Ipswich outdoor initiatives named Queensland’s best

29 June 2018

Two Ipswich park and leisure initiatives have won peak industry awards.

The 2018 Queensland Park and Leisure Australia (PLA) Awards of Excellence recently showcased the industry’s best and brightest.

Works, Parks and Sport Committee Acting Chairman David Morrison said it was excellent to see two new Ipswich initiatives among the state winners.

“NAEUS Explore app won the Best Use of Technology category. NAEUS Explore has been on an upward trajectory since winning the DigiCon Hackathon at Fire Station 101 in March 2017,” he said.

“The smartphone app developed by Tim and Jeremy Butler with support from council combines GPS guided walking tracks and information with flora identification for a more in-depth experience of natural areas.

“Council’s Active Parks Program was also a winner in the Community Based Initiative of the Year category.

“Active Parks is an all-inclusive fitness program in local parks that overcomes common participation barriers such as lack of time, expense and lack of facilities.

“Since its launch in July 2017, there have been more than 240 free activities and 1479 participants with everything from bootcamps and boxercise to Zumba and Yoga.

“Both of these initiatives would not have been possible without the collaboration of council and the community. They are initiatives that deliver enormous benefit to the community.”

Both NAEUS Explore app and Active Parks Program are now in the running for the national PLA awards to be announced in October.

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