Here is the pick of Ipswich headlines in the Queensland Times this week

It has been a week of great change for the Queensland Times, but we are still here bringing you the most important local stories.

The top stories from across Ipswich this week.

As most of our loyal subscribers would have realised by now, we have officially changed over to become a stand alone section within the Courier Mail website.

This change has brought plenty of challenges for us, as I know it has to you from speaking to a few of you over the phone this week.

Here are some helpful hints and tips.

The single biggest piece of feedback I have received this week is that people are getting a shock when they go to click on one of our stories and it takes them to a Courier Mail paywall.

It is vital to remember that as an existing Queensland Times subscriber, you are entitled to access our news on the new site, in addition to the Courier Mail, and stories from News publications across the country.

The first thing to do, if you had not previously activated your Courier Mail subscription, is to click on the “forgot my password” logo and reset your password.

If this does not do the trick, there is plenty of help available. Phone our subscriber help number on 1300 696 397 or email [e-mail].

Here are some helpful videos to help guide you around the new site.

Welcome back, old friend

This week, we looked back on another successful Ipswich Cup – the first since 2019.

A crowd of 15,224 was not a record, but also nothing to be sneezed at, especially given the Covid concerns placed over the event.

The changes to the racetrack and its facilities seemed to have little impact on the good mood of the day, and there was no shortage of colourful characters doing the rounds.

If you missed it, we published a big gallery of social photos from the day, plus a retrospective of Ipswich Cup pictures from over the years.

Here’s hoping 2022 is an even bigger affair.

Awful blow for family

There are few things more gut wrenching than having your family home broken into.

For a Fernvale family, things went from bad to just awful when they realised their pet dog was also missing, presumed stolen.

It takes a special kind of low-life to steal a family dog after already ransacking someone’s home, if indeed that is what has occurred.

Police are calling for public assistance in solving this one.

Budget time

There were some key announcements in the Ipswich budget this week, but we all know that the rates rise is the thing everyone is looking out for.

The council is hoping to sell the 2.75 per cent increase as a modest one, as they promote the significant investment in roadworks in rural and older suburban parts of Ipswich.

There were also announcements regarding the completion of the CBD, and parks and sport grounds and mowing.

Festival hopes to light a spark

There’s a different type of festival set to take over Ipswich in July, with a raft of live music and art and even kids’ entertainment planned.

We will continue to bring you stories on what to expect at this year’s SPARK Ipswich Festival, which runs from July 8-18 at venues across the city.