LOGAN & REDLANDS

Report to the Region

January to March 2024

Message from the Chair

GaryHardgrave

As I noted in my last message, since Regional Development Australia Logan & Redlands Inc (the RDA) released its strategic document Logan and Redlands: The Centre for Economic and Employment Growth in October 2020, Australia has seen unprecedented, concurrent impacts on its economic, social and natural environments. While the impact of some of these has lessened, the changing world has had and continues to have major impacts on the Logan and Redlands Region which demands attention be given to this often overlooked Region.

During 2022 to 2023, RDA Logan & Redlands hosted the To 2042 and Beyond: Investing in SEQ Summit. This event built on extensive consultation with the collective findings captured in the Strategic Regional Plan Logan and Redlands: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth released in February 2023.

In pursuing its work in 2023 to 2024, the RDA Board’s focus remains on longer term (20+ years), strategic enabling issues. This reflects the RDA’s role is not to duplicate or compete on specific local initiatives but rather to identify and advocate on behalf of the Logan and Redlands Region and the broader South East Queensland Region on key areas of focus.

Broadly 2 years of consultation and the Summit identified 4 strategic themes which frame the Strategic Regional Plan and are consistent with the Australian Government’s revised RDA Charter (released in July 2023), Regional Investment Framework (released in May 2023) and key regional priorities (released in draft in November 2023) as follows:

TableApril

The Australian Government has disseminated the following representation of the implementation of the Regional Investment Framework through the Budget cycle.

RIF

This cycle is being used as the framework through which the RDA is developing an advocacy paper and planning its likely next forum. The development of the draft exposure version of the paper is to be discussed at the 23 April 2024 Board meeting and will be the basis of a further round of consultation on and socialising of the content. This will also accommodate the inclusion of impacts of upcoming budgets in May and June with the final paper under consideration for launch at the likely forum later in the year.

The target audience is the business and the wider communities, all levels of government with particular targeted advocacy to the Australian Government within the implementation of the Regional Investment Framework through the Budget Cycle on behalf of the Logan and Redlands Region and the broader South East Queensland Region on key areas of focus.

The detail of this work is being guided by the RDA’s 2023 to 2024 Business Plan as accepted by the Australian Government. It is within this context the RDA awaits the leadership necessary to settle the Toondah Harbour development and the direction of the Olympic and Paralympic preparations. To coin an old phrase, this is where the rubber hits the road.

Finally, in pursuing its broad agenda over the next 18 months, the RDA is conscious its work program operates within a political environment in which:

  • the Queensland Local Council elections were held on 16 March 2024 (see below)
  • The Queensland State Election will be held on 26 October 2024
  • The Australian Government election is to be held by mid July 2025.

If you wish to be part of the RDA's 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

Logan and Redland City Council Election Results
Funding Information
Building Partnerships
Joint South East Queensland Regional Development Activity
Invitation to Action