As the new year commences, I note that each quarter since my appointment as Chair in February 2018 has been more challenging and more exciting than the previous. This vibrant and thriving region is laden with opportunities that need to be identified and nurtured to realise economic growth and support our community.

In pursuing the identification of opportunities, we continue our focus on engaging key stakeholders including local entrepreneurs, businesses, community groups and the Logan and Redland City Councils.

RDA Logan & Redlands has an active and facilitative role in our community and a clear focus on growing a strong and confident regional economy that harnesses our competitive advantages, seizes on economic opportunity and attracts investment. The RDA Charter under which we operate provides a broad set of aims which I would encourage you to have a look at. The Charter can be found here.

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

The first meeting of the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB) Community Consultative Committee was held in Crestmead on Monday, 12 November 2018. This summary provides an overview of the committee meeting and ensures that information is shared with the community at the earliest opportunity. It is a precursor to the formal meeting record, the committee meeting minutes, which will be published on the Inland Rail website following preparation and endorsement by the committee and Chair.

The meeting was chaired by John Brent OAM and attended by 14 of the 16 local community representatives appointed as members of the committee. Fifty-two observers attended the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was for the committee members and ARTC representatives to introduce themselves, for members to endorse the Committee Charter, to provide a project update and discuss consultation processes and upcoming activities.

Presentations were provided by members of the ARTC K2ARB project team. Information provided to the committee included:

• Information regarding the project alignment, including why the alignment does not continue to Gladstone and how Inland Rail will be connected to the Port of Brisbane
• Details about ARTC’s intention to submit an Initial Advice Statement to the Office of the Coordinator-General for their consideration as to whether K2ARB should be declared a coordinated project, thereby requiring an Environmental Impact Statement to be completed
• Discussion about the community’s concerns regarding the projected increase in train traffic as a result of Inland Rail and the potential impacts of this increase; an outline of the process for engineering and environmental investigations was discussed, including a summary of the types of studies to be conducted
• There was discussion about the types of consultation materials that ARTC has and will produce for the local community
• Details were provided to committee members regarding a program of staffed information stands that are being planned for December.

Committee members raised the following actions during the meeting:

• ARTC provide a history of how the route for Inland Rail was decided upon
• ARTC provide easy-to-understand information that committee members can use in their discussions with community members regarding any technical aspects of the project
• ARTC provide an indicative program of 2019 committee meetings for agreement with members
• ARTC consider the member’s recommendations for suitable venues for the upcoming staffed information stands.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads be contacted for information regarding the potential for passenger trains to use Inland Rail.

Details of the next meeting will be advertised by ARTC in advance, to ensure those who would like to attend have that opportunity.

The ARTC held staffed information displays about the Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB) section of the Inland Rail project during December 2018 at Calamvale, Browns Plains and Jimboomba.

This was a chance to talk to ARTC staff about what the Inland Rail project means for the public, and communities such as Acacia Ridge, Algester, Pallara, Parkinson, Forestdale, Hillcrest, Greenbank, New Beith, MacLean, Boronia Heights, Flagstone, Kagaru and Bromelton. 

The NDIS is now available in the Local Government Areas of Logan City and Redland City.

The reports on the implementation of the NDIS show the service regions which will require the largest growth in supply, in absolute terms, for both the number of participants and the value of supports are expected to be Beenleigh - the descriptor used in the NDIS environment to encapsulate the Local Government Areas of Logan and Redland City Councils

The RDA is positioning itself to actively participate in the implementation of the NDIS in the Logan and Redlands Region, to support and facilitate the non-negotiable principle that the NDIS should contribute to the growth of an effective disability services market and workforce in which:

• Participants exercise choice and control
• Participants receive reasonable and necessary supports where and when they need them
• NDIS providers are delivering supports and services efficiently and sustainably
• NDIS providers are able to access the workforce needed to meet participant demand.

The RDA held a half day, facilitated, off-site strategic meeting on 23 November 2018 at which the Logan City Council and the Redland City Council presented on their respective economic development strategies, priorities and challenges, followed by a discussion between the RDA Committee and the Council representatives on working together.

The presentations have common focus areas such as tourism, health and social, education and training, transport and logistics and for Logan, advanced manufacturing.

Both Councils were understandably concerned with their own areas and members concluded that a legitimate role for RDA was to be the organisation in the middle, blending both into the larger common area.

Emerging areas of focus included:

• 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 many more blanks to fill in but the ideas from the Committee will be built upon.

As previously reported, we have partnered with RDA Gold Coast, RDA Ipswich & West Moreton and FIAL (Food Innovation Australia Limited) to organise workshops designed to boost the competitiveness and innovation of businesses in the food and agribusiness sector. Details are available here.

The workshops for the first half of 2019 are:

1/ e-Commerce Readiness being held at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre, 34 Lake Apex Drive, Gatton on Tuesday 5 February 2019 from 9.00am to 4.30pm.

This forum is designed specifically for the food and beverage industry, incorporating feedback and insights from e-commerce platform buyers and suppliers.

2/ Meet the e-Commerce Platform being held at Brookwater Golf & Country Club, 1 Tournament Drive, Brookwater on Tuesday 5 March 2019 from 8.30am to 3.30pm.

You will have an opportunity to meet with a major online retailer team. In addition, you can book in for a one-to-one meeting with one of the Managers.

3/ Retail Readiness & Private Labelling being held at the Logan Entertainment Centre, 170 Wembley Road, Logan Central on Tuesday 9 April 2019 from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

This workshop is specifically designed to give small companies the skills and confidence to compete more effectively in retail, especially in supermarkets.

4/ Meet the Retailer & Network with Team being held at Sirromet Winery, 850-938 Mount Cotton Rd, Mount Cotton on Tuesday 14 May 2019 from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

This forum will provide an interactive opportunity for businesses to engage with buyers and suppliers such as Coles, Woolworths and independent supermarkets.

5/ Market Diversification & Intelligence being held at HOTA - Homes of the Arts, Panorama Suite, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise on Wednesday 19 June 2019 from 8.30am to 5.00pm.

This half-day workshop will help SMEs discover domestic opportunities that will deliver growth and reduce risk.

6/ Export Essentials Forum being held at HOTA - Homes of the Arts, Panorama Suite, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise on Tuesday 30 July 2019 from 9.00am to 4.00pm.

This one-day event will be jam-packed with experts to help businesses successfully navigate their export journey. 

Mabel Park State High School Health Hub

The Mabel Park State High School Health Hub is a unique opportunity for students interested in the healthcare industry, as it provides access to nationally recognised training, work experience, traineeships and employment opportunities. It has become a one-stop-shop for industry, where they are able to access potential employees from 13 schools across Logan, using a truly local training pathway.

In early September 2018 the Hub won the Queensland Premier’s Industry Collaboration Award at the 2018 Queensland Training Award Gala Event. These awards celebrate top achievers in training in the state. 

The Hub was also a finalist for the Industry Collaboration Award at the 2018 Australian Training Awards held in mid November 2018 at which it was noted that:

• The Mabel Park Health Hub works in collaboration with TAFE Queensland to deliver a Certificate II in Health Support Services and Certificate III in Individual Support
• With future workforce shortages predicted for the health industry, the partnership has taken an innovative approach and established a school-to-work transition program
• The Hub offers an engaging, practical curriculum that encourages students to remain at school while following a training pathway in the Health industry toward real job outcomes
• The Hub has become a popular option for students with growth in enrolments from 47 in 2016 to 70 in 2017 and 130 in 2018 evidencing the quality of the courses provided, and the ongoing need for trained workers in the health support Industry.

GLO@Logan School Entrepreneurial Innovation in Health and STEAM Challenge

RDA Logan & Redlands was pleased to sponsor the Griffith University GLO @ Logan Entrepreneurial challenge held in November 2018. This event is designed to provide regional high school students the opportunity to innovate over three days, employing best practises in entrepreneurial and STEAM education. The event attracts up to 80 high school students across a broad spectrum of schools from the Logan and Redlands region.

Teams which received awards are:

• Winning team: Loganlea State High School, Team NMYBN
• Runner Up: Shailer Park State High School, Team Nexus
• Runner Up: Mabel Park State High School, Group HAAI
• The Hopkins Centre award: Students who demonstrated the most empathy and commitment to preserving dignity in designing their solution: Faith Lutheran College Redlands, Group KANS
• Regional Development Australia Logan & Redlands: Best Team Spirit of the Region award: Shailer Park State High School, Team Mcbaysamlee.

In October 2018, RDA Logan & Redlands:

• Participated in a meeting of South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers RDAs which included receiving presentations on North Coast Connect Fast Rail and an SEQ City Deal
• Met with representatives from the Logan and Redland City Councils to discuss issues of common interest and associated economic opportunities
• Met with intending proponents from North Stradbroke Island and the Southern Morten Bay Islands for funding under Round 3 of the Building Better Regions Fund
• In partnership with RDA Gold Coast, RDA Ipswich & West Moreton and FIAL (Food Innovation Australia Limited) participated in the Win Win Negotiations Workshop, a one-day workshop for new and existing food product businesses
• Met with All Purpose Transport in relation to discuss issues around attracting school leavers to the Transport, Warehousing and Logistics Industry
• Attended the Courier Mail Future SEQ Luncheon at which Bernard Salt and industry leaders presented, including Tourism Australia Managing Director John O’Sullivan, Infrastructure Australia Chair Julieanne Alroe, Star Entertainment Group Managing Director Matt Bekier and Council of Mayors (SEQ) CEO Scott Smith
• Attended the 2018 Social Enterprise Network Forum Logan, showcasing social enterprise, business for purpose, not-for-profit, social innovators and cause-driven traders from Logan and surrounding areas 
• Participated in Mabel Park High School career-related activities for local employment.

In November 2018, RDA Logan & Redlands:

• Attended the Jobs Queensland launch of Anticipating Future Skills
• Met with the Department of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development regarding opportunities in the Logan and Redlands region
• Met with Substation33, a social enterprise based in Logan which opened its doors in January 2013 as an electronic waste recycling centre, providing a workplace where volunteers and employees gain confidence and skills for the transition to sustainable employment and has more recently started an Innovation Lab which has designed and developed a number of products for commercial, social and educational purposes
• Participated at the joint Logan Office of Economic Development, Small Business Association of Australia and Chambers of Commerce networking event
• Met with Regional Economic Development - SEQ South, Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
• Held its facilitated strategic meeting at which the Logan City Council and the Redland City Council presented on their respective economic development strategies, priorities and challenges
• Sponsored and attended the GLO @ Logan Entrepreneurial challenge
• Met with the Logan City Council and the Beacon Foundation entrepreneurship program.

In December 2018, RDA Logan & Redlands:

• Met with Lendlease regarding employment opportunities in the Logan and Redlands region
• Met with the Department of Education and Training
• Met with Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology
• Met with Access Community Services Ltd
• Met with AusIndustry – Business Services
• Met with Construction Skills Queensland
• Met with representatives from the Logan and Redland City Councils to discuss options on NDIS workforce
• Participated in NDIS sessions on Understanding the NDIS, Preparing for your NDIS planning conversation and Using your NDIS plan
• Met with Department of Jobs and Small Business
• Met with the Sycamore School
• Met with Mediation Research.

GrantConnect provides centralised publication of forecast and current Australian Government grant opportunities and grants awarded.

www.business.gov.au
Find grants, funding and support programs from across government to help your business grow and succeed! 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.

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