Incentive scheme expanded to attract more businesses to Logan

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Doing business in City of Logan has been given a huge boost with funding doubled for the popular Investment Attraction Incentive Fund.

The fund, which supports businesses to relocate to City of Logan or set up significant operations here, was exhausted in its first two years and is on track to be fully allocated again by the end of the current financial year.

The fund has attracted 15 businesses, and it is estimated will generate more than 940 new and retained jobs and add an additional $120 million to the local economy once all projects have been completed.

Logan City Council’s 2021/2022 Community and Lifestyles budget has committed to expanding the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund with increased funding to
$1 million a year.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said Council has a pivotal role to play in business attraction and retention across the city.

“The success of investment attraction means more jobs for our community,” Councillor Raven said.

“We have already seen a number of major companies set up base here in locations such as Berrinba, Crestmead and Loganholme.

“That is not only helping to boost our local economy; it has also created more opportunities for our residents to get jobs close to where they live.”

Boom sportswear brand, LSKD, is among those smart companies that have recognised the sound business opportunities available in the City of Logan.

LSKD was awarded funding from the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund in December last year and will consolidate its global operations into a new state-of-the-art $7 million 3500sq m office/warehouse in Loganholme later this year.

LSKD Chief Executive Officer Jason Daniel, a proud City of Logan resident, is excited about his new local headquarters, which will employ about 50 staff.

“Not only was it a great opportunity, but Logan is very central to everything,” Jason said.

“It’s on the highway, close to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich and it’s a great hub to create more jobs.

“Having the business located in Logan, where I grew up and still live, is just the icing on the cake.”

LSKD has tapped the innovative services Wing to deliver its products to customers using drone technology.

Business support in the 2021/2022 Budget also includes a new City Centre Façade Improvement Fund.

The new fund will provide incentives for property owners and small businesses to enhance building façades and shopfronts – which in turn should boost trade and create more jobs.

Cr Raven said feedback had shown the community wants improved amenity and lifestyle options in city centres.

“Council is committed to ensuring that the City of Logan remains an engaging experience for residents and visitors and an attractive place for businesses to establish and grow,” he said.

New plan unlocks Logan Central potential

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A long-term vision for the upgrade of Logan Central has been endorsed by Logan City Council.

The Logan Central Civic and Community Precinct Plan delivers a clear vision for the suburb and reflects the needs and feedback of the community and stakeholders.

The plan significantly enhances Council’s ability to seek and obtain funding for future project delivery.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven said he was excited by the vision for the heart of the city.

“When fully developed, the precinct will be like a ‘Central Park’ for Logan Central,” Councillor Raven said.

“Logan Gardens is a hidden gem in our city and this plan seeks to change that. By building new infrastructure and improving facilities over time it will become a civic hub.

“We will see more events staged in the Gardens, and over time, it will become a destination for our community to enjoy.”

The Precinct Plan was updated to reflect the following key changes:

  • Complementary and non-competitive event functions for the Logan Central Civic Precinct with the Kingston Butter Factory Precinct
  • A shared pathway was integrated into the Wembley Rd frontage to emphasise the presence of a combined pedestrian and cycle pathway as described in the Transport and Main Roads Principal Cycle Network
  • The Logan Brothers Rugby League Club junior field was reinstated in addition to the retention of the two full-size fields.

The next step is to develop an action plan for the delivery of various projects.

Division 2 Councillor, Teresa Lane said community feedback on the Precinct Plan had been overwhelmingly positive.

“Residents really felt like they had an investment in the process and there is a lot of enthusiasm for the vision,” Cr Lane said.

Cr Lane said the delivery of a ring road to provide improved access to the Gardens was a priority.

“We want to make it easier for families to get to the playground and water play area which is extremely popular in summer.”

One of the first opportunities to activate the precinct will be to invite expressions of interest for a temporary coffee van.

The plan is based on outcomes from the Logan Central Summit in 2018 and has been modified after extensive engagement with local stakeholders and a series of workshops.

The plan recently won a Landscape Architecture Award in the Urban Design Category at the 2021 Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Awards.

View the Logan Central Civic and Community Precinct Plan (pdf 22mb).

Better connections for growing health hub

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Work is now underway to construct safer and improved pedestrian and cycling connections as part of Logan City Council’s vision for a major health and well-being precinct at Meadowbrook.

The Loganlea Road Healthy Street project will better connect Logan Hospital to proposed medical facilities and the Meadowbrook shopping centre on the other side other the road.

A new signalised pedestrian crossing will be installed across busy Loganlea Road along with upgraded street lighting and new 24/7 safety cameras.

The project also includes a wide shared pathway for pedestrians and cyclists from Loganlea train station into the precinct as well as additional seating, shade trees and public art.

Loganlea Road will be widened from four lanes to six in some sections and parts of the verge will be reclaimed to improve pedestrian safety.

The $3.6 million project is funded by Logan City Council and a grant from the Queensland Government’s COVID Unite and Recover fund. Design of the project was supported by the Local Government Cycle Network fund.

Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, Division 6 Councillor Tony Hall and Division 3 Councillor Mindy Russel at the launch of the Loganlea Road Healthy Street project

Deputy Mayor Jon Raven (centre), Division 6 Councillor Tony Hall and Division 3 Councillor Mindy Russell at the launch of the Loganlea Road Healthy Street project

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven said the project is the first capital works to be delivered through Council’s $5 million Meadowbrook Implementation Fund.

The fund was created to advance priority projects based on significant community and local business feedback from the 2018 Meadowbrook Summit.

“Meadowbrook is fast becoming a leading health, education and wellness hub. This project will connect and complement the public and private sector investment in the precinct,” Councillor Raven said.

Division 6 Councillor Tony Hall said the Loganlea Road Healthy Street project involved multi-faceted works undertaken simultaneously.

“My priority is making sure we reduce the impacts on locals during these works so we can and deliver improved safety and pedestrian movements for everyone,” Councillor Hall said.

The works are expected to be completed by later this year.

For more information on Meadowbrook projects, visit the Logan City Council website.

Australia’s New Entertainment Hub Announces Weekend Markets

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Press release provided by Distillery Road Market

Distillery Road Market (DRM) is a compelling destination designed to celebrate our region’s love of fresh produce, dining and entertainment and is now calling for stallholder expression of interests.

Despite COVID setbacks, plans for Australia’s new entertainment hub in Eagleby is booming through phase 1 of its development, this week announcing expressions of interest for stall holders have now opened for their weekend markets, set to start from mid-2021.

The brainchild of Kenton Campbell, Founder of Zarraffa’s Coffee and CEO of Tonken Property Group, which is the project developer for DRM, the vision was to deliver people more of what they want: a localised food-centric experience.

“DRM is for all stallholders and marketers,” enthused Mr Campbell. “From the heirloom gardener, florist, farmer-grown produce, street food vendors, dessert purveyors, artisans and crafters, we want to offer a huge variety of goods and produce in one vibrant location.”

Situated halfway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, the DRM weekend markets will encompass Friday and Saturday nights, and Saturday and Sundays with a range of activations to suit all people, inspired by some of the world’s greatest markets.

“Influenced by the likes of Chelsea Market in New York, Borough Market in London we are about attracting the region’s best growers and markers, filling intimate spaces with unique products, fresh produce and great food.

“We’re excited to now be able to start accepting vendors’ expressions of interest for our weekend markets via our website and we want you to be a part of it.”

With four market events across the weekend, there are a number of opportunities to become part of the DRM stallholder community.

From 4pm – 8pm, Friday and Saturday Nights, DRM will host Trucks and Tunes where visitors can ‘gather their gang’ and go on a street food journey.

“Nights are for devouring delicious food made onsite by our line-up of food trucks and stalls, while also enjoying a revolving roster of local music acts with the whole family,” enthused Kenton.

Saturday mornings will deliver a trove of local artisans, makers, and creators with the Winter Bazaar markets from 8am – 2pm.

“Designed for people to meander and enjoy a sensory experience, the Saturday Winter Bazaar markets will showcase live local music and a curation of handcrafted goods, arts, crafts, great coffee and fresh food.”

While Sunday mornings will play host to the region’s finest Growers Market from 6am – 11am.

“We want friends and family to fill their market basket with the freshest local produce – fine foods, meats, cheeses, baked goods and fresh flowers, or mosey on down for a laid back outdoor Sunday breakfast with great coffee, of course.”

DRM already plays home to Australian-owned Zarraffa’s Coffee, its roastery, headquarters and the bespoke Kiwanda Café – a factory concept cafe by Zarraffa’s.

With seating for up to 150 people, the DRM markets will be held weekly on the southern carpark site, offering locals drawn from Brisbane to the Gold Coast an experience closer to home, while welcoming visitors from all over to Australia’s newest food precinct and emerging entertainment hub.

With the success of the launch of Sugar Creek Smokehouse last year – a smokin’ hot Aus-Tex smokehouse drawing inspiration from the authentic Texan barbeque method you know and love – it’s proof that the concept for the markets will be welcomed.

“The community adoption of Sugar Creek Smokehouse and our food offerings has been incredible – it’s clear that people want more,” said James Osler, Venue Manager and Chef at Sugar Creek Smokehouse.

And more is exactly what Kenton Campbell and his team plan to deliver, all while taking guests on a mouth-watering journey, offering truly exceptional fresh food will excite and attract people from near and far.”

“This is just the beginning and there’s much more to come in 2022, as we open the entertainment precinct, more eateries and a brewery,” said Kenton.

DRM will be ever-changing, creating a distinct food and entertainment-centric hub for Logan and the southeast, believing DRM will be the ideal environment to capture the shift from the mass consumption of products to the mass consumption of experiences.

Trading across four days per week, from Thursday through to Sunday, DRM will transcend what is on offer in traditional retail precincts and transform people’s expectations of what is possible from a lifestyle destination.

Established in a re-purposed, reignited space, DRM has started and will continue to grow a happening, playful, and dynamic experience that puts people at the heart of their own food journey; helping them to connect in a constantly changing and immersive environment.

With over 600 car parks available at the precinct, DRM is located advantageously along the Gold Coast/ Brisbane growth corridor in the rapidly growing Logan City and is both visible and easily accessible from the M1 Motorway.

Details on how to become a market stall holder can be found at – www.drm.market