Ipswich council funding boost: Millions to be spent on upgrading refuse and recycling centres in Riverview and Rosewood

The two Ipswich dumps will receive significant overhauls as part of a $200 million state government stimulus program.

Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles says the program will ‘produce enormous benefits’ for southeast Queensland councils.

IPSWICH refuse centres in Rosewood and Riverview are set for multi-million dollar upgrades as part of a $200 million state government stimulus program aimed at creating jobs during tough economic times.

Ipswich City Council was one of 12 councils eligible for funding through the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program and the organisation received $6.6 million for the two projects in the release of the first $100 million of state money.

About $2.17 million will go towards upgrading Riverview Recycling and Refuse Centre and $4.5 million will be spent on an overhaul of the Rosewood Recycling and Refuse Centre.

Paul Schonhagen at the Riverview Recycling and Refuse Centre.

The council will need to complete the projects by June 2024.

“There’s no doubt these projects will produce enormous benefits by creating employment opportunities and improving liveability,” Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles said.

“We made a commitment to provide $200 million over six years to the 12 councils in the region through the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program.

“Our councils are best-placed to understand the specific needs of their communities, and by working with the Queensland Government, the outcomes for those communities will be tremendous.”

Bundamba MP Lance McCallum said the upgrade to the Riverview facility would create about 16 local jobs.

Ipswich West MP Jim Madden said the works at the Rosewood centre would create about 32 jobs and will be designed to address the 70,000 people expected to move into the outer western suburbs over the next 15 years.

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The council says the upgrades will focus on improving “facilities, customer service and access” and the work is expected to take place over the next three years.

Two other projects, the $2.7 million Redbank Plains Recreation Reserve Youth Area and the $1.2 million Richardson Park playground and amenities, were knocked back.

“Funding from the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program allows Ipswich City Council to provide much needed upgrades to the city’s waste infrastructure at a time when we’re experiencing unprecedented growth,” Mayor Teresa Harding said.

“These upgrades will be extremely beneficial as we move towards a future of resource recovery and reducing waste to landfill.

“Thanks to the state government as well as our local MPs for working alongside Council to cater for the needs of our growing city.”

Scenic Rim Regional Council secured just under $4 million through the program.

About $1 million will go towards car park and driveway access upgrades at Selwyn park in Beaudesert and Coronation Park in Boonah.

The Beaudesert Enterprise Precinct pavement rehabilitation project has received $700,000 and construction of the Bromelton Transfer Station recycling bay was given $600,000.

Another $840,000 has been committed to air conditioning upgrades at the Boonah Cultural Centre and the Vonda Youngman Community Centre.

About $810,000 is set for a long list of ‘community and council facilities upgrades’ including a new roof for the Old School Beechmont, playground upgrades, a new electric heat pump for the Tamborine Mountain Pool and a new air con for the Boonah Sports Complex among many others.

The combined projects across the two council areas is estimated to create 119 jobs all up.

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Ipswich council funding boost: Millions to be spent on upgrading refuse and recycling centres in Riverview and Rosewood