A multi-million dollar plan to build and revitalise essential community facilities will help deliver an exciting new vision for the city.
The 15-year program, outlined today in Logan City Council's Community and Lifestyles budget, will ensure City of Logan stays on track to be one of the most liveable cities in South East Queensland.
Council has committed $3 million in 2021/2022 and an ongoing annual spend of
$20 million to provide key community infrastructure to meet the growth needs of the city and its residents.
City of Logan is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country with a population projected to hit 500,000 within 20 years.
New community centres, leisure and recreation facilities, libraries and arts spaces will be included in the program.
The funding will provide Council with capital for all stages of a project including land acquisition, feasibility studies, design, construction and fit-out, infrastructure charges and operations.
City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said Council had a responsibility to build well-serviced, evolving communities and neighbourhoods where residents are proud to live and work.
"This is a visionary budget with a record $1 billion in funding. It is investing in the communities and lifestyles of our city," Councillor Power said.
"The commitments we have made today will build city pride, create local jobs and attract more investment.
"By investing $20 million every year on vital infrastructure for our growing city, there will be sufficient funding to bring community facilities online based on priority needs.
"City of Logan is growing at its fastest rate in its 42-year history. It's an exciting time to live, work and enjoy all that our city has to offer."
The community infrastructure projects will build on those already underway across the city, including the almost-complete Kingston Butter Factory refurbishment, the new Cronulla Park PCYC at Slacks Creek, the Logan North Aquatic main pool upgrade and Yarrabilba Community Hub.
Projects that could be fast-tracked with the new funding allocation include Greater Flagstone Community Hub and community facilities in Logan Central.
"While this program is essential for our high-growth areas - suburbs such as Yarrabilba, Flagstone, Park Ridge and Bahrs Scrub to name just a few - it also applies to renewing and upgrading existing community infrastructure in our more established areas," Cr Power said.
"Council will prioritise the development of 'shovel-ready' projects to be better placed when securing State and Federal Government funding.
"This means the land must be available for a community project, the design complete and some Council funding must already be allocated."
Council has also strengthened its commitment to create local jobs with the adoption of the Mayor's Jobs Taskforce.
"I will personally oversee a jobs taskforce to identify local employment opportunities by working closely with local businesses," Cr Power said.
Creating neighbourhoods that encourage variety in design with improved streetscapes and easier access to amenities and services is another focus of the 2021/2022 Budget.
The 2025 Logan Planning Scheme will be prepared over the next four years as a requirement of the Queensland Government's Planning Act.
The Logan Planning Scheme assists Council to manage population growth, plan for a sustainable future and guide the way land is used, protected and developed across the city.
Recent amendments to the existing Logan Planning Scheme (2015) will provide visually appealing suburban streets with a range of housing choices, minimum lot sizes and a mix of frontage widths.
"The new Planning Scheme is another important part of Council's investment in community and lifestyles," Cr Power said.
"City of Logan has always punched above its weight, and this year, we are stronger than ever."
Kingston residents Stephanie and Tyrone Girle grew up in City of Logan and went to school and university here. Tyrone teaches at Beenleigh State High and Stephanie worked on a local newspaper.
The couple is now house hunting locally for a new home to raise five-month-old daughter Georgie.
"Logan is home and always has been," Stephanie said.
"Now that we have a baby, we appreciate how many free Council activities are on offer to give Georgie the best start in life.
"I've always enjoyed the Live Well Logan exercise classes, we go to free swimming lessons, we get our free trees every year and we love all the resources available at the libraries.
"Logan has provided a great launching pad for everything we've wanted to achieve."
