The first quarter of 2019 has sped by. This pace is reflective of the Logan and Redlands Region which, as I have previously observed, is vibrant and thriving, laden with opportunities that need to be identified and nurtured to realise economic growth and provide support for our community.

To better equip RDA Logan & Redlands to operate in such a fast-paced environment, my fellow Committee members and I recently undertook the Australian Institute of Company Directors half-day In the Boardroom: Responsibilities and Practice course.

We understand the critical importance of good governance and the role it plays in the RDA’s operations.

In pursuing the identification of opportunities for the region, we understand our responsibility to engage with and listen to business, government and social communities. The next few months will include a focus on engaging with local chambers of commerce.

Our recent engagement has identified support for the RDA’s emerging areas of focus including:

• Connectivity (in its broader sense including technical connectivity, transport, networks and government)
• Advocacy and lobbying connected to levels of government
• Specific areas of attention (such as the Inland Rail and the National Disability Insurance Scheme enabling opportunities).

There is still much to be done and blanks to fill in but the ideas from the Committee will be built upon.

As always, I encourage all in the community to contact me or our director Steve McDonald to discuss topics of interest.

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

Logan City Council Building Better Regions Fund Success

Logan City Council was successful for three grant applications under Round 3 of the Building Better Regions Fund, as announced by the Australian Government on 10 March 2019.

Round 3 was highly competitive with 915 applications received. A total of 166 projects to the value of $197.4 million have been approved for funding under the Infrastructure Projects Stream of the Fund, plus a total of 164 projects to the value of $6.9 million under the Community Investments Stream.

The 3 successful Logan City Council projects, totalling $765,000 in grants, are as follows:

• Activation, Embellishment and Upgrade of the Logan Village Green (Infrastructure Projects Stream)
• Upgrading streetlights in priority eligible area of City of Logan (Infrastructure Projects Stream)
• Logan Village Festival and Events Strategic Plan 2019-2024 (Community Investments Stream)

Full details are available here.

Community Care Smart Assistive Technology Collaborative Innovation Lunch

RDA Logan & Redlands sponsored the Community Care Smart Assistive Technology Collaborative Innovation Lunch. The Community Care Smart Assistive Technology Collaborative is a community of practice that offer opportunities for training, information-sharing and collaboration on smart assistive technology and has been funded by the Queensland Government through the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.

The lunch included a presentation from University of Missouri Associate Dean for Research and Professor Health Sinclair School of Nursing, Professor Alexander who specialises in clinical informatics and human computer interactions. The focus on his research has been on trending information technology adoption, quality and safety measures in Aged Care and the relationships between information technology, quality and safety measures. He spoke on a range of topics including the role technology can play to improve the quality of care.

Spotlight on All Purpose Transport

All Purpose Transport is a transport, warehousing and logistics company located in Berrinba. The business commenced in 1975 from the bedroom of the Directors’ home in Daisy Hill but outgrew these premises and relocated to the Archerfield/Rocklea area. After being there for over 20 years, the company recently moved back to the Logan area. 

All Purpose Transport now has a 12,000m2 facility to support its fleet of 220+ vehicles ranging from small vans to semi-trailers.

It is keen to engage further with schools in the vicinity of the business and get involved with more programs like ‘Gener8’ where the students come into the workplace. There is a host of different roles in the business that are required to maintain the business. These include fleet management, customer service, sales and clerical activities.

The company enjoys working with the community. This includes employing locals for those wanting to work in transport, warehousing and logistics and working with community groups such as Foodbank.

In January 2019, RDA Logan & Redlands:

• Met with representatives from Redland City Council’s Community and Economic Development areas regarding the Southern Moreton Bay Islands strategy and to discuss options on NDIS workforce strategies

• Chair met with Duncan Pegg MP, Member for Stretton

• Chair met with Charis Mullen MP, Member for Jordan

• Attended a presentation of the RED Toolbox

• Chair met with Linus Power MP, Member for Logan

• Chair met with Kim Richards, Member for Redlands

• Attended Expressway (TAFE Queensland Brisbane, Microsoft Innovation Centre - Queensland and Regional Development Australia Brisbane) event in Logan.

In February 2019, RDA Logan & Redlands:

• Chair met with Karen Williams, Redland City Council Mayor

• Attended the Australian Tax Office’s Australian Business Register demonstration

• Chair met with Dr Jim Chalmers, Member for Rankin

• Participated as the Queensland representative in the RDA Capacity Building Initiatives Reference Group

• Met with Brisbane Marketing’s Small Business personnel

• Participated in the Redland City Chamber of Commerce Telstra Redland Women in Business networking event

• Attended the Logan City Women in Business event

• Met with David Ekert, Director, Bendigo Bank Logan Community Financial Services

• Met with John Godwin and Luke Rowlinson, Creating Positive Futures

• Chair met with the Hon Leeanne Enoch MP, Member for Algester

• Met with the Logan Office of Economic DevelopmentMet with Innovation and City Transformation, Logan City Council

• Chair undertook site visit of SCT (Specialised Container Transport) Logistics Bromelton facility

• Met with the Logan Community Bank® branch of Bendigo Bank. 

In March 2019, RDA Logan & Redlands:

• Met with Redland City Council Economic Development personnel

• Met with Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training

• Chair participated in the AICD Australian Governance Summit

• Met with Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities

• Attended joint South East Queensland RDA forum

• Met with Regional Economic Development - SEQ South; Manufacturing, Industry and Regions; Queensland Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning

• Chair met with Department of Innovation, Tourism Industry Development on North Stradbroke Island regarding progress of North Stradbroke Island Economic Transition Strategy

• Chair met with Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation on North Stradbroke Island

• Chair met with Yulu-Burri-Ba on North Stradbroke Island

• Provided feedback on the Regional, Rural and Remote (RRR) Education Strategy issues papers

• Chair participated in teleconference with the Strategic Regional Growth Expert Panel;undertook site visit of HELP Enterprises in Crestmead

• Chair met with Dr Don Brown MP, Member for Capalaba

• Met with the office of the Hon Shannon Fentiman MP, member for Waterford

• Attended Redland City Chamber of Commerce Business event

• Chair met with Council of Mayors (SEQ) Committee members participated in the AICD The Boardroom – Responsibilities and Practice course

• Chair met with the Hon Mick deBrenni MP, Member for Springwood

• Participated in the Trade & Investment Short Course (an initiative of Economic Development Australia, supported by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and Trade and Investment Queensland)

• Participated in Jobs Queensland’s Future of Work consultation

• Met with investLogan

• Attended 2019 Logan Small Business Expo consultation meeting

• Attended the SMBI Hub Meeting on Macleay Island

• Met with Redland City Council Community Engagement personnel.

At its 11 February 2019 meeting, the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton Community Consultative Committee received a presentation on the Inland Rail which included the following information:

Project Update:

• Community information sessions held December 2018 at Calamvale, Browns Plains and Jimboomba
• Submission of application for coordinated project status (Initial Advice Statement) to Office
  of Coordinator-General February 2019
• Commenced mobilisation of technical consultant and planning for field investigations.

Key Concerns Raised:

• Increase in rail traffic on the interstate line
• Noise and vibration impacts
• Coal transport, and associated health impacts
• Desire for passenger rail in the area
• Property devaluation Location of the passing loops.

What’s Next:

• Investigation Planning
• Preparation of Land Access Requests
• Coordinated Project Declaration

Community Consultative Committee Meeting Dates:

• 6-8pm, Tuesday, 14 May 2019
• 6-8pm, Monday, 5 August 2019

The RDA is actively participating in the implementation of the NDIS in the Logan and Redlands region to support and facilitate the non negotiable principle that the NDIS should be demand driven and contribute to the growth of an effective disability services market.

Included in the NDIS responsibilities is addressing the low rates of employment for people with disability. In supporting achievement of this aim, the NDIS funds:

• Personal care for people who need support at work due to their disability. For example, assistance with personal care or eating meals.
• Aids and equipment related to a person’s functional needs, like wheelchairs and hearing aids.
• Transition-to-work supports, where the person with a disability has needs beyond what is reasonable for an employer to provide, like training relating to travel to and from work, relationships with colleagues and communication and foundation employment skills.
• Individual employment support for people who are unable or unlikely to meet Disability Support Services (DES) eligibility.
• Supports for a person with disability to take part in work where they are unlikely to be able to find or retain work in the open market, even with DES assistance.

More  information is available here.

When searching for funding, keep in mind that you’ll generally need to meet certain criteria to be eligible, and that 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 at admin@rdaloganandredlands.org.au