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INSIDER #054 – Nuclear Free Zone?

Published 10 days ago • 6 min read

Let’s find out why those big City of Ipswich motorway signs say Nuclear Free Zone. Then let’s rank Ipswich’s top fishing spots. And finally, are you checking out the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail this Sunday?

☢️ Why Does It Say 'Nuclear Free Zone' on the Ipswich Signs?

Today let's find out why on earth the big city of ipswich motorway signs all say Nuclear Free Zone at the bottom.

Those signs are new, put up around 2015. But the story starts in 1982, when Ipswich was shortlisted for a uranium enrichment plant, probably at Swanbank, but we can't confirm that.

See full story →

🎣 Vote: Ipswich's Top Fishing Spots

We cast a wide net across Facebook, council brochures and online fishing forums looking for the top fishing spot recommendations around Ipswich.

About 20 kept coming up.

We narrowed it down to 11 based on access and how often they got mentioned.

  • Kholo Bridge
  • Colleges Crossing
  • Mt Crosby Weir...

This game is called Pick 'Swich - You Rank Ipswich.

You upvote or downvote every spot. Every vote shifts the ranking in real time.

Cast your votes →

$1.6million, Newtown — Could this be inner Ipswich’s longest driveway? This rare big-block buy, walking distance from East Ipswich train station, sits on 2,043 sqm and packs in four bedrooms, is a brand new (2021-built) weatherboard-style home and serious family flexibility. See full listing →

Want to try pickleball? Ipswich Pickleball runs indoor sessions in Ipswich, Rosewood and Redbank. Ipswich on Mondays 9:30–11:30am and Fridays 5:30–7:30pm, Rosewood on Tuesdays 5–7pm and Saturdays 3–5pm, and Redbank on Sundays 9:30–11:30am. Prices start at $5 for members and range up to $15 for non-members, depending on venue. Learn more about Ipswich Pickleball →

Coming soon to Providence Town Centre. A new INSIDER Partner is opening here in May. More soon. Own a local business? See how INSIDER Partners works →

New Ipswich Game — WHICH 'SWICH? I reckon most people don't even realise Ipswich has 82 suburbs, let alone know where they all are. So I made a simple game to make learning them a bit more fun. Try it here (no logins or ads) →

🗳️ Vote

🗳️ Last Week's Poll Results

How would you describe your relationship with Ipswich?

  • 66% Love it
  • 13% Growing on me
  • 11% It's complicated
  • 10% Stuck with it

234 participants - Thank you for voting (does anyone actually read these results?)

🤔 Trivia

🧩 Scramble

Unscramble your GuessWhere hint

📍 GuessWhere

How to play: Look close at the photo, guess where it was taken from in Ipswich. Click the link and drop your pin to see how close you can get.

GuessWhere, Ipswich →

🏭 Swanbank Green Steel Mill Breaks Ground

Future Forgeworks broke ground on the Swanbank Steel Mill on 18 March, with the project targeting 350,000 tonnes of rebar a year from scrap steel. The mill is expected to create more than 400 construction jobs, 200 ongoing jobs and supply Queensland building projects from Ipswich. The move also comes as GM Steel advances a similar low-emission steel mill at Wellcamp near Toowoomba, pointing to a broader push for recycled steel production just west of Brisbane.
ABC News →
Wellcamp Project Page →

🎶 CMC Rocks Wraps Up At Willowbank

CMC Rocks QLD finished at Willowbank on 22 March after attracting 25,000 people a day across its 3 festival days, its biggest crowd yet. That brings 1,000s of visitors, traffic and spending into Ipswich, and keeps Willowbank on the map as a major events site.
The Music (scroll to 'Country Music') →

Rowan Anderson / Local Ipswich News:

♻️ NuGrow Eyes September Start For In-Vessel Composting At Swanbank

NuGrow says its new enclosed in-vessel composting system at Swanbank is expected to be operational by September, with approval for 16 sealed tunnels and an initial first stage of 12. It matters because the plant is pitched as a major regional organics facility that could support councils and agriculture across South East Queensland.

💰 Ipswich Land Values Jump More Than 50 Per Cent Since 2023

New 2026 valuations show Ipswich’s 90,878 rateable properties are now worth $48.64 billion in total, up 51 per cent since the last valuation in 2023. That affects how locals read the market, with strong rises across housing and industrial land underscoring how fast the city is changing.

🏛️ Ipswich Seeks Feedback On 17 Local Law Changes

Ipswich residents can give feedback until 6 April on 17 proposed local law changes covering busking, outdoor dining, events, parking, cemeteries and other neighbourhood rules. The review could change how public spaces and some local business activities are managed across the city.
Shape Your Ipswich →

Quick-fire snippets—local buzz & chatter:

Events Labels:

🆓 Free entry
🍻🍽️ Free, buy food/drink
💵 Ticketed

Wednesday (25 March)

🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Open Mic 6 PM info

🍻🍽️ General Public - Trivia 6:30 PM info

Thursday (26 March)

🆓 Ipswich Events Centre - Business, Careers & Jobs Expo 3-6pm info

💵 Everyday Mums Hub - Zumba class 6:30-7:30pm ($12) info

🍻🍽️ Orion Hotel - Trivia 7-10 PM ($1) details

🍻🍽️ Banshees Bar and Artspace - Karaokee 8pm info

Friday (27 March)

🆓 Croquet Club Hall, Queens Park - Boardgame Club Night 4:45-8:45pm more info

💵 Limestone Gallery and Studios - Metal Clay Play 6-9pm ($39) check it out

💵 Banshees Bar and Artspace - Cosmic Sun Lounge, Shade Hadie and the Soft Cuntts 7pm ($9) details

💵 Ipswich Civic Centre – Kinky Boots the Musical sold out

Saturday (28 March)

🆓 Coronation St, East Ipswich - Community planting 8-10am info

💵 Area 51 World, Bundamba - Opening Weekend 9am-5pm bookings required

🆓 Ipswich Events Centre – Home + Property Expo 9am-2pm ($15+) details

💵 St Paul's Ipswich - 2026 AOGKF QLD State Gasshuku (karate classes) 9am-3pm ($45-$65) info

💵 Ipswich Showgrounds – SEQ Puzzle Race All Weekend info

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - IAG Kids: LightPlay OPEN DAILY 10am-5pm info

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - The Artists Lounge 10am-4pm tickets

🆓 Evan Marginson Park, Goodna - Witches Night Market 2-8pm info

🆓 Ipswich Art Gallery - Leonard Brown & Sasha Grishin conversation 3:30-4:30pm info

💵 Ipswich State High School Performing Arts Centre - Musical Trails 4pm & 7pm ($15) details

🍻🍽️ Stony Creek Brewing - Live music: Just Jamie 6pm info

💵 Falvey's Hotel Yamanto - KAI+LYN V.I.P package (nightclub party) 9pm-1am ($119) tickets

Sunday (29 March)

🆓 Scenic Rim Farmgate Trail

From 9am to 3pm, with 25 stops across the region serving up farm-fresh produce, wine, beer, flowers and animal experiences. It’s free overall, though "experience upgrades" exist to get more in-depth tours and hands-on experiences. All the info →

🆓 Peter Lightfoot Oval - Teekay's Eggs-traordinary Hunt 9-11am info

🆓 Marburg Showgrounds - Marburg pacing race day info

🆓 Woogaroo Creek, Bellbird Park – Come and Try Bushcare 2-4pm info

💵 Banshees Bar & Artspace - Ben Salter with Renovators Delight 5-8pm ($20) info

Monday (30 March)

🆓 Wounded Heroes Op Shop Cafe, Bundamba - Weekly Adventure Walk + coffee (BYO) with Kez and crew from @thingstodoIpswich 9-10am info

Tuesday (31 March)

YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre - Ipswich Thriving Seniors Walking Group, Bridge and other events See timetable here →

💵 Montello Park, Springfield Lakes - Waterfest fishing adults only 1:30-4:30pm ($5) tickets

😎 Top Upcoming Events:

Easter Activities

4 Apr – Easter Saturday Free Family Fun, Nicholas St Precinct info

5 Apr – Easter Moggill Sunday Farm Day, Heritage Poultry details

5 Apr – Easter Sunday Funday, Marburg Showgrounds info

5 Apr – Southside Collective Markets, Ipswich Showgrounds details

6 Apr – Easter Monday Races, Ipswich Turf Club info

All upcoming events →

🧩 This Week's Answers

Scramble Answer: WILLOWBANK

Willowbank began as a rural grazing district in the 1880s. Today it is home to Willowbank Raceway, open since 1985, plus Queensland Raceway and major drawcards like the Winternationals and CMC Rocks, making the suburb one of Ipswich’s biggest event hubs.

GuessWhere Answer:

📍 Taken from the end of Willowbank Raceway drag strip.

This Week's Trivia Answer:

c) 1980s. Willowbank Raceway opened in September 1985, with its first race meeting held on 28–29 September after almost 4 years of construction by a group of racers.

📊 Last Week's Results

The Trivia:

Trivia #053

Which major Ipswich site relied on the Berry's Weir and Berry's Lagoon water system built in the 1960s?

❌ Dinmore Meatworks - 2% guessed right

❌ Ipswich Railway Workshops - 3% guessed wrong

❌ Churchill Abbatoir - 52% guessed wrong

✅ Swanbank Power Station - 43% guessed right

201 participants - thanks for playing!

📍 GuessWhere:

GuessWhere #053

  • Players: 145
  • Average guess distance: 2,548m
  • Farthest guess: 16,370m
  • Closest guess: 10m (wow, great stuff!)
—Jamey (Back Jamey · Facebook · Instagram)
Eastern Heights, Ipswich, QLD 4305
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