Construction Commences on $40 Million Western Grandstand at North Ipswich Reserve

Construction has officially commenced on the $40 million Western Grandstand at North Ipswich Reserve, marking the stage of Ipswich City Council’s master plan to transform the venue into a national-standard sport and entertainment precinct.

Delivered by commercial contractor Buildcorp and designed by Blight Rayner, the two-storey facility is scheduled for completion in late 2027 to prepare for the 2028 rugby league season. The major infrastructure initiative is jointly financed through a tripartite funding model incorporating a $20 million commitment from the Australian Government, $10 million from the Queensland Government, and a matching $10 million investment from the Ipswich City Council.

Commenting on the timing and economic significance of the project, Ipswich Mayor, Hon. Teresa Harding, said: “Construction of the North Ipswich Reserve Western Grandstand is a major step in Ipswich’s journey to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as we deliver another venue for elite sporting performance,” “The new grandstand is the first stage towards realising our full vision for the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct of a national-standard 12,000-capacity rectangular stadium,” Hon. Harding said. 

Underscoring the regional economic drivers supported by the federal funding, Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, shared: “Ipswich is Queensland’s fastest growing region and a rugby league and sporting powerhouse, so we deserve to have world-class sporting facilities, and this redevelopment will deliver that.”

“With momentum building behind a western corridor-based Jets NRL franchise from 2029, it’s fantastic that the grandstand will be completed in 2027 and be ready for a potential new team to enter the national competition,” Neumann said. 

Reflecting on the continuity and community significance for the local sporting organisation, Ipswich Jets Group CEO, Richard Hughes, said: “We’ve watched generations of Jets run onto North Ipswich Reserve, so to now see the next chapter of this ground becoming a reality is incredibly special.”

“There is so much history here for our club and for Ipswich, and this project gives us the chance to honour that while creating something the next generation of players, supporters and families can be proud of,” Hughes stated.

The redevelopment provides a vital upgrade to the home of the Ipswich Jets, delivering undercover seating for 2,199 spectators under a long cantilevered roof alongside four modern changerooms, coaches’ boxes, media infrastructure, and flexible function facilities capable of hosting up to 250 guests.

Beyond spectator capacity, the scope incorporates a public plaza configured for food truck events, expanded car parking, upgraded amenities, and flood-resilient architectural designs tailored for the riverside location. The project directly supports regional commercial strategies, aligning with Queensland’s infrastructure preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and bolstering local bids for a prospective western corridor-based NRL franchise from 2029.

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