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New Store Concept Approved

Amberley Aerospace and •Defence HubNew Store Concept •ApprovedMayor’s Message•Message from the Chair•Strategic Planning News•Development Initiatives•Development News•Building News•Engineering News•Feature: Planning Down •UnderFeature: Mapping •Ipswich2010 Heritage and Design •Awards for ExcellenceLocal History •Scholarship ReportsEvery House has a •History BookletHistorical Booklets•Picture Ipswich•StaffProfile:GaryEllis•StaffProfile:NickVass-•Bowen PD Online•

Springfield Central will soon be home to the first of Woolworths-owned home improvement centres to be launched across Australia.

The home improvement store will stock a range of hardware products,

household whitegoods, furniture and furnishings.

The store will be 12,500m² in area, constructed adjacent to Sinnathamby Boulevard in the Orion Springfield Central development, employ up to 150 full time, part time and casual staff and have a construction value of approximately $30 million.

It is anticipated construction will commence shortly and be compleed by mid 2011.

New Woolworths Home Improvement Store Approved

A centre for excellence in aerospace and defence support services next to RAAF Base Amberley is a step closer following preliminary approval recently granted by Council.

Mayor Paul Pisasale and Councillor Paul Tully (Chair of Council’s Planning and Development Committee) said the State Government could now move forward with detailed planning for the Aerospace and Defence Support Centre (ADSC-A) which would provide a huge boost to the Ipswich community by increasing the diversity of skills in the workforce and generating up to 3,500 new jobs.

“This site next to RAAF Base Amberley has the potential to position Ipswich as the Seattle of the southern hemisphere by creating a central hub for aviation excellence led by high technology aerospace and defence contractors,” Councillor Paul Pisasale said.

“Ipswich is gaining a well-earned international reputation for creating the world’s best master planned communities. This approval is for the first master planned high technology employment hub which will support defence,” he said.

Councillor Paul Tully said the State Government could now move forward and submit detailed development plans for the centre.

“The approval includes a master plan for the ADSC-A and special zoning to unlock the full potential of the site. Suppliers to the industry will be able to plug-in to the emerging opportunities the centre will provide, including a full range of support services for the base via aircraft taxiway, roads and other essential infrastructure. The recent building program at RAAF Amberley is rapidly positioning the base as a mega base in Australia,” Councillor Tully said.

Amberley Aerospace and Defence Hub

Planning andDevelopmentUpdate

Ipswich City Council Edition 5 ~ August 2010

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 1

Mayor’s Message

Message from the Chair

There is certainly plenty of news and activity around planning and development matters in Ipswich City Council at the moment.

The latest edition of our newsletter showcases a number of major planning scheme amendments and policy initiatives, as well as tremendous depth and breadth of development activity.

“Continual improvement” is a key theme that is reflected in both the planning scheme amendments and

a number of exciting development initiatives that are designed to improve assessment processes.

This newsletter also profiles a number of wonderful historical publications and databases.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage entries for Council’s annual Awards for Excellence as set out on Page 12.

Councillor Paul TullyChairperson - Planning andDevelopment Committee

Council’s granting of preliminary approval for the Amberley Aerospace and Defence Support Centre represents a major milestone in the City’s economic development. The preliminary approval clears the way forward for the detailed design to begin so that construction, marketing and sales can proceed.

Whilst the Aerospace and Defence Support Centre is one of the City’s “mega projects” it is also pleasing to

see how much other development activity is occuring across the local government area, particularly during such difficult economic times.

The list of developments set out on Pages 6 and 7 of this newsletter is impressive both in terms of the amount and diversity of activity shown.

Mayor Paul PisasaleCity of Ipswich

Work commences on the new footbridge connecting the Ipswich CBD to Riverlink Shopping Centre

Restoration works commence on St Mary’s Church, Ipswich

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Strategic Planning NewsThe Strategic Planning Branch have a number of projects currently underway. The status of these projects are:

Ipswich City Centre• For the past 140+ years, the traditional Ipswich City Centre has been a key regional centre, serving the residents of the City and beyond. The Ipswich City Centre is now entering the beginning of a new era as it moves towards revitalising itself as a Principal Regional Activity Centre in the Western Corridor of SEQ. To assist in cementing the Ipswich City Centre as a Principal Activity Centre in accordance with the South East Queensland Regional Plan (SEQRP) and Ipswich 2020 and Beyond, the development of the Ipswich Regional Centre Strategy and an associated Master Plan was undertaken.

Jointly prepared, resourced and funded by the Queensland Government and Ipswich City Council, the Ipswich Regional Centre Strategy and Master Plan are excellent examples of State and Local Government working together to develop one of the most integrated and sophisticated planning strategies for South East Queensland.

A key action from the abovementioned strategy was the need for amendments to the current Ipswich Planning Scheme to achieve the full land use intensity outcomes envisaged by the strategy. These amendments, predominantly to Part 5 - City Centre of the Ipswich Planning Scheme, took effect on 10 May 2010.

Vegetation Management and • Clearing Controls A review has been undertaken of the vegetation management and clearing controls across the Ipswich Local Government Area. This resulted in Ipswich Planning Scheme Amendment Package No. 3 of 2009. The amendments included changes to the Ipswich Planning Scheme Vegetation

Management Code (Part 12, division 4) and Assessment Tables. The new vegetation management and clearing controls took effect on 28 June 2010. An information handout and Fact Sheet 4 - Vegetation Management are available via PD Online on the Ipswich City Council website.

Ipswich Planning Scheme • Amendment Package No. 4 of 2009 - Operational Amendments Amendment Package No. 4 of 2009 - Operational Amendments is the first major operational review of the Ipswich Planning Scheme since its consolidation in 2006. There are a range of amendments proposed including:-

the formal introduction of • the Auxiliary Unit concept;the introduction of a Business • Incubator Zone in Raceview;alterations to the Bushfire • Risk Areas Overlay Map (OV1) and associated development provisions;revisions to Mining Influence • Areas Overlay Map (OV3);the expansion of the • Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Areas Overlay Map (OV7E);changes to the Springfield • Structure Plan;changes to reflect the • transition of the Warrill Creek water treatment plant to a wastewater treatment facility; andother general operational • amendments to the planning scheme.

The amendment package is on public display from 12 July 2010 to 25 August 2010.

Ipswich Planning Scheme • Amendment Package No. 5 of 2009 - Traditional Neighbourhood Design (TND) CodeThe proposed amendments are to insert in Part 12 of the planning scheme a new Division 3 - Traditional Neighbourhood Design (TND) Code.

The TND Code:-provides for the creation • of a predictable urban environment through stipulating the physical form and intensity of development in accordance with Traditional Neighbourhood Design and Transect Based Planning principles;controls the visual outcomes • shaping the experiences for residents and visitors, supporting the creation of a sense of place;uses a form based building • typology rather than a conventional single function land use based zone code;addresses the relationship • between buildings and the public realm, the form and scale of buildings in relation to one another and the types and layout of streets and allotments;reflects Ipswich conditions to • achieve localised built form outcomes; andrelies on a Neighbourhood • Master Plan having being adopted by Council in accordance with Traditional Neighbourhood Design principles.

Part 15 - Ripley Valley Master Planned Area Structure Plan of the Ipswich Planning Scheme requires that the assessment of a material change of use, reconfiguring a lot, or other development be determined against the TND Code.

The amendment package is on public display from 22 July 2010 to 3 September 2010.

For further information in relation to any of these projects, please contact the Strategic Planning Branch on 3810 6251.

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 3

Development Initiatives

Prelodgement Meetings

Council’s Planning and Development Department provides a free prelodgement meeting service.

Whether you are a first time developer or an experienced consultant, Council development planners encourage applicants to attend a prelodgement meeting to discuss their proposal prior to a formal development application being lodged.

How Council is Dealing with Simple Applications

During the 2009/10 financial year, Council issued 781 development approvals.

To assist developers, Council has recently introduced a number of initiatives aimed at reducing processing times for development applications.

The following provides an overview of some of these initiatives.

Council has introduced a risk management approach in identifying development applications as either minor or major.

Minor applications are considered within only a few days of receipt by a team of Council’s Development Planners and Engineers. At this point, it is identified if the application is suitable for fast tracking, if there are any constraints to be addressed and any further information required is requested as a priority from Applicants.

This risk management approach to clearing simple applications quickly has been a success in Council.

The Planning and Development Department has a continuous improvement program in place where Council will continue to examine our processes and deliver fast assessment times to our customers while ensuring quality development is delivered on the ground.

Working closely with the development industry, Council continues to promote a well made application equals faster assessment times approach. To assist our customers, Council has produced well made checklists for simple applications.

A Well Made Application

Equals Faster Assessment

Times

Council offers the expertise of a range of professionals specialising in town planning, engineering, environmental, traffic, heritage and parks matters.

Prelodgement meetings can contribute to reduced assessment timeframes and, in some instances, has cut out the necessity for the Information Request Stage from the development assessment process.

In the 12 months from July 2009 to July 2010, Council staff hosted more than 200 prelodgement meetings with a range of applicants including first time developers, specialist consultants and company directors.

The proposals ranged in size from small character dwellings and reconfiguration of 1 lot into 2 lots, to large scale residential subdivisions and multiple residential proposals and commercial and industrial buildings.

Feedback received from the meetings is positive with applicants being well-informed on Council’s requirements for their application including site constraints and planning scheme provisions.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide conceptual proposals a few days prior to meetings to maximise their benefit.

To book your free prelodgement meeting, contact the Planning and Development Department on (07) 3810 6888.

An Industry Forum opened by the Planning and Development Committee Chair, Councillor Paul Tully, was held in early 2010 to promote the fast track process with consultants and that well made applications equals faster assessment times.

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Development Initiatives Continued

New ‘Well Made’ Checklists Prepared to Assist DevelopersA development application that is ‘well made’ enables Council to determine applications faster and make less requests for further information.

Two (2) new checklists have been developed for reconfiguring a lot (less than 10 residential lots) applications and dual occupancy applications.

The new checklists join the character areas checklist that was developed earlier this year.

The checklists are available on Council’s PD Online site at www.ipswich.qld.gov.au.

To enable a quick response to your development applications, Applicants are encouraged to include a completed checklist with their application material.

In 2010, Council commenced a pilot to ‘fast track’ low risk development applications in 10 business days.

To achieve this timeframe, Council established a Fast Track Team, overhauled our administrative processes, streamlined internal referrals and promoted the lodgement of well made applications.

The trial commenced on 5 April 2010 and was completed in June 2010. 43 fast track approvals were issued during the pilot period.

Outcomes are favourable and the fast tracking of minor low risk applications is being expanded to take on more complex applications that are well made.

Council recently launched Smart eDA which enables electronic lodgement of development applications.

This speeds up assessment timeframes, allowing Applicants to lodge applications from their offices rather than travelling to Council premises and reduces administration timeframes for Council.

Fast Track Process

Technology Innovations to Speed Up Approvals

(Source: Picture Ipswich)

Moving towards a paperless office, electronic assessment is an important objective of Council’s Planning and Development Department.

Dual and large screens are currently being trialled to enable assessment officers to review applications and plans on the screen thus reducing printing costs and administration times.

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 5

Development News

• Service Station at the corner Jones Road and Augusta Parkway, Bellbird Park (DA 4767/10)

Home Improvement Store at Main • Street, Springfield Central

(DA 4990/08)

Spring Lake Metro: New Retail, • Commercial and Entertainment Uses at Springfield Lakes Boulevard, Springfield Lakes

(DA 400/10)

Warehouse for Bread Dispatch at • 77 Lobb Street, Churchill

(DA 6948/08)

Bus / Truck / Freight Depot and • Builders / Contractors / Mini Bus Depot at 92 Briggs Road, Raceview (DA 1461/09)

Water Pumping Station at • 38 Fischer Road, Flinders View (DA 119/10)

Professional Office at 66 Woodend • Road, Woodend (DA 1192/09)

Asphalt Manufacture and Vehicle • Depot and Product / Plant Storage at 260-264 and 206-258 Swanbank Road, Swanbank (DA 262/10)

Service Station, Fast Food • Restaurant and Temporary Accommodation (Motel) at 2306 and 2312 Warrego Highway, Haigslea (DA 8227/06)

Additional Cold Storage Facility for • Freezer Operated Warehouse and Storage Building at 106 Toongarra Road, Wulkuraka (DA 1712/09)

Optus Telecommunications • Facility at 53 Upper John Street, Rosewood (DA 3771/09)

Preliminary approval for the • Aerospace and Defence Support Centre at Amberley (DA 4352/09)

Commercial / Industrial Residential• Display Housing Village at The

Summit, Springfield Lakes (DA 3727/10)

• Brookwater Estate Stage 8: 14 lots at Botanic Crescent, Brookwater (DA 2776/10)

• Brookwater Estate Stage 11: 73 lots at Crest Ridge Parade,

Brookwater (DA 2773/10)

• Amended Augustine Heights Master Precinct Plan and Area Development Plan for 171 residential lots (DA 1490/10)

• 2 duplexes with living upstairs and Home Based Activities of either Professional Office and / or Medical Centre at 78A Hall Street, Yamanto (DA 496/10)

• 57 Dwelling Units and a Shopping Centre at 74 and 78 Grace Street, Wulkuraka (DA 8692/06)

• 15 Units (Board House) in 2 stages at 20-20A Moffatt Street, Ipswich (DA 10182/07)

• 21 Residential Units (Stage 7) at 1B Samford Road, Leichhardt

(DA 8130/09)

• 23 lots at 1 Jane Street, Leichhardt (DA 6903/09)

• 66 Residential Lots at 66 and 80 Windle Road, Brassall

(DA 5430/09)

• 204 Residential Units at 11 Moggill Ferry Road, Riverview

(DA 7192/09)

• 12 Residential Units over 4 storeys at 65 South Station Road, Booval (DA 8187/09)

• 6 residential lots at 28-30 Janelle Street, Bellbird Park

(DA 1383/10)

Veterinary Clinic at 148 Claus • Road, Haigslea (DA 4533/09)

Dermatology Consulting Rooms at • 5 Gray Street, Ipswich (DA 2951/10)

Caltex Service Station, Shop and • Fast Food Premises at 1 Church Street, Goodna (DA 7367/09)

Pump Assembly / Servicing / • Repair Building at 13 Hawkins Crescent, Bundamba (DA 1333/10)

Office, Cafe and Warehouse / • Storage at 225 Brisbane Terrace, Goodna (DA 5045/08)

Extention to the Existing • Processing Plant for the Purpose of an Intenstine Processing Facility at 1 Lock Way, Riverview (DA 1086/10)

Beauty Therapy School at • 17 Church Street, Goodna (DA 162/09)

Caltex Service Station at 1 Hawkins • Crescent and 6 Ashburn Road, Bundamba (DA 7936/09)

Industrial Shed at 15 Argon Street, • Carole Park (DA 2366/10)

Manufacture of High Pressure • Water Cleaners and Other Specialised Cleaning Machines at 12 Ashburn Road, Bundamba (DA 2414/10)

Advertising Device for McDonalds • at 350-356 Redbank Plains Road, Bellbird Park (DA 5344/09)

• Preliminary Approval for industrial development including Sport and Recreation Uses and Park (1 lot into 58 lots) at 639 Redbank Plains Road, Redbank Plains

(DA 1250/07)

A number of significant applications have been processed during this period.

Further information regarding these applications can be accessed via Council’s web site and following the links to PD Online. When prompted, insert the application reference number which appears below (ie DA 1234/10).

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Development News Continued• 15 Residential Lots at 72 Nelson

Street, Bundamba (DA 7906/09)

• 12 Residential Lots at 6-8 Samantha Street, Redbank Plains (DA 8421/07)

• 8 Residential Units at 10 Bassili Drive, Collingwood Park

(DA 3408/10)

• 5 Residential Units at 24 Nimmo Street, Booval (DA 5242/09)

Community Uses• State School Sites at Springfield

Central (DA 1981/10)

• Brookwater Tennis Courts at Tournament Drive, Brookwater (DA 2600/10)

• Function Centre at Ipswich Girls Grammar School at 82 Chermside Road, Ipswich (DA 7506/09)

Building News

Fast Efficient Building Approvals

Save yourself time and money when next you build or

renovate

Did you know Ipswich City Council provices a comprehensive Building Certification Service, generally approving residential building applications within 4 weeks?

Save yourself time and money and compare our fees and approval times to other certification services when next you build or renovate.

Council’s service brings together and draws on an extensive knowledge of Queensland’s building and plumbing legislation and town planning and engineering experience which assists in delivering a totally independent and thorough assessment of your building project.

Our helpful staff are happy to provide general advice on the current requirements for all types of building work to ensure your asset is protected and complies with local and state laws.

dwelling which can be relevelled (eg a stump type residence) be constructed on site.

The Committee found that although the risk of past underground mining activity in the area is low, the ability to relevel the dwelling, including the concrete slab, had not been addressed and the decision of refusal would remain unchanged.

Housing using flexible construction methods such as timber clad buildings on adjustable stumps reduces damage caused by settlement and allows for relevelling should there be minor subsidence.

Council continually strives to protect people’s assets by applying provisions to reduce the effects of possible mining subsidence.

Building Tribunal Supports Council’s DecisionA recent Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committee decision regarding construction on a possibly undermined site has resulted in a favourable outcome for Ipswich.

An appeal was made against a decision by the Ipswich City Council to refuse the construction of a slab on ground dwelling over a possibly undermined site. The decision to refuse the application was based on recommendations made in a Mining Report from a reputable Geotechnical Engineer. Documented past underground mining workings were found in the area, however, there were inconclusive records for the site. The report statated that, in light of the possible undocumented mining, a cautious approach should be taken and recommended that only a

For an integrated, fast, efficient and cost effective building service, insist on using Ipswich City Council’s Building Certification Team.

Our helpful staff can be contacted on 3810 6120.

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 7

Building News Continued

Deciding to leave an established job at the start of the recession was either very foresighted or downright stupid. The impetus was a desire to travel and work in Australia, which was a move I had been working towards before the financial downturn.

With a year’s working holiday visa, I travelled around Australia for 6 months, encompassing Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Darwin and Cairns. The remainder of the

State Parliament has recently passed the Building and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 containing elements of Stage 2 of the Swimming Pool Safety Improvement Strategy.

Following extensive stakeholder consultation, the Queensland Government approved a 2 staged Swimming Pool Safety Improvement Strategy in 2009 based on recommendations of an independent Swimming Pool Safety Review Committee. Stage 1 commenced on 1 December 2009 and applies to new outdoor residential swimming pools.

Stage 2 is proposed to commence from December 2010 and applies to both new and existing indoor and outdoor swimming pools (including spas) associated with homes, units, hotels, motels, caretaker dwellings (Class 1 to 4 buildings) and Caravan Parks. Proposed key Stage 2 measures include:-

One pool safety barrier code for • all pools regardless of the pool’s age including the phasing out of child resistant doors used as

Lara is currently a Senior Planner in the Development Planning Branch at Ipswich City Council.

The information set out below is taken from an article written by Lara and published in the UK Royal Town Planning Institute Journal - Young Planner Page. The Young Planner Page is a forum for planners under 35 years to discuss and share experiences of the planning system.

Feature: Planning Down Under

Contributor: Lara WheatleyLara Wheatley was formerly employed by Drivers Jonas Deliotte in the UK.

6 Star Energy Efficiency Rating for Housing From 1 May 2010, all new houses and townhouse buildings (Class 1) and enclosed garages (Class 10a) attached to Class 1 buildings are required to achieve a minimum 6 star energy equivalence rating. This requirement also applies to new work done on existing buildings such as additions, alterations and relocations.

To assist in achieving the required 6 star rating, credits can be obtained by providing outdoor living areas or solar energy systems.

Outdoor Living AreasSince 1 March 2009, the Queensland Development Code (QDC) has provided up to 1 star credit for outdoor living areas included with houses and townhouses in tropical (Climate Zone 1) and subtropical (Climate Zone 2) areas. The outdoor living areas need to meet minimum design specifications such as 12m² floor area, covered with at least 2 openable sides, R-1.5 insulation for downward heat flow and a ceiling fan.

Photovoltaic (Solar) Energy SystemsA new optional credit of 1 star will be available for houses and townhouses that include a solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a minimum of 1 kilowatt capacity.

Swimming Pool Safety Improvement Strategy

a barrier with a 5 year phase in period unless the propety is sole or leased first;

A mandatory safety inspection • and certificate from a licensed Pool Safety Inspector before a property with a pool covered by State Law can be sold or leased.

The Building and Other Amendments Act 2010 was passed on 23 May 2010 which includes:-

The Pool Safety Inspector • Licensing System;

Requirements for eligible • Pool Safety Inspector Course providers;

A Pool Safety Council to oversee • the Pool Safety Inspector System;

A State-based Swimming Pool • Register.

Visit www.legislation.qld.gov.au to access the Act online.

A further Bill is proposed later this year to implement the remaining Stage 2 measures including the mandatory sale and lease inspection system and immersion reporting.

Source: www.dip.qld.gov.au.

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Feature: Planning Down Under Continuedtime was to be spent working in the Australian planning system.

For the record, I have never thought of myself as the travelling type, holidaying once or twice a year is generally sufficient. However, the push came from my long term boyfriend who had been to Australia before and wanted to revisit. It was a case of now or never.

Looking back, travelling around Australia is one of the biggest and most worthwhile steps I’ve taken. The biggest impression is the size of the country. This single country is almost the size of Europe and the environment across the continent varies substantially. The change in climate has a direct affect on the planning regime from the tropical north with stormwater considerations to the temperate south where bushfire is a key concern.

The Australian system has evolved into a system that is quite different from the UK. The system is led at state level and varies between states. As a UK Planner, I was initially suspicious of the zoning system, thinking it to be a rigid, blanket approach. Now practicing in this system, I realise that the zoning arrangements have flexibility and, whilst certain uses may be identified as inconsistent in a particular zone, almost any use can be accommodated where there is strong planning merit.

Settling in Brisbane was a decision based on personal reasons (average winter temperature of 17 degrees) and professional reasons (South East Queensland is a growth area). Working as a Senior Planner with Ipswich City Council provides a great mix of planning challenges as the Council covers a range of environments from rural bushland to a rapidly growing urban area. Ipswich is identified as a growth corridor in the South East Queensland Regional Plan which provides for the population to triple by 2031. The City is one of the fastest growing in Queensland and planning for that growth is a substantial challenge - the City has 43% of the available industrial land in South East Queensland.

Australian system does not have the extensive top layer of National Planning Policy.

Getting to grips with the planning regime has been a professional and personal challenge. The form of planning applications is different; the definition of development is different; the assessment process is different. However, the base principles are the same.

A new concept has been the applications to reconfigure a lot (subdivision of land for development). Reconfiguration applications bring specific considerations such as minimum lot sizes, hatchet lots, front and rear lot loading (building positions) etc. Whilst these detailed considerations are somewhat new, they are based on the principles of residential amenity, separation distances and ensuring appropriate access and infrastructure.

The planning system that covers Ipswich is led at the state level (State of Queensland). Each local Council has a development plan (called planning schemes), which set the framework for assessing planning applications and contain detailed development control style policies. Overall, the planning schemes are larger and more detailed than their UK counterparts. For example, the Ipswich Planning Scheme comprises over 1,500 pages. However, the

A UK perspective on the Australian planning system

Application to reconfigure a lot must provide adequate infrastructure for their development and potentially accommodate for future reconfigurations. The Australia system charges developments for infrastructure provision and credits developers that provide trunk infrastructure to cater for future supply, based on charging regimes in the development plan.

Within Queensland, planning applications are processed as either ‘code’ or ‘impact’ assessment. Impact assessable applications being similar to UK applications with public notification and assessment against the whole planning scheme (typically used for development that is potentially inconsistent with a zone). Code assessment is a simpler process with no public notification and assessment against development control codes. The result is a system that is able to assess and decide code assessable applications within 5 days.

The Australian planning system has other unique challenges, such as the protection of indigenous cultural heritage sites, providing for koala responsive design and ensuring development mitigates bushfire risk. The approach to heritage matters is very different, seeking to protect properties constructed prior to 1946, and only rarely is archaeology a concern.

The ultimate question is which system is better, and the honest answer is that there are benefits to both systems; as my experience of the Australian system grows, I see the nuances of Australian planning.

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 9

Feature: Mapping Ipswichcentres, especially with the objective of reducing the reliance on cars. It is fortunate that the development of the western corridor comes at a time when sustainability and healthy communities are uppermost in planning objectives.

Ipswich is not new to the task of developing new urban areas. The Springfield estate, which essentially glues Ipswich to the western boundary of Brisbane, was the first large master planned community in Queensland. With planning having begun in the early 1990s, it is forecast to have a population of up to 60,000 by 2026.

Since Ripley Valley’s identification as a growth hot spot, ICC and a consortium of development companies have undertaken the Ripley Valley Master Planning Framework. They consider Ripley Valley as an opportunity to plan and design a major new community only 8km from the Ipswich CBD, and have chosen to do so following the pedestrian-based principles of New Urbanism.

The framework was developed with Roberts Day in association with DPZ Pacific, the international champions of New Urbanism. Part of the aim of the framework is to promote Ripley Valley not as an isolated community but as an integral part of a network of existing communities, particularly Ipswich and Springfield.

Ripley Valley, lies within the Ipswich City Council (ICC) Local Government Area. Such an ambitious vision presents a challenge for the regional authorities in ensuring housing and employment opportunities can cater for the onslaught.

Five years prior to Premier Bligh’s announcement, the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-26 predicted that the population of the Ipswich local government area would triple to over 400,000 by 2031, driven by the availability of both residential and industrial land.

The South East of Queensland is in the midst of an unprecedented population boom, partially by accident but mostly by design. Glimpsed through the statistics, however, are some fundamental questions about how this already stretched area will manage to accommodate so many more people. What kind of quality of life will it be? And what will be the consequences for the broader culture and environment?

With the usual governmental flair, the answers lie in the art of planning and development. One of the advance guard of such projects, the Ipswich local government area can be considered a laboratory for the development of modern cities.

As areas of high population growth, the north and south of South East Queensland have seen major government investments in infrastructure, such as hospitals, motorways and heavy rail, much of which has been merely catching up with demand.

In May this year, Premier Anna Bligh announced three new major growth areas to the south and west of Brisbane, borne by solid regional economic growth. One of these areas,

Contributor: Danny Keenan Danny Keenan is an Architect who formerly led the City Centre Master Plan Implementation Team for the Brisbane City Council.

Danny is currently the Centres Strategy Officer in the Strategic Planning Branch at Ipswich City Council.

Published in Issue 98 of the Monument Magazine dated August / September 2010.

The population of the Ipswich

Local Government Area is predicted to triple by 2031: So how will it be accommodated?

The Ipswich area contains more than 50 per cent of available industrial land in the region, which, complemented by industrial development growth, jobs and residential demand, augurs well for the area’s economic fortunes. All levels of government, as well as the private sector, now acknowledge that sustainable growth depends on the provision of employment and infrastructure close to residential

Ipswich CBD: New Retail Street

10

Feature: Mapping Ipswich Continued

negotiated by ICC. The new Ipswich Justice Precinct was completed in 2010, the Ipswich Motorway upgrade will be open by 2012 and the Springfield rail extension by 2013.

Ipswich is experiencing growth both in the form of major new urban areas and a revitalisation of the existing core, championed by both government and private investment. While still in its infancy, growth in the western corridor is benefitting from an understanding that investment in employment and infrastructure are integral to providing sustainable communities.

An early objective was to implement a single, coordinated, trans-governmental management strategy for the many different projects, and a model has emerged that not only serves this purpose but has potential to provide the basis for future growth projects.

As could be expected with any complex major project, there are frustrations and delays in coordinating and implementing, though substantial progress has been made. The Ripley Valley development is well underway, with neighbourhood master plan applications nearing completion and infrastructure agreements being

At the same time, the ICC and the Queensland Government have embarked on the revitalisation of the Ipswich CBD. The ICC has purchased the failing pedestrian shopping mall, which had been substantially rebuilt during the late 1980s.

Though in the spirit of its time, the retail vitality of the centre had decreased substantially and is in need of significant redesign and capital investment. The Council is currently in negotiations for a joint venture partner for the total redevelopment of the site. The State Government is leading the way on embracing the redeveloped Ipswich CBD as a business centre, with plans to relocate 1,500 staff by 2013.

In 2008, the state and local governments released the Ipswich Regional Centres Strategy, which identified 17 catalytic projects to kickstart redevelopment and 141 actions to build social infrastructure.

Many of these are major infrastructure projects such as car and pedestrian bridges, a new hospital and transport solutions, including new heavy rail links to Ripley Valley and Springfield. They are also largely directed at improving connectivity between the new and existing residential and employment centres.

Ripley Valley’s neighbourhood structure

Springfield development

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 11

2010 Heritage Awards for Excellence

Local History Scholarship ReportsTo celebrate 150 years of municipal government in Ipswich, Council supported an annual scholarship to assist a postgraduate or honours student connected with the University of Queensland, Ipswich Campus. The first scholarship was awarded in January 2002.

Extracts from the various reports submitted have been included in previous Editions of the Planning and Development Update Newsletters.

As part of the many activities and events to celebrate Ipswich 150 this year, a collection of 6 reports is currently being published and will be available through the Council’s website and in hard copy format.

The topies covered by these reports are diverse and reflect the richness of Ipswich’s history.

Details are:-

The first recipient (Andrew • Blythe) produced A Retailing History of the Ipswich CBD from the mid-1970s to 2003.

Sarah Davey chose as her subject • Depictions of Women in the History of Ipswich.

In the 1970s and 80s, before • the emergence of Gympie or Tamworth, Ipswich was The Country Music Capital of Queensland. Rosie Adsett’s

research follows the early initiatives which included setting up a country music venue “Dusty’s” and the establishment of annual awards.

Toni Risson’s report • Aphrodite and the Mixed Grill - Gender and Ethnic Relations in Ipswich’s Greek Cafes from 1900 to 2005 has already created considerable interest. It was published as a book and was the subject of newspaper and television interviews.

Erin Coster’s report entitled • A Tributary but a Highway - the Significance of the Bremer River During the Settlement and Development of Ipswich 1823 - 1900. This report examines the role of the Bremer River in the development of South East Queensland.

Annette Sharpe’s report • Sketches of the Dining Hall: Working Lives - examines the cultural value of the Dining Hall at the Ipswich Railway Workshops.

Nominations for the 2010 Heritage, Design, Environment and Student Awards for Excellence close at the end of August.

The aim of the annual Awards is to:-

Promote and develop • awareness of the unique built and environmental heritage of Ipswich;

Proflle locally and externally the • unique attributes of the natural and built heritage of Ipswich;

Recognise those individuals • and corporations who are committed to promoting and producing excellence in the design of new development, the

conservation of our built heritage and conservation of our natural environment;

Recognise and promote major • sponsorship support; and,

Promote excellence in academic • achievement.

Winners of each category will be announced on 6 October 2010 at the awards function to be held in Ipswich.

Nominations have been received for the following categories:-

Ron Brown Memorial Heritage • Conservation Awards;

Amex Corporation Design • Awards;

EnviroPlan Environment Awards; • and,

USQ Springfield Student Awards.•

Cribb & Foote Store c.1959(Source: Picture Ipswich)

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Every House has a History Booklet

Historical Booklets

A number of events have been held throughout the year to celebrate 150 years of municipal government for Ipswich.

The Cobb & Co Tourist Drive celebrates the early days of stage coach transportation in South East Queensland.

A brochure depicting the drive following the railway line and the original road from Ipswich to Gatton has recently been released.

The brochure also highlights places of interest found close to the Cobb & Co Tourist Drive.

Cobb & Co’s History

The Victorian gold rushes of the 1850s created a need for fast, reliable transport to carry people to and from the newly discovered gold fields.

In 1854, Australia’s first Cobb & Co service was introduced from Melbourne to Castlemaine.

To commemorate this special year, Council has recently released a booklet entitled Ipswich 150: 1860 - 2010 Proud Past - Exciting Future.

Over the past 150 years, the City has embraced the talents and ingenuity of its residents and this has led to Ipswich becoming a centre of excellence in a range of fields from business and industry to the visual and performing arts.

Ipswich 150: 1860 - 2010 booklet

Cobb & Co Tourist Drive Brochure

Ipswich’s rich and diverse heritage has been highlighted in 2 publications which have recently been released.

During Heritage Week in 2008, Council held a heritage seminar which included a presentation by Margaret Cook on how to trace your home’s history and determine the age of your house.

Increasingly, people are interested in the history of Ipswich buildings. Many people have a desire to restore or gain an understanding of the history of the place.

Who has lived there before?

When was the house built?

How has the building been altered?

Council commissioned Mrs Cook to write Every House has a History: A

Guide to Unravelling the Unique History of Your House to assist researchers in answering some of these questions.

This booklet provides step-by-step instructions for researchers and owners of historic Ipswich buildings which will enable them to trace the history of a building in Ipswich.

Copies of this free booklet are available from Council’s Planning and Development Department or can be downloaded from Council’s website www.ipswich.qld.gov.au.

For further information, please contact Council’s Strategic Planning Branch on (07) 3810 6256.

This booklet provides a snapshot into Ipswich’s interesting and varied past, its characters, innovators and icons, the celebrations marking its 150 years from municipality to city to today and, the exciting vision for the future.

Copies of this free booklet can be collected from the Visitor Information Centre located at Queens Park, Ipswich.

In 1862, Cobb & Co services were expanded into New South Wales.

On 1 January 1866, the first Cobb & Co mail service in Queensland commenced transporting passengers from Brisbane to Ipswich.

Passengers and mail heading further west were taken from Ipswich to Grandchester by train and then by another Cobb & Co coach for the rest of the journey to Toowoomba.

Cobb & Co completed its last coach run on 14 August 1924, from Surat to Yuleba in South West Queensland. The company was wound up in 1929, closing a unique 75 year chapter in Australian transportation history.

Copies of this free brochure can be collected from the Visitor Information Centre located at Queens Park, Ipswich.

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 13

Picture Ipswich

As part of the Ipswich 150 celebrations, Council is wanting to find images from the City’s past and trying to locate the oldest Ipswich photo.

Over 2,500 images of Ipswich’s history have been permanently recorded for the future as part of the Picture Ipswich website operated by Council.

Picture Ipswich is a searchable database with a collection of images and oral histories that depict the many changes and events which have occurred in the past in Queensland’s oldest provincial city.

The database has proven to be very popular since it was first introduced in May 2008 as part of the 2008 Heritage Week celebrations.

The database is a valuable tool for the Ipswich community to explore the City’s rich history and is accessible 24 hours / 7 days a week via the Ipswich Library and Information Service’s website atwww.library.ipswich.qld.gov.au.

Some of the images featured on Pictue Ipswich include:-

A collection of old postcards;•

Slides that depict Ipswich in the • 1960s and 1970s and images of the Colour City Carnival Parade from 1968;

Images of everyday life in Ipswich;•

Oral histories; and•

The Rosewood Scrub Historical • Society collection recording the history of the Rosewood and Marburg districts.

“We are very keen to locate as many images as possible that capture Ipswich from all generations,” Councillor Charlie Pisasale said.

“We are asking local residents to search through old family photo albums to see if they have any

treasured snapshots they might like to share with the Council and the wider community.

“Of most interest are photographs which depict the City’s early history such as Ipswich buildings nad houses, people of interest, local businesses and industries in operation, plus early community gatherings such as sporting matches and fetes.

“Old letters and documents also are of interest as they reflect the City and people through a different medium.”

Council is searching for the oldest Ipswich photograph

Brynhyfryd, Blacktone(Source: Picture Ipswich)

Victory march after World War 1, Ipswich, 1918(Source: Picture Ipswich)

Waltons Store on corner of Nicholas Street and Union Place, Ipswich c.1980(Source: Picture Ipswich)

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StaffProfile:GaryEllis

StaffProfile:NickVass-Bowen

almost 4 years post graduate research into the field of fibre composites within the civil and construction industry.

Gary has also held the position of Airfield Engineer and completed officer training with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Gary’s favourite music is U2 and he enjoys thai cuisine.

Gary Ellis joined Ipswich City Council 7 years ago and holds the position of Engineering and Environment Manager. This position heads up the Engineering and Environment Branch in the Planning and Development Department.

Gary has qualifications in Civil Engineering and, preceding his employment with Council, undertook (as a Doctorate of Philosophy student)

Branch at Ipswich City Council in the late 1990s and in the UK.

In the UK, Nick worked at both government and local authority levels in the high growth region of the East of England on plan making and policy reform and the delivery of development to meet the requirements of the national growth points agenda.

Nick has extensive experience in strategic land use and local area planning, planning policy, statutory plan making and infrastructure planning.

Nick Vass-Bowen returned to Ipswich City Council in 2008 in the role of Team Co-ordinator (Special Projects) in the Strategic Planning Branch and has recently been appointed to the position of Strategic Planning Manager.

Nick graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor in Regional and Town Planning degree in 1994. He has subsequently worked in development assessment and forward planning roles in a variety of government and private sector settings in South East Queensland including the Strategic Planning

Picture Ipswich Continued

If members of the community have images which are different to those which appear on Picture Ipswich, they are being urged to contact Council.

Council does not keep the original photographs. Council’s Digital Archivist scans the photographs and then returns them before adding the images to the Picture Ipswich database.

The Council is searching for the oldest Ipwich photograph. At this stage, the oldest photograph on Picture Ipswich is of Elizabeth Pettigrew (first wife of former Ipswich Mayor John Pettigrew) and was taken in Brisbane in about 1860.

Ipswich Railway Station, Union Place, Ipswich(Source: Whitehead Studios, Picture Ipswich)

www.ipswich.qld.gov.au 15

mai

n co

ntac

tsDevelopment Enquiries Phone: 07 3810 6888

Building Enquiries Phone: 07 3810 6120

Plumbing Enquiries Phone: 07 3810 6130

Strategic Planning Enquiries Phone: 07 3810 6888

Cultural Heritage Enquiries Phone: 07 3810 6888

Council also operates one of the most sophisticated electronic databases in Australia for development applications and planning and development information.

This information (including details of processing of development applications, zoning and development constraint information) is available 24/7 by accessing PD Online on Council’s web site www.ipswich.qld.gov.au.

PD Online

PD Online is an Online Planning and Development System which enables customers to:

track the progress of • development applications from lodgement through to determination;

undertake property related • development enquiries;

view, search and print the Ipswich • Planning Scheme online.

Ipswich City Council is pleased to provide PD Online as part of its continued commitment to quality customer service, particularly during a time of high growth and development activity in the western corridor of South East Queensland.

Ipswich is the first local government in Queensland to offer PD Online

Customers may access property information including:

property details: property • description and Council electoral divisions;

property valuations;•

property size;•

zoning information;•

applications: planning • applications lodged after

1 January 2005;

mapping information: aerial • photography, zoning and development constraints relevant to the property.

1. Property Search

Allows customers to monitor the progress of development applications from lodgement through to determination.

The service is currently available for most planning applications (ie material change of use, reconfiguring of a lot, area development plans, local area plans, modifications/change or cancel conditions, negotiated decisions, combined and other developments) lodged with Council from 1 January 2005.

Planning applications lodged before this date, or applications for other forms of development are not currently available.

The system provides information relating to:

the current status of an • application;

tasks undertaken as part of the • assessment process;

estimated assessment • timeframes;

access to publicly available • documentation.

2. Application Search

Customers may view all properties within the Ipswich local government area and gain instant access to aerial photos, zoning maps, development constraint maps and other valuable planning information.

After selecting a property using the Map Search, customers have the ability to view property details.

3. Map Search

Customers can view, search and print the Ipswich Planning Scheme online.

4. Ipswich Planning Scheme

PD Online is a free service and is simple to access.

Step 1: Visit Ipswich City Council’s website:

www.ipswich.qld.gov.auStep 2: Click on ‘PD Online’.Step 3: Read and accept the Terms

and Conditions.Step 4: Perform a search using:

Property Search, Application Search or Map Search. To view the Ipswich Planning Scheme online click on ‘Ipswich Planning Scheme’.

Step 5: View property details.Step 6: View, search and print the

parts of the Ipswich Planning Scheme.

Step 7: Use the ‘Further Information’ links to assist you to prepare a development application.

Accessing PD Online

Customers will gain access to

valuable planning information

Enjoy the convenience of PD Online with information at your

fingertips24hoursaday,7daysaweek.

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