Revitalised Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve reopens

Almost $10 million of funding under the Australian and Queensland governments’ joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements program was provided to Ipswich City Council to repair and upgrade the riverside park.

Now boasting a state-of-the-art playground, brand new picnic and barbecue areas, the Chuwar reserve has received a major facelift with new green spaces - including native gardens and grassed areas - sheltered seating areas for gatherings, new footpaths and amenities.

Restoration works included the planting of more than 100 mature trees and almost 35,000 plants, the laying of 22,000 square metres of turf, the mulching of 625 square metres of gardens, and the pouring of more than 2,500 square metres of concrete.

Community input was instrumental in developing the reserve’s cultural elements including totem landscape features, educational and interpretive signage, and sandblasted artwork on both footpaths and sandstone bricks.

A new feature at the revitalised reserve is space for food and beverage trucks to park, in lieu of the permanent café. 

Projects to retore valuable community assets such as Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve are crucial to the full recovery of regions impacted by disasters. 

More than just trees and green space, the reopened reserve offers health, wellbeing and reconnection benefits for the local community.

The newly renovated park is a wonderful milestone on the road to recovery for the people of Ipswich following the 2022 floods and a star attraction for visitors to the region.

Colleges Crossing is now open for families and friends to enjoy a lazy day by the water, a picnic, fishing or simply taking the dog for a stroll along the river.

Colleges Crossing has a long history of being one of the most visited outdoor spots in Ipswich and thanks to joint State and Federal disaster funding arrangements to ensure its reconstruction, that history can now continue.