City of Logan benefits from SEQ City Deal

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Improved transport connections and new community facilities are on the way for the City of Logan following the announcement yesterday of a $1.8 billion South East Queensland (SEQ) City Deal.

Planning for priority transport and lifestyle projects will be kick-started through $78.46 million in funding, while more than $400 million in regional funding will be accessible for future infrastructure projects.

City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said the investment highlighted the crucial role Logan will play in the future prosperity of Queensland and Australia.

“Logan City Council was the first local government to formally approve our SEQ City Deal commitments, recognising the benefits coordinated investment would give our rapidly growing city,” Cr Power said.

“The initial investment will launch priority projects across the city, including initial investment of $46 million towards better transport connections into the Meadowbrook Health Precinct and planning on the Southern Gateway Corridor.

“This investment in Meadowbrook will improve the connection between major transport projects in the region, adding to the important works already underway in Meadowbrook, including the expansion of the hospital and the relocation of the Loganlea train station.

“The investment in a business case for the Southern Gateway Corridor will be the critical first step in opening the next section of employment land in the city, ensuring our region remains the best place to invest.”

Artists impression of a future Meadowbrook

The Australian Government, Queensland Government and Logan City Council will support the revitalisation of the Loganlea/Meadowbrook precinct through improved connectivity and mobility investments. Image: Artists impression of a future Meadowbrook 

Cr Power said Council’s community infrastructure would receive an investment of $32.46 million as part of the SEQ Liveability Fund.

“This means Council will be able to deliver improved community facilities such as pools, libraries, performing arts centres and sport centres to cater for our future community needs,” he said.

He said while it was disappointing that Logan missed out on an Olympic venue in the initial draft Master Plan for 2032, Council was actively working with the Queensland and Australian governments to capitalise on opportunities leading into the Olympics. This includes developing a Roadmap to 2032.

“The SEQ City Deal is a good start, and we look forward to progressing opportunities as our city continues to grow,” he said.

“As one of the fastest growing regions in the country, the City of Logan ticks so many boxes and we will continue to push our case to unlock the Olympic potential in our city.”

Cr Power said the City of Logan would benefit from a $20 million regional funding pool set aside for Green Urban Infrastructure – enabling Council to improve street scaping and boosting our green canopy to improve heat mitigation across the city.

The prioritisation of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in the City of Logan as part of the Sub-Regional Waste Alliance with Redland City Council and Ipswich City Council is also underway

“We know our communities want a cleaner, greener environment and this combined approach will further the South East’s transformation to a more sustainable region,” Cr Power said.

The $150 million Innovation Economy Fund and $40 million Local Digital Priority Projects will be other key funding pools Council can access to support existing innovation initiatives and projects.

The SEQ City Deal also includes:

  • $5 million to jointly identify the infrastructure and land-use planning needed to keep pace with population growth
  • $2.1 million to improve transport and freight route planning and to identify priorities for infrastructure investment to increase service reliability and safety along critical routes such as the Mt Lindsay Highway
  • $40 million over the next five years towards delivering priority, on-ground works to improve the overall health and resilience of local rivers and waterways through the Council of Mayors (SEQ) Resilient Rivers initiative.

The SEQ City Deal is a 20-year partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and 11 Councils, which make up the Council of Mayors (SEQ). It provides a shared commitment to transform SEQ and deliver region-shaping infrastructure.

The SEQ City Deal will deliver a significant foundation investment of more than $1.8 billion that will generate thousands of local jobs, boost digital and transport connectivity, enhance liveability and support one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

Calls for permanent Safe Crossing as Jimboomba trial ends

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The Jimboomba Safe Crossing Trial, a community project championed by Cr Scott Bannan, will close soon to allow construction to begin on the next stage of the widening of Mt Lindesay Highway.

Logan City Council’s Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said the Safe Crossing Trial, a priority project from the 2019 Jimboomba Summit, had helped re-connect the Jimboomba community.

“Keeping this community connected and safe is an important part of Council’s $2 million upgrade of the Jimboomba Town Centre,” Councillor Raven said.

“The local Councillor has gone above and beyond on this one to deliver an amazing temporary outcome, I just hope we can see a permanent solution as part of the highway upgrade.”

Cr Bannan said while it was disappointing that the trial had to end to allow the highway to be widened, high patronage of the temporary crossing over the last 12 months proved that a permanent safe crossing is needed.

“The local community really embraced the Safe Crossing Trial under Mount Lindesay Highway, which was made a priority project based on feedback from the Jimboomba Summit,” Cr Bannan said.

“There have been some days where more than 200 people have used the crossing and our statistics show the busiest times are weekday mornings and mid-afternoons, which is mostly schoolkids whose parents knew they could get across the highway safely.”

Cr Scott Bannan at the Safe Crossing with mural artists Paul Turnbull and Jay Christensen

Cr Scott Bannan at the Safe Crossing with mural artists Paul Turnbull and Jay Christensen

The Safe Crossing underpass, which utilised the former Beaudesert railway line, became even more popular last July when the walls of the rail tunnel were painted with murals featuring Jimboomba’s iconic kangaroos.

“The Safe Crossing went from a hidden secret to a bit of a tourist attraction,” Cr Bannan said.

The Safe Crossing will close to the public from 5pm on Monday, February 28. Access walkways at both ends will be dismantled.

Those who need to cross Mount Lindesay Highway after that date are strongly encouraged to use the signalised crossing at South Street.

The Department of Transport and Mains Road has announced construction will start soon for the widening of the highway between Johanna and South streets.

For more information on the TMR project, telephone 1800 290 568, email mountlindesay@tmr.qld.gov.au or go to their website

Beenleigh Town Centre receives a new streetscape upgrade

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One of Logan’s oldest city centres has been given a new lease of life thanks to a rejuvenating and revitalising upgrade by Logan City Council.

The works are part of the $5 million Beenleigh Implementation Plan, which has delivered on key outcomes from the Council-hosted 2017 Beenleigh Summit.

The upgrade includes streetscaping improvements, new garden beds and trees, creative lighting and custom-designed directional signs.

It also includes urban artworks featuring designs of local artists.

They include award-winning Mary Barron, Kyra Mancktelow, Madhu Khanna and June Hintz.

The artists’ colourful designs, some featuring indigenous themes, have been painted on laneways, footpaths and traffic calming devices. They were also integrated into new shade discs on John Lane and City Road.

It is also hoped that new wider footpaths will encourage local businesses to take advantage of Council’s footpath dining incentive fund.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said Council had worked closely with the local community and businesses to ensure the city centre was more accessible and vibrant.

“This investment in Beenleigh will help unlock the enormous economic potential of this area,” Councillor Raven said.

“We want the Town Square and nearby streets to be inviting for day and night activities, encouraging more people to visit, shop and work in Beenleigh.”

The urban art complements, and is an extension of, the new innovative art-inspired shade solution in Beenleigh Town Square.

Shade is created by 457 circular aluminium discs that feature laser-cut designs from Madhu and June. The artwork becomes a colourful light show at night.

The artworks also sit well with the eye-catching giant wall murals on the recently opened multi-storey development The York, which overlooks the Town Square.

Other upgrade works completed across the Beenleigh city centre include a large electronic screen in the Town Square, the installation of free-wi-fi and the first stage of a new smart parking trial which provides real-time updates on the availability of parking bays on key streets.

Division 12 Councillor Karen Murphy said completion of the upgrade was the start of an exciting new era for Beenleigh.

“Beenleigh is open for business, and I look forward to local residents and visitors flocking to the area to support the retailers and enjoy all the new facilities and amenities,” Cr Murphy said.

Some of the upgrades were co-funded from the Queensland Government’s Unite and Recover Funding program, which aims to help kickstart the local economy after the setbacks of the pandemic in the last two years.

The Member for Macalister, Melissa McMahon MP, said the local community can be proud of Beenleigh’s new look.

“Beenleigh is buzzing again, and I encourage everyone to visit and enjoy our new-look city centre and support our local businesses,” Ms McMahon said.

Lime Cordiale ready to rock Logan

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ARIA award-winning band Lime Cordiale today toured the new Kingston Butter Factory (KBF) Cultural Precinct with City of Logan Mayor Darren Power ahead of their scheduled concert on Sunday, May 8.

Their show on KBF’s new outdoor stage is part of band founders Oli and Louis Leimbach’s annual travelling festival The Squeeze.

Along with Lime Cordiale, the line-up will include Thelma Plum, Client Liaison, The VANNS, Teenage Dads and Merci, Mercy.

Logan City Council is in the final stages of transforming the historic KBF into a world-class community precinct for arts, culture and entertainment.

Louis and Oli Leimbach from Lime Cordiale with Coouncillors Hall, Koranski, Russell and Mayor Power

Councillor Hall, Councillor Koranski, Louis and Oli Leimbach from Lime Cordiale, Mayor Power, and Councillor Mindy Russell

Mayor Darren Power said he was thrilled to welcome the band to KBF and the city.

“It will be wonderful to have them take to the KBF stage and fire up this new facility,” he said.

“We look forward to attracting many artists of this calibre to KBF as this new venue starts its journey in the coming months.”

City Lifestyle Chair, Councillor Laurie Koranski, said the KBF would become a live music and cultural icon, attracting visitors from outside the city.

“KBF will transform the way our growing city entertains its community and we also look forward to welcoming visitors from Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast,” Cr Koranski said.

“We are delighted to announce Lime Cordiale will be playing at the new precinct and look forward to many more exciting announcements”.

Oli Leimbach from Lime Cordiale said it was ‘crazy to think how The Squeeze has grown from an indoor event to a major outdoor national festival for its third year.

“After the industry has been hit so hard it’s a great feeling to know that we’re pulling this off,” he said.

Tickets for the City of Logan concert are available now from Logan Arts.

Healthy Street is perfect tonic for hospital precinct

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Loganlea Road at Meadowbrook has never looked better.

That’s due to the competition of Stage 1 of Logan City Council’s Loganlea Road Healthy Street project.

The project, which included $2.4 million from the Queensland Government’s Unite and Recover Fund, has created safer and improved pedestrian and cycling connections as part of Council’s vision for the suburb to become a major health and well-being precinct.

It also better connects Logan Hospital to proposed medical facilities and the Meadowbrook Shopping Centre on the other side the road.

Upgrades to Loganlea Road include a new off-street shared pathway on both sides of the road, landscaping works, shade structures and a new signalised pedestrian crossing.

Street lighting has been improved and new 24/7 safety cameras are now operating across the precinct.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said the project is the first capital works to be completed through Council’s $5 million Meadowbrook Implementation Fund.

It has been delivered in conjunction with the Council-led Meadowbrook Partnership Group.

“This project is another example of Council enhancing public spaces for benefit of residents and visitors to our city,” Cr Raven said.

“Meadowbrook is well on the way to becoming a major health hub and these upgrades make it easier and safer for everyone to access the Logan hospital and other nearby health services.”

The project includes artwork along the Loganlea Road footpaths and other parts of the precinct. The art is in the form of installations, shelters and murals painted on the footpath.

Some designs were laser cut into double-sided, brightly coloured aluminium circular discs, which have been positioned along pedestrian thoroughfares.

Streetscape upgrades along Loganlea Road

works include shade structures and a new pedestrian crossing linking the hospital to the retail precinct

City of Logan artists who attended today’s opening of the Healthy Street project included Vikki Kinderman, Evangeline Goodfellow, Rachel Lee, Missy Knox, Therese Flynn-Clarke and Chloe Wigg.

Many of the artists have exhibited in Logan Art Gallery and some have artwork and street art along pathways and other locations across the city.

Division 6 Councillor Tony Hall said the new eye-catching artwork and extensive landscaping are a welcome addition to the Meadowbrook health hub.

“While the safety and access upgrades will be welcomed by those who visit the hospital and other health services in Meadowbrook, the addition of art and place-making improvements is also important for those who live, shop and work in the suburb,” Cr Hall said.

Loganlea Road as seen from the sky by drone

Loganlea Road as seen from above

The project also received funding from the Queensland Government’s Cycle Network Local Government Grant (CNLGG) program.

Stage 2 of the project is expected to include the design and construction of an extension of the shared pathway on the eastern side of Loganlea Road to connect with Armstrong Road.

It will include a new pedestrian bridge to provide safe access to the proposed relocated Loganlea train station.

Spirits of the Red Sand wins Gold at Tourism Awards

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Beenleigh-based Spirits of the Red Sand has won gold for Best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism experience at the 2021 Queensland Tourism Awards, in recognition of their outstanding achievements and resilience over the past two challenging years.

Spirits of the Red Sand is a relatively new addition to the tourism offerings in Queensland, however that is not stopping them from punching above their weight to win Gold for Best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism experience among 81 awards presented.

Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind said the “36th annual Queensland Tourism Awards was a celebration of the outstanding success and resilience that tourism operators displayed across the state and also offered a timely platform to showcase Queensland’s iconic Indigenous tourism experiences.”

Cultural Elder & Co-founder, Eddie Ruska was in attendance and accepted the award with his daughters, Leanne Ruska, Executive Chef and Michelle Thomson, Cultural Manager.  Eddie reminded us that the experience brings healing, which is key to creating stronger connections and breaking down barriers.  You can view their acceptance speech here.

CEO and Co-founder, Mike Tamaki, and founder of Tamaki Maori Village in New Zealand, the most awarded cultural attraction in New Zealand, believes that the post-pandemic traveller is seeking a deeper experience with our Indigenous people and their stories.  “This award symbolises recognition by the industry for the unique delivery of history through storytelling.  It truly does open your eyes to the history, beauty and vibrancy of the Aboriginal people.”

Indigenous man and woman looking at fire

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated all award winners and thanked tourism operators statewide for their hard work and resilience throughout the pandemic.

Spirits of the Red Sand was awarded bronze at the 2019 Queensland Tourism Awards, the last awards to take place due to COVID, so this milestone and recognition of their commitment and efforts has even more significance.  Head of Marketing & Business Management, Kerryn Collins said “This award is in honour of our team that brings their passion for sharing 60,000 years of culture in a meaningful way, consistently demonstrating their warmth and knowledge. It is also in honour of our guests who pay us the highest compliment through experiencing what Spirits of the Red Sand offers.”

This is a big accomplishment for Spirits of the Red Sand, and one they are not taking lightly. Plans are already underway for upgraded and enhanced sound and lighting facilities, a recording studio to create music tracks as part of a new retail gift gallery featuring 100% authentic indigenous art and crafts. New signage and new experiences are also underway with a focus on creating new food tours that incorporate their extensive bush tucker garden.

Top planning awards for City of Logan projects

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Logan City Council projects have picked up top planning awards in 2021, with The Logan Village Place to Play project winning the Planning Institute of Australia Queensland 2021 Overall Winner Award.

Council officers receiving award from Phil Heywood, Queensland Past President and First Awards Convenor

Planning Institute of Australia Queensland 2021 Awards for Planning Excellence

The Logan Village Place to play project won the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) QLD 2021 – Stakeholder Engagement Award and was also the recipient of the overall 2021 project winner award.

The overall project award is a particularly distinguished award, as it is deemed the best project of all other winners across all categories by the panel of judges.

The citation acknowledged that the Logan Village Place to Play initiative displayed the very best in Queensland planning: best-practice approaches and methods, excellence within practices of the discipline (stakeholder engagement and urban design), and excellence in demonstrating the role, values, and importance of planning for people’s lives.

The judging panel also commended the engagement with children and young people, whilst also including parents, residents, and others in the co-design process, which generated a great design, increased care for and community ownership of the playground and better outcomes for the village.

The City of Logan Climate Change Resilience Framework won a commendation in the Climate Change & Resilience category.

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) National Landscape Architecture Awards 2021

The Logan Central Civic and Community Precinct Plan won a National and Chapter award for Urban Design at the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) Awards 2021.

The judge’s citation acknowledges the best practice work undertaken as part of the plan, noting that Council undertook in-depth research and engagement with the community, outlined key strategies for place activation, promotes sustainability, and created green network and nurturing social well being. It is noted that the plan sets up clear and achievable goals, providing guidance for future staging and prioritising projects.

The excellent work undertaken by Council’s Place Management team, with engagement across multiple sections of the organisation, has resulted in a recognition of the work that is being delivered for the community at a National level.

Artists render of a future Logan Central community area

These prestigious awards are a recognition of the achievement of Council staff and the partnering consultants involved in each of these projects.  The positive impacts of these projects will contribute to achieving Council’s Corporate Plan Priorities.

Signs are strong for small business

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Logan City Council has underlined its commitment to supporting local business by signing the Small Business Friendly Councils charter.

City of Logan Mayor Darren Power this week joined Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer and Queensland Small Business Commissioner, Maree Adshead, to become the 16th council state-wide to sign the charter.

Representatives from the three local chambers of commerce – Logan, Logan Regional and Beenleigh-Yatala – also co-signed the charter.

There are more than 22,000 small businesses across the City of Logan that help drive the local economy and provide local jobs.

By signing the Small Business Friendly Councils charter, Council has committed to supporting those local small businesses in their specialist areas and helping to reduce red tape.
Cr Power said pledging to the charter added to Council’s existing high-level and multi-faceted support for local business.

This includes the Council-operated Logan Office of Economic Development, which offers small business advice, workshops and assistance towards relocation, expansion and redevelopment.

Council this month also endorsed a new Economic Development Strategy 2022-2027, which is driven by a vision that ‘Logan’s economy is everyone’s business, with Council leading the way’.

The Strategy also includes the formation of the Mayor’s Local Job and Skills Taskforce, which will engage with local businesses to create employment opportunities.

“In addition to helping them build a resilient and sustainable workforce, Council will work closely with existing businesses across all sectors to grow the local economy and attract new customers and investment,” Cr Power said.

Minister Farmer said small businesses are the heart and hubs of local communities.

“They are our families, our friends, our neighbours and they keep our communities strong,” Minister Farmer said.

“It’s fantastic that so many councils have committed to the small business friendly charter, with many others lining up to join them.”

Commissioner Adshead said the whole community benefits when councils work closely with local business.

“I look forward to continuing to work with all concerned to bring real benefits to the local small business community in the Logan region,” she said.

To support local businesses and the community, Council has launched the ‘Think Local, Buy Logan’ campaign which encourages locals to shop locally.

To set an example, Council has also committed to a ‘Buy Logan’ procurement policy with a target of channelling 45 per cent of Council’s $500 million annual products and services spend towards local providers.

New strategy inspires jobs and investment

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Attracting new investment, supporting local businesses and boosting youth employment are among the key pillars of Logan City Council’s new five-year Economic Development Strategy.

Council today endorsed the strategy which is driven by a vision that ‘Logan’s economy is everyone’s business, with Council leading the way’.

The Economic Development Strategy 2022-2027, accompanied by a five-year Implementation Strategy, was developed after extensive community and stakeholder consultation and feedback.

The development of the Strategy included an independent economic analysis report and eight economic opportunity roundtable events with stakeholders and local business owners.

A prevailing theme across all consultation activities was the high level of business and community confidence in the City of Logan’s economic future, despite the setbacks of the last year due to pandemic lockdown and restrictions.

There was also a strong desire among local businesses to support City of Logan residents through education, training, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The new strategy will see Council’s economic support directed into major areas including:

  • Growth from within by supporting the evolution of existing businesses and industries
  • A focus on job quality, training and career pathways for youth and job seekers
  • Leveraging the city’s location and strengths to attract national and international businesses
  • Tapping into emerging industries
  • Further development of the local day and night-time economies to nurture hospitality, creative and entertainment options

Mayor Darren Power has taken a hands-on approach to boosting the local economy with the formation of the Mayor’s Local Job and Skills Taskforce, which will engage with local businesses to create employment opportunities.

He said Council would also be strongly promoting and supporting Council’s ‘Buy Logan’ procurement policy, which has a target of channelling 45 per cent of Council’s annual products and services spend towards local providers.

“Every business in Logan matters and Council will continue to work with them all to help consolidate their existing core operations while also building for future growth, resilience and success,” Cr Power said.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven said Council will continue to build on recent success in attracting new investment to the city as well as tapping into new and emerging industries.

“The City of Logan is already a destination of choice for national and international businesses looking to expand or relocate,” Cr Raven said.

“This Strategy will ensure we continue to be a leader in driving economic growth and creating local jobs.”

The Strategy also includes programs to boost employment and education opportunities for local youth. These include:

  • Collaborating with schools and education providers
  • Expanding the popular Catapult youth entrepreneurial and enterprise skills program
  • Developing programs that help align businesses and skills with local jobseekers

“Young people make up 30 percent of our population but are 100 per cent of our future,” Cr Raven said.

“We want Logan’s youth to actively participate in the growth of our city – economically, socially and culturally.”

A publicly available version of the Economic Development Strategy will be made available by the end of the year.

Fund to attract new business

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A Logan City Council initiative to attract business and create employment has been tailored to target emerging sectors such as clean technology, health and medical providers and tourism.

The highly successful Investment Attraction Incentive Fund (IAIF) was this year allocated $3 million over the next three years to attract investment from business operations and projects that provide significant economic benefit and job creation for the City of Logan.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said amendments to the scheme, to be adopted at a future Council meeting, would enable Council to diversify the types of industry looking to set up business in the city.

“As our city continues to grow, we had to think about the kind of industries we could attract that would also provide employment opportunities for locals,” Councillor Raven said.

“This creates real opportunities for the next generation, kids who attend school here, can go to university here or get a trade and then start a career somewhere close to home.

“By targeting emerging industries, we know there will be demand for these products and services well into the future.

“This provides some certainty around long-term economic outcomes for the city and has a ripple effect by attracting further investment.”

Industrial biotechnology, education and health, transport and logistics and the creative arts are industries on the radar.

Council will also introduce a high priority investment list which targets assets that are either non-existent, under-represented or highly sought after by the business or residential communities.

This could include a hotel, short-term accommodation, tourism attraction, or boutique food outlets.

Since its inception in 2018, the initiative has attracted 15 businesses and is estimated to generate more than 940 new and retained jobs and inject around $120 million into the local economy once all projects have been completed.

LSKD CEO Jason Daniel at the site of his new headquarters building in Loganholme

LSKD have recently invested in Logan with a new HQ and warehouse underway in Loganholme

Successful recipients include street sportswear brand LSKD; DHL Supply Chain; V Resource; Help Enterprises; Go1; The Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre; ATP Science; Border Express; and BlockTexx.

BlockTexx founders Graham Ross and Adrian Jones recently relocated their textile recycling business from Sydney to a 2220 sqm operation at Loganholme.

The clean technology company recovers polyester and cellulose from textiles and clothing and will inject around $43 million into the local economy.

It will provide 30 jobs in the short-term and recycle 4,000 tonnes of textiles using the company’s proprietary Separation of Fibre Technology (S.O.F.T.) solution.

Mr Ross said large manufacturers, government bodies, corporations and charities are all looking for opportunities to reuse and repurpose unwanted fabrics – such as uniforms, hotel sheets and unsold stock.

Deputy Mayor Jon Raven with BlockTexx co-founder Graham Ross and samples of recycled fabric

Deputy Mayor Jon Raven with BlockTexx co-founder Graham Ross and samples of recycled fabric“We spoke to a lot of Councils from around the county and we decided on Logan. The council has been highly supportive of our relocation from Sydney,” he said.

“Logan ticks all the right boxes and we are excited to build Australia’s first commercial scale textile recovery facility at our new location in Loganholme.”

Visit our incentives page for more information on the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund and other incentives to invest in the City of Logan