Council must consider a range of factors including safety, accessibility, and compliance with relevant building codes and standards.

Key considerations include structural integrity, spectator capacity, disability access, sightlines, emergency egress, and integration with existing facilities.

Environmental considerations such as noise, lighting, and flood risk is also factored, along with community impact, traffic management, and long-term maintenance requirements.

Funding for the project is being delivered through a combination of local ($10 million), state ($10 million), and federal ($20 million) government contributions. Each level of government has committed funding in line with its infrastructure priorities, with council responsible for project delivery and ongoing asset management.

Specific allocations and proportions are subject to funding agreements and budget approvals.

The proposed designation seeks to formalise the premises as a Major sport, Recreation and Entertainment Facility and facilitate the construction of the western grandstand only.

The facility will continue to hold a range of sporting and community events, however, this designation does not propose to increase the current capacity of the facility and does not propose to increase the number of major events currently held at the facility - currently 5,000 for a few events throughout the year.

There is currently no funding commitments for future stages of the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct. Any future upgrades to the precinct will be considered in future infrastructure designation processes.

The proposed designation seeks to formalise the premises as a Major sport, Recreation and Entertainment Facility and facilitate the construction of the western grandstand. This designation does not propose to increase the current capacity of the facility.

Council is assessing traffic and transport impacts associated with the upgraded facility. Where required, measures such as improved traffic management, signage, pedestrian access, and coordination with public transport providers will be implemented to support safe and efficient event operations.

A Noise Impact Assessment has been prepared which provides an assessment of potential noise impacts associated with the development against the relevant legislative documents and guidelines.

Event noise impacts will be managed through design and operational measures,. This may include limiting event hours, incorporating noise attenuation strategies in the design, and implementing operational management plans to minimise disruption to nearby residents.

A Local Government Infrastructure Designation (LGID) is a statutory planning pathway that allows local governments to designate land for infrastructure projects such as sporting facilities, transport infrastructure, and community assets.

To make a designation, council must be satisfied that—

1. the infrastructure will satisfy statutory requirements, or budgetary commitments, for the supply of the infrastructure; or
2. there is or will be a need for the efficient and timely supply of the infrastructure.

Council must also be satisfied that adequate environmental assessment (including adequate stakeholder consultation) has been carried out in relation to the proposed development that is the subject of the designation.

This project seeks to designate North Ipswich Reserve as a major sport, recreation and entertainment facility, as defined by the Planning Regulation 2017, which would allow the site to be used for large-scale sporting, recreation, entertainment event.

Events of this nature are already held at the site, therefore, the proposed designation is predominantly to establish the intent.

Schedule 5 of the Planning Regulation 2017 (the Regulation) lists the types of infrastructure that can be designated by local government:

• Transport infrastructure (including wharves and public jetties, storage and works depots)
• Cemeteries and crematoriums
• Community and cultural facilities, including community centres, galleries, libraries and meeting halls
• Emergency services facilities
• Facilities for parks and recreation
• Sporting facilities
• Waste management facilities
• Any other facility not stated in this part that is intended mainly to accommodate government functions.

The Western Grandstand project is categorised as the “Sporting facilities” infrastructure type.

Any proposed land uses or infrastructure that is not specifically listed in Schedule 5 of the Planning Regulation 2017 cannot be designated as local government community infrastructure, and development that is made assessable under the Act and the Ipswich City Plan 2025 is subject to under the typical development assessment process.

An LGID is a pathway available to state and local government for delivering public infrastructure projects. Assessable development and infrastructure projects (such as housing or commercial buildings) not undertaken by, or on behalf of, council requires development permits pursuant to the Planning Act 2016.

The development application process is predominantly designed for private developers. Council is the deciding authority for development that is made assessable under the Ipswich City Plan 2025. For assessable infrastructure projects, council would effectively being assessing its own application.

An LGID streamlines the approvals process and allows council to efficiently progress the development while requiring all necessary environmental, planning, and community considerations to be assessed in detail. It is commonly used for projects of this scale to reduce delays while maintaining transparency and compliance.