We want family fun in 2013, but who'll pay?
THE IPSWICH public wants to see more family entertainment and water parks in the city in 2013 and that wish would be realised with the completion of stage two of the $15 million Robelle Domain project in Springfield.
But a $5 million shortfall in funding is the fly in the ointment.
When the QT spoke to people in the street, more family entertainment was a theme running through their comments on how they would like to see the city improved this year.
The Federal Government has committed $5 million to the Robelle Domain project and the Ipswich City Council has allocated $5 million but the State Government is yet to commit the final $5 million that is needed.
Councillor David Morrison said the park would include water cascades between Sinnathamby Boulevard and John Nugent Way, a squirt water area, picnic areas and children's play areas.
"As a council we have to decide whether to cut the cloth and build a $10 million park and then have a further stage three, or get the state government to commit funding," he said.
It has been floated that we also do a beach like at South Bank but those things have got to be costed.
"It has been floated that we also do a beach like at South Bank but those things have got to be costed."
Cr Morrison said it would be hard for the council to find the extra $5 million elsewhere, so lobbying of the state government was set to continue.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said he would be "talking again to Campbell Newman so that we can lock it (the funding) in".
"I want to make sure that the Robelle Domain project is high on his priorities because it is a development not just for Ipswich but for south-east Queensland," Cr Pisasale said.
"We want to continue to make Ipswich the best area for families, as we have done for many years."
In the meantime, Cr Morrison said if people were looking for further things to do this holiday period he'd suggest they go to College's Crossing and Joseph Brady Park.
"They will be blown away by both of them," he said.
"People still don't know that we have the free nature centre up at Queen's Park."
Cr Pisasale said families should also check out the Ipswich Art Gallery and the Workshops Rail Museum.
