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Consultation opened
Friday 18 September 2026
Consultation closes
Sunday 1 November 2026

⭐ Project background

Council is renewing its Sustainability Strategy to build on what has been achieved and plan for the next five years. It is proposed that the Sustainability Strategy's five-year vision will be based on four pillars:

  1. Sustainable assets and infrastructure
  2. Sustainability governance
  3. Resilient community
  4. Sustainable environment and natural systems.

To learn more about the four pillars, please read the discussion paper.

Community education, events and workshops

Council is also reviewing the community education, events and workshops delivered through the Sustainable Ipswich programming. It is important to make sure the events and workshops align to community needs and expectations and support positive behaviour change.

Sustainable Ipswich programming has included the Sustainable Open Garden Trail, workshops at Queens Park Environmental Education Centre, the Sustainable Living Festival and a variety of community-led events.

Have your say by Sunday 1 November 2026.

  • What can be influenced:
    • Council and community priorities to be incorporated into the Sustainability Strategy.
    • Development and delivery of future sustainability-themed community education, events and workshops organised or supported by council.

  • What can not be influenced:
    • Priorities and actions embedded in other related council policies or strategies (e.g. Resource Recovery Strategy).
    • Capital and operational budgets.
    • Education and events not directly delivered by Ipswich City Council.
    • Matters that are the responsibility of State or Federal government.

👉 How did we get here?

Council's Sustainability Policy was established in 2020 after gathering feedback from the community. Over 200 people provided feedback online, via paper surveys and in person.

From the feedback, council was able to develop educational programming linked to community priorities for sustainability, both at home and in the local community. These themes and ideas were integrated to the workshops, events and partnerships celebrated as part of the annual 'Sustainable Ipswich'.

This feedback was also used to draft the Sustainability Strategy. In 2021, we checked in with you to ensure the feedback was still current and translated correctly into the strategy. To read more about the previous engagement, please click here.

Achievements

Over the past five years there have been big leaps taken in making Ipswich a more sustainable place to live. Examples of some achievements are listed below.

  • At Ipswich Art Gallery we replaced 600+ lights with LEDs which saved more than 10,000kWh per month and ensured best practice care and display of works.

  • Changes to council operations have supported reducing emissions such as increasing the number of electric and hybrid vehicles in council’s fleet.

  • Ipswich City Council has been a leader in regional climate action by hosting the SEQ Climate Resilient Alliance formed by nine councils.

  • Installing a 200kWh solar PV system on Ipswich Central Library has halved electricity costs and reduced electricity usage by over 80%.

  • Through the Power Purchase Agreement with CleanCo for renewable energy, council cut its annual CO² emissions by 13,000 tonnes.

  • In the six months following the citywide rollout of GO (Garden Organics) bins almost 10,000 tonnes of green waste was diverted from landfill.

  • The annual Sustainable Ipswich program of workshops and events celebrated local initiatives, increased education and encouraged action.

  • Improved measurement and reporting of council’s emissions profile, which allows for evidence-based decision making.

📣 Have your say

We want you to have your say on this project. Please submit your feedback using one of the engagement channels below:

Speak to the project team in person and share your feedback on this project.

  • Rosewood Library

    Monday 28 September 2026

    1pm to 5pm

    15 Railway Street, Rosewood

  • Ipswich Youth Advisory Council (IYAC)

    Tuesday 6 October 2026

    Please note, this is a targeted engagement session with current members of IYAC.

  • Ripley Town Centre

    Friday 9 October 2026

    9am to 5pm

    20 Main Street, Ripley (near Coles)

  • Springfield Central Library

    Tuesday 20 October 2026

    9am to 1pm

    Cnr Main Street & Sirius Drive, Orion Springfield Central

  • Booval Fair

    Friday 23 October 2026

    9am to 5pm

    South Station Road, Booval (near Big W)

  • Ipswich ECOfest

    Saturday 31 October 2026

    9am to 12:30pm

    81 Warwick Road, Ipswich (Ipswich Showground)

    Please note, this event requires a gold coin donation upon entry.

Acknowledgement of Country

Ipswich City Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul People of the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we share. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, as the keepers of the traditions, customs, cultures and stories of proud peoples.



Phone: (07) 3810 6666

Email: communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Postal: PO Box 191, Ipswich QLD 4305, Australia

Ipswich City Council protects your personal information in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld) and the Queensland Privacy Principles (QPP).