Construction Starts on North Ipswich Reserve’s $40 Million Western Grandstand

Construction has started on a new $40 million grandstand at North Ipswich Reserve, the home of the Ipswich Jets, marking the first stage of Ipswich City Council’s plan to turn the ground into a national-standard sport and entertainment precinct. The previous western stand has already been demolished, and contractor Buildcorp is due to finish the new two storey Western Grandstand in late 2027, in time for the 2028 rugby league season.

The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government ($20 million), the Queensland Government ($10 million) and Ipswich City Council ($10 million). Designed by Blight Rayner, the grandstand will seat 2,199 spectators under a long, cantilevered roof, almost 200 more seats than earlier designs, with changerooms, media and function facilities behind and a new public plaza at its entry.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the start of construction was a major step on the city’s road to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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 will provide seating for 2,199 spectators, an increase of almost 200 on earlier designs, plus coaches’ boxes, four spacious and modern changerooms, media facilities and function facilities for up to 250 guests.

Teresa Harding, Mayor of Ipswich

Beyond the seating, the grandstand brings a canteen, upgraded public toilets, fresh landscaping and a larger car park. Buildcorp’s scope, delivered under an early contractor involvement and design and construct contract, also takes in a broadcast-ready set-up with scoring and timekeeping rooms, internal and external function spaces, a plaza designed for food truck events, and a flood-resilient design for the riverside ground on The Terrace.

Council’s community consultation earlier this year shaped the brief. Residents asked for full shade over the seating, steeply raked stands for better sightlines, plenty of toilets, food and drink close to the stands, and paths wide enough for prams and wheelchairs. A First Nations workshop in May proposed ways to bring culture into the precinct, including a coolamon sculpture, a mural of the Bremer River, a wall honouring Aboriginal athletes and native planting labelled in Yagara language.

The grandstand is only the first piece. Council’s long-term vision for the North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct is a national-standard, 12,000 seat rectangular stadium able to host NRL, A-League and rugby matches as well as concerts. Later stages are not yet funded, but the new stand will sit alongside Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield, which has been confirmed as a Brisbane 2032 venue, as the two centrepieces of Ipswich’s sporting future.

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. Council has been championing this project for many years and I’m delighted we have reached this key milestone.

Teresa Harding, Mayor of Ipswich

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann, who secured the Commonwealth’s $20 million, linked the timing to Ipswich’s push for a place in the NRL.

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.

Shayne Neumann, Federal Member for Blair

Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the $10 million state contribution was part of a wider effort to build up community sport ahead of the Games, alongside the Brisbane 2032 venue program and headline projects such as the 63,000 seat Olympic stadium at Victoria Park.

Ipswich is a proud sporting city and by increasing seating capacity and delivering improved player and spectator amenities, this project will help to create more opportunities for Ipswich to host major sporting events.

Tim Mander, Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

For the Jets, the new stand is personal. Group CEO Richard Hughes said generations of players had run out onto North Ipswich Reserve, and the redevelopment gives the club a chance to honour that history.

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.

Richard Hughes, Group CEO, Ipswich Jets

The grandstand adds to a busy period for Ipswich, which has also seen a Hilton Garden Inn confirmed for the city centre. Buildcorp managing director Tony Sukkar AM said the company was proud to be part of an important investment in the future of the precinct.

Project Rundown

Construction is underway, with North Ipswich Reserve due to reopen for the 2028 season.

Renders and photograph supplied by Ipswich City Council; renders are indicative and subject to change.