FEDERAL Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has confirmed he would support a new proposal for a tartan athletics track in Ipswich – provided Ipswich City Council puts forward a plan for a suitable Council-owned site.
Mr Neumann said he remained committed to delivering long-awaited sporting infrastructure in the region and was open to working with Council on a fresh proposal, following the collapse of an earlier $20 million plan that involved the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and Bremer State High School.
“I am always happy to work with Ipswich City Council if they have a proposal to build a tartan track at another suitable site,” he said.
The previous plan, which included a $10 million commitment from the Albanese Government, was ultimately shelved after UniSQ declined to proceed with the project.
With that opportunity lost, Ipswich City Council is now taking matters into its own hands.
At its April Ordinary Meeting, Council unanimously passed a Notice of Motion by Division 3 Councillor Marnie Doyle, supporting the construction of a 400m synthetic tartan track at Limestone Park or another appropriate Council-owned location.
The decision marks a shift in strategy, with Council now aiming to lead the project independently, rather than relying on external institutions.
“We must be the driver of this critical piece of infrastructure for our community,” Cr Doyle said.
“We can no longer rely on third parties and other organisations to deliver.”
Council officers will now begin site investigations, with a report due in June. An advocacy campaign will also be developed to seek State and Federal funding for planning, design, and construction.
Cr Doyle has long championed Limestone Park as the ideal site due to its historical significance as the home of athletics in Ipswich.
The track project has now been formally included in Council’s 2032 Legacy Roadmap, strengthening its case for inclusion in Olympic legacy funding.
State Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard also reaffirmed her support.
“Ipswich athletes desperately need this to help them train at high performance levels. Currently, they have to travel to Brisbane to get the elite-level training they require,” she said.
“A new synthetic track for Ipswich will do this.
“I won’t stop advocating for it – wherever it is built.”
With Ipswich having been overlooked in the original Brisbane 2032 Olympic venue announcements, Council hopes the tartan track will become a tangible and lasting legacy for the city’s athletes and sporting community.
