Update

The potential sale of the land and buildings currently leased to Swifts Leagues Club was discussed at the Ordinary Council meeting on 8 December 2022. The outcome from this Council meeting was for the land and buildings currently leased by Swifts Leagues Club at Booval to remain in community ownership, with Ipswich City Council opting not to sell them. Council will now discuss with Swifts the potential for a renegotiated or new lease. Any renegotiated or new release would come to council for final approval.

A copy of the Consultation Report on the potential Swifts sale can be found in the Document Library on this page.

What's happening?

• Ipswich City Council (Council) is considering the potential sale of the land and buildings currently leased to Swifts Leagues Club.
• The potential sale relates to a small portion of land known as Swifts Sports Club within Cameron Park (see map below). The remainder of Cameron Park will stay as parkland and will be owned and managed by Council.
• Council has procured an independent external organisation, WSP Australia, to conduct and deliver community consultation on behalf of Council and Swifts Leagues Club. Council will consider the potential sale of the land and buildings based on feedback received during community consultation.
• Make sure you follow this page (link above) to be kept in the loop on how the project progresses.

Background

Council has leased the land and facilities at 95a Brisbane Road, Booval, to Swifts Leagues Club (Swifts) since September 2001 with the current agreement allowing them to continue the lease for another 20 years.

After decades of use, the Swifts Leagues Club needs significant rehabilitation and refurbishment to ensure it meets existing standards. Major works would cost up to $7.4 million over 20 years, depending on allowances for contingencies, preliminaries and hazardous materials (refer to the Renewal Report Summary for more information). Under the terms of the current lease (negotiated some time ago) for an existing 10 year term plus a further option of 10 years, the annual rental amount of $12,000 adjusted for CPI each year (current year $18,532), would not meet the proposed refurbishment costs. If council retains ownership of the land, public funds will be required to complete the refurbishment.

Swifts Leagues Club has expressed interest in buying the land and has plans to refurbish the property at their own cost, to provide the Ipswich community with a contemporary sports club.

At the Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee meeting on 4 November 2021, it was resolved that Council could consider selling the land and facility to Swifts after considering the results of community consultation.

Council and Swifts Leagues Club have engaged WSP Australia to conduct community consultation to collect feedback and understand community views on the potential sale.

Your feedback will help inform Council’s decision on whether to sell the leased land to Swifts Leagues Club or continue the existing lease for the term of 20 years.

Your feedback has been provided through the online survey or by speaking with the WSP project team in person in September 2022. The team was available at the following locations to discuss the potential sale and hear your thoughts.

Following community consultation, Council will receive a report outlining feedback received on the potential sale. Council will use this information to help decide whether to sell the land to Swifts Leagues Club. Council is committed to keeping the community up to date and will provide an update on the potential sale in the coming months.

Swifts Leagues Club submitted an initial expression of interest to purchase the site in 2019. Some community consultation was carried out as part of this. In late 2020 Swifts Leagues Club withdrew their interest in proceeding with a purchase at that time.

In November 2021, Swifts Leagues Club submitted a second expression of interest to purchase the property. Council recommended that further community consultation be undertaken before making a decision on the sale.

All relevant Council and Committee reports on the proposed sale can be located via the "Council minutes" links on this page.