Mayor fails in second bid for disaster management chair as hostilities break out in the council chamber. The second Ipswich council meeting of the new term gets off to a far from harmonious start with disruptions from the public gallery, and is the mayor considering a third tilt for federal seat of Blair at next year’s election? Teresa Harding joins the show and reveals her push to have the mayor of every council in Queensland automatically appointed as the local disaster management group chairp...
May 25, 2024•15 min•Ep. 363
