IPSWICH City Council has taken the first formal step towards dismantling the city’s current dual-councillor division system, unanimously backing a push to return to 10 single-councillor divisions before the 2028 local government election.
Ipswich currently has four divisions represented by two councillors each, alongside a directly elected mayor.
Mayor Teresa Harding said Ipswich’s continued population growth had made the issue increasingly important, with the city expected to have about 280,000 residents by the next council election.
“Residents remain unsure who to contact, councillor workloads are often duplicated, accountability is blurred and the size and diversity of our current divisions with multiple growth fronts makes effective representation increasingly difficult,” Mayor Harding told a Council meeting.
She said returning to single-councillor divisions would give residents a clearly identifiable local representative while reducing duplication.
Council will now seek a State Government review, while also starting its own community consultation. Any formal Change Commission process would include opportunities for residents to have their say.
Cr Paul Tully strongly supported another review, arguing Ipswich was unique among Queensland cities in operating dual-member divisions.
“If you’ve got a councillor for a specific division, people vote you in or vote you out according to their views at each election time,” Cr Tully said.
Cr Andrew Antoniolli warned the city had changed considerably since 10 divisions were last used and any new boundaries would need to reflect Ipswich’s population distribution.
Cr Marnie Doyle also cautioned Council against creating an expectation that 10 divisions were guaranteed before the State Government had considered the proposal.
ly 66,000 residents.
“If I started from one boundary and hopped in my car from Keidges Rd and drive to the other boundary, which is down at Grandchester, it takes about 45 minutes,” Cr Augustine said.
“Rightfully so, the residents expect both of us to service that area. I just think that having two in one area is just nonsensical.”
