Report to the Region

Logan and Redlands: The Centre of Economic and Employment Growth for Queensland released by RDA Logan & Redlands (the RDA) in October 2020 captured the then key issues and areas of focus for the Region. Throughout 2022 the RDA reviewed this document to reflect current and emerging opportunities with the intention of challenging the thinking around planning for the Region.

This has been driven through our substantial communications strategy with the RDA regularly meeting with key stakeholders from within the Logan and Redlands Region and from adjacent regions.

The RDA directly hears about the challenges and opportunities facing the Logan and Redlands and broader Region as it continues its pursuit of economic development, social cohesion and environment sustainability goals which enabled the RDA to plan for and conduct its To 2042 and Beyond : Investing in SEQ Summit in September 2022.

Drawing together the outcomes from the above work, the Strategic Regional Plan (the SRP) Logan and Redlands: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth was released in February 2023 reflecting the need for cohesive, co-ordinated and long-term strategic regional planning. The SRP lays out the long-term, broad goals to be achieved as the Region pursues its economic, social and environmental goals.

The tactical planning has been documented through the raising of the RDA’s 2023 to 2024 Business Plan (the Plan) which includes the short-term steps and actions to be taken to achieve the goals from the SRP. This Plan will be made publicly available once cleared for release.

The four identified themes from the September 2022 To 2042 and Beyond : Investing in SEQ Summit, captured in the SRP, are:

• Infrastructure – Economic
• Infrastructure – Social
• Education, Skills and the Labour Market
• Leveraging opportunities including amenities.

The alignment of these themes with the Australian Government’s Regional Investment Framework focus areas and key regional priorities gives confidence the underpinning strategy is sound.

This 2023 to 2024 Business Plan commenced from 1 July 2023 and initially includes setting up thematic groups and areas of focus along with outcome statements for the period 1 July to 30 September 2023.

The first major review of the Plan will be undertaken by 1 October 2023 based on inputs which will have produced project plans for execution and include actions and key performance indicators. The second major review of the Plan will be undertaken by 1 February 2024 and substantially review progress against project plan actions and key performance indicators. In May 2024 the first draft report on outcomes will be developed.

If you wish to be part of this work, please contact our Director Steve McDonald at drd@rdaloganandredlands.org.au for further information.

For further information on the RDA, go to rdaloganandredlands.org.au. Information on Board members is available here.

The Hon. Gary Hardgrave
Chair
Regional Development Australia Logan & Redlands Inc

The Australian Government's 2023-24 Budget, handed down by the Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP in May 2023, identified four key priorities for regional investment - services, people, places and industry. This includes:

• $120 billion over 10 years infrastructure pipeline
• $3.5 billion towards healthcare
• $2 billion for social and affordable housing
• $1.4 billion for local industry.

These measures will help support a strong, secure and sustainable regional Australia.

In addition, the Budget provided details of the new Regional Investment Framework, a regional forum for Australian Government agencies to ensure all regional investment decisions meet standards of merit and integrity, and put regions and the people who live in them at the heart of decision-making.

The full Regional Ministerial Budget Statement can be found here. Access to all Budget papers is available at budget.gov.au.

In late June 2023 the Australian Government Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, The Hon Kristy McBain MP, advised a new RDA Charter would be developed for RDAs to better reflect the link to Australian Government priorities and be designed to:

• Reflect the Regional Investment Framework (RIF) as announced in this year’s Budget – investing in people, investing in places, investing in services and investing in industries and local economies
• Define RDAs’ role in implementing the RIF, and other key Government policies and programs.

Following consultation with RDAs, local government stakeholders and state government program funding partners, the new Charter was launched by the Minister on 28 July 2023 and can be found here. 

In late June 2023 the following advice was received from the Australian Government Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, The Hon Kristy McBain MP.

The Department is to conduct a review of the effectiveness of New South Wales (NSW), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Jervis Bay Territory (JBT) and Queensland Regional Development Australia Committee (RDA) boundaries. The review is limited to these jurisdictions given:

• The relatively high number of RDAs in NSW and Queensland when compared to other jurisdictions
• Differences in NSW between state government regional development and RDA boundaries, and instances where some local governments are being serviced by multiple RDAs
• Potential opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery in the ACT and JBT, given that these territories border, and are closely tied, to NSW.

The review will include consultation with RDAs, state governments and local governments in these areas with the outcome expected to be announced later in the year.

On 6 April 2023, the Australian Government released the independent Inland Rail Review and its response to the 19 recommendations by Dr Kerry Schott AO. The Australian Government acknowledges that Inland Rail remains an important project to meet the nation's ongoing freight and supply chain task.

The Australian Government has agreed in principle that a terminal should be developed at Ebenezer to support Inland Rail operations, subject to its consideration of the outcome of the Brisbane Inland Rail Intermodal Terminal Business Case.

The Australian Government has announced that the Inland Rail Service Offering of double-stacked trains will operate between the intermodal terminal at Beveridge and proposed terminal at Ebenezer, with a single-stacked connection to be built between Ebenezer and Kagaru.

As such, the scope of the Inland Rail project now finishes at Kagaru. All work on the Kagaru to Bromelton and Acacia Ridge (K2ARB) section of Inland Rail will cease at this time.

A further 39km of single-stacked, dual gauge rail will be delivered as part of the Inland Rail Program to connect Ebenezer and Kagaru, in Queensland. The Calvert to Kagaru section in Queensland, which connects to Ebenezer, will progress with a revised scope.

In noting the release of the new RDA Charter to guide activities going forward (see article : RDA Revitilisation - Charter Review) the Charter in place over the period April to June 2023 includes RDAs having an active and facilitative role in their communities with a clear focus on growing strong and confident regional economies that harness their competitive advantages, seize economic opportunities and attract investment. The work and objectives of RDA Logan & Redlands during this period directly reflected the Charter.

Specifically, over the period April to June 2023, the RDA:

• Held its Board meeting at Brisbane Airport as the guest of the Brisbane Airport Corporation including a site visit
• Participated as a member of the advisory group for the Office of the Logan Coordinator for Cultural Diversity, Social Cohesion, and Economic Development Advisory Group’s strategy workshop including with Logan City Council; Islamic Women's Association of Australia; Gunya Meta; AIGroup; Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation; Griffith University; and The Bryan Foundation
• Visited Coochiemudlo Island to meet with members of the Coochiemudlo Island Health Hub for a tour of the island and discussion about the development of the Hub
• Participated in meeting between the RDA, Redlands Jobs Committee; Alexandra Hills TAFE and the University of the Sunshine Coast in relation to developing a tertiary presence in the Redlands
• Participated as a member of the Redlands Connect Meeting including with Redland City Council; Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning; Department of Employment, Small Business and Training; Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Trade and Investment Queensland; and AusIndustry
• Hosted the quarterly South East Queensland Regional Development Australia Committees’ meeting
• Met with THRIVE Logan
• Participated in and presented at the Advancing Local Government Procurement in Queensland summit
• Participated in the quarterly RDA and Local Government meeting with the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
• Met with Redland City Council officers
• Met with Telstra in relation to the pending cessation of 3G services in mid 2024
• Met with Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA) on workforce issues across the region
• Attended Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce Liveability in the Redlands event
• Participated in CEDA services update event
• Met SeaLink regarding issues around transport for the region
• Participated in meeting with the Australian Government on the revision of the Regional Development Australia Charter
• Completed the Sentiment and General Economic Regional Report (SAGE Book) survey.

The RDA’s activities from July 2023 will reflect the new Charter.

If you wish to connect with the RDA, please contact its Director Steve McDonald at drd@rdaloganandredlands.org.au. For further information on the RDA, go to rdaloganandredlands.org.au.

South East Queensland and adjacent areas are served by several Regional Development Australia Committees including for:

• Brisbane
• Darling Downs and South West Queensland
• Gold Coast
• Ipswich and West Moreton
• Logan and Redlands
• Moreton Bay
• Northern Rivers (NSW)
• Sunshine Coast
• Wide Bay Burnett.

The RDAs met on 15 to 16 May 2023 in Mount Cotton to discuss, amongst other things:

• The RDA National Forum Agenda
• 2023 to 2024 Annual Plans
• 2023 RDA Key Priorities Matrix within and across RDAs.

The Alliance next meets on 9 to 10 October on the Sunshine Coast.

The Australian Government has committed to establishing genuine partnerships between the three levels of government, business, and the community. It has established the Cities and Suburbs Unit to deliver on its urban policy agenda.

National Urban Policy

The Australian Government will deliver a new comprehensive National Urban Policy. The National Urban Policy will address urgent challenges facing our major cities – from equitable access to jobs, homes and services, to climate impacts and decarbonisation. It will bring together a vision for sustainable growth in our cities.

Urban Policy Forum

The Government will engage with urban policy experts and industry and community bodies by re-convening the Urban Policy Forum which will advise the Minister on the latest thinking in innovation, planning, property, design and sustainability.

State of Cities Report

The Australian Government will pull together an accurate and up-to-date picture of life in our cities in State of the Cities reports.

Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program

The Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program will support transformative investment in urban Australia based on the principles of unifying urban places, growing economies and serving communities. The Government announced the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program in October 2022. Together these two programs geographically cover the nation.

Thriving Suburbs Program

The Thriving Suburbs Program will provide merit based and locally-driven grants that address priority community infrastructure in urban and suburban communities.

City and Regional Deals

The Australian Government has committed to honour previously signed deal commitments.

City Deals

Adelaide City Deal | Annual Progress Report
Darwin City Deal | Annual Progress Report
Geelong City Deal | Annual Progress Report
Hobart City Deal | Annual Progress Report
Launceston City Deal | Annual Progress Report | Evaluation
Perth City Deal
South East Queensland City Deal
Townsville City Deal | Evaluation
Western Sydney City Deal | Annual Progress Report

Regional Deals

Barkly Regional Deal | Annual Progress Report | Economic Growth Strategy
Hinkler Regional Deal
Albury Wodonga (subject to agreement)

Regional and community programs

The Australian Government is committed to investing in Australia's regions to create jobs, build opportunity and unlock economic growth and productivity. The Australian Government has announced four new programs for communities across Australia:

Growing Regions Program
Investing in Our Communities Program and Priority Community Infrastructure Program
Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program

When searching for funding, keep in mind you will generally need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. Aside from funding assistance, many programs can help your business by building your skills and knowledge.

GrantConnect [Aust Govt]

GrantConnect publishes forecast and current Australian Government grant opportunities and grants awarded.

Grants Finder [Qld Govt]

Find a grant or assistance in Queensland including information on grants, rebates, loans, subsidies or training.

business.gov.au

The Australian Government's business.gov.au site has information on grants and assistance for business from all levels of Government.

Austrade Export Grants

The Export Market Development Grants scheme is a financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters.

Advance Queensland

Are you an innovator? Browse the range of grants and assistance from Advance Queensland for startups and entrepreneurs.

Logan City Council

Logan City Council offers a range of grants to community organisations, individuals, clubs and services.

Redland City Council

Redland City Council provides grants and sponsorship to individuals and organisations for projects that benefit the local community.

More details are available at rdaloganandredlands.org.au/funding. 

We are here to work for the Logan and Redlands Region. We welcome being contacted on any issue any member of the community wishes to raise. Please feel free to directly contact us with your comment or query at admin@rdaloganandredlands.org.au.