Residents ‘too scared’ to visit Ipswich CBD petition for revamp

Ipswich residents are calling the city centre an “embarrassment” in its current state, calling on multiple levels of government to make it safer and bring it back to life.

Hundreds of Ipswich residents are petitioning for greater efforts to return the city to its former glory, as one woman claims she is now “too scared” to visit health clinics in town on her own.

Empty storefronts, broken windows, for lease signs and graffiti have become regular features in Bell St and Brisbane St in recent years, discouraging pedestrians and potential shoppers at numerous small businesses.

But Ipswich residents and CBD shop owners are hopeful a new era of success is on the horizon.

Significant steps are being made as part of Ipswich City Council’s $250 million Nicholas Street redevelopment, but some say more investment in the area is necessary.

Bell St, Ipswich has been called an “eyesore” by local residents. Picture: Jessica Baker

A petition launched by Ipswich resident Joshua Aaron this month stated Bell St in particular was in need of some “serious tender loving care”.

“Bell Street and its buildings are the first impression of Ipswich for anyone who arrives by public transport and is hindering efforts to bring the city back to life,” Mr Aaron said.

He argued short term solutions such as removing dust, rubbish and graffiti from buildings were required, as well as painting walls, refreshing tiles and adding plants and murals.

In the longer term, he said the Ipswich train station needed to be taken “out of the 1980s” and the street’s health facilities should be made to be more “clean and inviting”.

Most shopfronts along the street are empty and covered in graffiti. Picture: Jessica Baker

One woman who signed the petition, Gail Wood, said she was “too scared” to visit the breast cancer screening service on Bell St by herself.

Another petitioner, Christine Moore, said people were avoiding all businesses on the street “for their own safety”.

“Bell Street is an eye sore. It is so very run down and an embarrassment,” another petition signer, Sarah King, wrote.

“As a mother of teenagers needing to catch public transport it is a dangerous and frightening place to be and I believe it is partially due to its run down state.”

A lack of parking spaces in the CBD is a key issue residents and businesses would like addressed. Picture: Jessica Baker

Charlie’s Barber Shop’s Ash Adam, who has been barbering on Bell St for three years, said the city certainly had potential, but it still had a way to go before it was anything like other bustling city centres.

“(Ideally Ipswich would be) I guess like Brisbane City, where people come to work and businesses are thriving,” Mr Adam said.

“It has elements of that. That’s what it wants to be, but I think inner-city living would probably be good here.

“In the time that I’ve been here, I’ve heard that Ipswich City had its heyday and obviously it’s going through its struggles. But I think it’s taken a turn.”

He said Ipswich had character and history, so it could very well be as big as Brisbane City in the future.

The Sauce Cafe owner Tracy Helps said making the city centre more accessible would help increase foot traffic and benefit local business. Picture: Jessica Baker

Located on Brisbane St, The Sauce Cafe has been “gradually picking up pace” since it opened in June, but cafe co-owner Tracy Helps said there were steps multiple levels of government could take to increase foot traffic and breathe life back into the area.

“I think that the council should look at making this area more accessible to people with mobility issues,” Ms Helps said.

“We have had some customers who want to come here but struggle to find parking close by.

“And while public transport is a great option, for people with mobility issues it can be hard to navigate this precinct.”

Ms Helps said she believed the 2011 floods and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic left many shop owners with no choice but to leave the area.

However she hoped one day it would be renewed and known by all as Ipswich’s coffee and food hub.