Report to the Region

On behalf of the Board and staff of Regional Development Australia (RDA) Logan & Redlands, our thoughts are with the residents and businesses of the Logan and Redlands Region as the ravages of flooding and fires again impact our beautiful environment.

Since 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.

As I have recently discussed, during 2023 to 2024, the RDA Board’s priority is to take forward the Strategic Regional Plan Logan and Redlands: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth released in February 2023 . The detail of this work is being guided by the RDA’s 2023 to 2024 Business Plan as accepted by the Australian Government .

The Strategic Regional Plan notes:

Disaster Management

Regional approaches to disaster management are an integral part of the region’s economic development for the future. A proactive approach to flood mitigation, fire prevention and hazard reduction as well as major weather events is crucial to prevent the repetition of the widespread disasters seen in previous years.

Another wet weather event similar to March 2022 is inevitable at some point in the future, and we live in a land that is prone to bushfire. Now is the time to make the changes and protect residents against the potential loss of life, homes, valuables and income.

In pursuing its priority, the RDA Board’s focus is 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. This includes ensuring the identification of intended and unintended consequences of plans and decisions within and impacting the Logan and Redlands Region and more broadly.

The outcomes from the recently completed Australian Government review of the effectiveness of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Jervis Bay Territory and Queensland RDA Committee boundaries have been released noting boundaries covered by RDA Logan and Redlands are unchanged. It is within this context the RDA will confidently continue pursuing taking forward the Strategic Regional Plan Logan and Redlands: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth.

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

RDA Logan & Redlands provides a wide range of information through its weekly e-Bulletins and Quarterly Reports to the Region. The RDA’s website is also a valuable source of information.

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. 

For information about what’s on across Logan, go to City of Logan Events or Logan Office of Economic Development Events.

For information about what’s on across the Redlands, go to Redland City Council What's On Calendar  or Redlands Coast Events.

For information about the Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Logan Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Logan Regional Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Straddie Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook group.

For information about the SMBI Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

Under the RDA Charter released by the Australian Government in July 2023 the RDAs play a role in helping to drive economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship in regions through facilitating investment in community, industry and the environment. RDAs assist to bridge the regional development gaps in regions by working with a broad range of stakeholders across sectors and supporting the delivery of identified Australian Government strategic priorities.

Specifically guided by the Charter, over the period October to December 2023, the RDA:

• Held extensive separate key stakeholder meetings chaired by Board Members on the strategic issues of:

1. Economic Infrastructure
2. Social Infrastructure
3. Education, Skills and the Labour Market
4. Leveraging Opportunities including Amenities

• Met with the Department of Transport and Main Roads
• Participated in the consultation roundtable about the urban Precincts and Partnerships Program
• Geld discussions with Griffith University on the above 4 strategic issues
• Provided feedback and input into the ongoing Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce strategy for 2024
• Participated in the Australian Government’s Livestream - Tackling Australia’s housing crisis
• Was represented at Logan Chamber of Commerce's Annual General Meeting
• Attended Beenleigh/Yatala Chamber of Commerce's Annual General Meeting
• Participated at Community Services Industry Taskforce meetings
• Board met with the Presidents or their representative from: Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce; Logan Chamber of Commerce; Logan Regional Chamber of Commerce; Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce; Southern Moreton Bay Islands Chamber of Commerce Inc; and Straddie Chamber of Commerce Inc
• Attended the Logan Manufacturers' Networking event - Towards Net Zero
• Participated at the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee Quarterly Meeting
• Attended Building a Healthier Economy: the Challenges and Future of Healthcare in Queensland event
• Attended Suburban Futures: The Future of Suburbia IV event
• Participated in Online Briefing with Minister McBain, MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government & Territories
• Participated in Redlands Connect Quarterly Meeting
• Participated in Thrive Logan INtent Event
• Met with Guardians of Tomorrow and RAIS Industries
• Participated in Business Chamber Queensland Understanding New Limits on Fixed Term Contracts
• Met with Clark Property
• Met with the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce regrading business awards
• Met with Roundâ.

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 outcomes of the review of RDA Boundaries announced on 10 October 2023 noted RDA Moreton Bay and RDA Sunshine Coast are to be merged as the characteristics of these regions are sufficiently similar. The new RDA will be renamed RDA Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast.

The RDAs last 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 South East Queensland RDAs next meeting is yet to be scheduled.

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.