Investors sought for Logan’s whitewater park vision

/in , ,

Logan City Council has approved an Expression of Interest (EOI) campaign as the next step towards the city’s proposed Olympic-standard whitewater park.

The campaign will test the market for private sector interest in the project.

In building a business case for the facility, Council examined delivery models of existing whitewater park operations around the world.

That investigation found a public-private partnership or joint venture to be the best way forward.

As a result, the EOI will explore options not only for construction and operations investment but also the management of the facility.

Logan City Council Interim Administrator Tamara O’Shea said an EOI campaign was the logical next step after extensive research and planning into the proposed facility over a number of years.

“There has been an evidence-based approach to this exciting project from the outset, Ms O’Shea said.

“The learnings acquired so far, and the feedback we expect from the EOI, will ensure Council is well-placed to make decisions on a Queensland-first facility that has the potential to deliver significant economic and recreational benefits to the city.”

Potential investors, operators and a range of users from elite athletes, governing bodies and emergency services have already shown interest in the project since Council conducted a Pre-Feasibility Study last year.

Three-time World Cup freestyle kayak champion Jez Blanchard said a world-class whitewater facility in Logan would be a huge asset for city and the wider community.

“Athletes and coaches from all over the world will be drawn to train on the course that will be open year round,” he said.

“Emergency services will also be able to train for swift water rescues.

“There is currently only one specialist white water facility in Australia and that is already 20-years-old.

“To have a top-of-the range, new facility in Queensland is extremely exciting.”

The proposed Logan Whitewater Park aligns with the Logan Destination Management Plan and priorities in Council’s Corporate Plan.

The business case for the facility also aligns with Building Queensland’s comprehensive Business Case Development Framework.

That allows the project to be considered by the State and Federal governments for funding consideration as an infrastructure proposal.

Logan City Council is a partner to South-East Council of Mayors’ feasibility study into a possible bid for the 2032 Olympic Games.

Facilities such as a world-class whitewater park and the recently renovated $3.3 million Doug Larsen Park Olympic-standard BMX freestyle facility would put the City of Logan well-placed to be involved in any future major sporting events.

Logan Village Green Masterplan to deliver for community

/in , ,

A new playground inspired by the designs and input from local children will be the centrepiece of an upcoming refurbishment at Logan Village Green.

A temporary pop-up coffee shop, upgrades to the RSL cenotaph and new signage are also included in the Logan Village Green Master Plan adopted by Logan City Council.

The design of the playground has commenced and the project is earmarked for completion by the end of the year.

Logan Village Playground Visualisation

Logan Village Playground Visualisation

In the 2018/19 Budget, Council endorsed $2 million for the Logan Village Implementation Fund over three years to support the planning, detailed design, management and delivery of priority projects identified from the Logan Village Forum.

The Master Plan follows extensive community consultation and is a key outcome of the 2018 Forum which identified upgrades to the Logan Village Green as a high priority project.

Council obtained a $500,000 funding grant for the Activation, Embellishment and Upgrade of the Logan Village Green under the Building Better Regions Fund Round 3.

The Master Plan includes a future multi-purpose community facility, an outdoor stage and upgraded events space for live music.

Future plans also include a feasibility study for a multi-functional community centre and design of a new ‘main street’ along the Village Green.

Improved signage and street furniture, a visitor information facility and a coordinated events program will position the area as a regional tourism destination.

Logan City Council Director Strategy and Sustainability, David Hansen, said the projects signalled an exciting new era for the Logan Village community.

“The community told us what they wanted and Council has responded,” Mr Hansen said.

“The renewal of this iconic hub will create a destination for people outside of Logan to visit. It has been designed by the community, for the community and visitors to the city.”

Mr Hansen said improved amenity through tree planting, new paving, signage and new feature lighting, and improved connectivity through pedestrian and cycle ways would provide a family-oriented destination.

A ‘Meet the Place Manager’ open day was held in Logan Village and provided an opportunity for interested parties to meet officers and discuss the draft Master Plan.

During the consultation period, 493 people visited the website and written submissions from 35 individuals and organisations were received.

To find out more, please download the Logan Village Green Master Plan (PDF 9.8 MB).

Queensland Government announces Indigenous tourism strategy

/in , , ,

The Queensland Government and Tourism & Events Queensland have named 2020 the Year of Indigenous Tourism.

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been proudly practicing and preserving their cultures by sharing it with the next generation for tens of thousands of years,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“In modern times, their culture and stories have been an integral part of our tourism industry, attracting people from all around the world to learn more about the world’s oldest cultures.

Tourism Research Australia reports that 351,000 overseas visitors and 116,000 overnight domestic visitors took part in an Indigenous tourism experience in Queensland in the year ending March 2019.

The Queensland Government has launched a new $10 million Growing Indigenous Tourism in Queensland Fund to create economic opportunities and jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

The fund will support new, unique and innovative Indigenous tourism products and experiences in Queensland, particularly in regional areas. The fund comprises 2 categories, offering up to $25,000 to develop concepts for tourism products or experiences, and $250,000 to $1 million to improve or develop key tourism infrastructure or facilities.

Indigenous Tourism Development Service

Additionally, the Queensland Government is establishing a dedicated Indigenous Tourism Development Service to support Indigenous tourism in the state.

The new service would work with emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander operators to start and grow their businesses and products.

“The new Indigenous Tourism Development Service will play a key role, providing on-the-ground support for Indigenous tourism businesses, helping them access government and industry services,” Tourism Minister Kate Jones said.

“This is about growing our tourism industry to create jobs in Queensland.”

SEQ Indigenous Tourism Strategy

The State Government is also working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to develop an Indigenous tourism strategy for South East Queensland.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the Palaszczuk Government wanted to give tourists greater access to Indigenous cultural experiences and to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with more business and employment opportunities.

“A working group of Traditional Owner groups from SEQ will identify gaps and opportunities to develop the tourism industry to deliver broad benefits across the entire region.”

Sprits of the Red Sand in Beenleigh is one of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences, featuring in the Discover Aboriginal Experiences brochure. The interactive theatrical performance includes dinner served on the homestead’s broad patio and shuttle transfers to and from Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Mike Tamaki and Eddie Ruska perfected the play’s dialogue through extensive consultation with community elders, ensuring that the story, based on true events, is told in a way that is at once educational and inspiring.

The success of this experience highlights the opportunities that Logan City Council is keen to encourage. The Logan Destination Management Plan 2018-2022 seeks to position the city as a specialist cultural and arts events centre.

 

Need help establishing or growing your indigenous tourism offering in the City of Logan? Contact us on 07 3412 4888 or send us a message.

 

More information:

Demand outstrips supply in Logan accommodation market

/in , , ,

A surge in private and public investment, growing visitor numbers and game-changing tourism projects underway is driving the demand for short-term accommodation in the City of Logan.

Located just 30 minutes’ drive to major destinations – Brisbane to the north and the Gold Coast to the south – Logan welcomes 1.4 million visitors each year and continues to have strong levels of growth in domestic and international overnight travel.

The $12 billion of tourism infrastructure injected into the wider region, places the city in a strategic position to take advantage of the boom in visitors to South East Queensland.

However, recent growth forecasts suggest occupancy rates in Logan will exceed 80 per cent by 2021, set to trigger a severe undersupply of rooms and leakage of trade by 2026.

Logan’s current supply is limited – at around 300 rooms across 12 facilities, it comprises primarily of motel style accommodation concentrated along arterial roads.

Despite high occupancy rates, no new hotel stock has been developed in more than a decade.

As cities like Brisbane focus on servicing the leisure travel market, Logan has the potential to grow its stake in the business travel market.

Home to more than 21,000 registered businesses, many headquarters and operational bases in Logan generate a substantial and continuous demand in overnight room stays.

Just one example is global company John Deere – its headquarters for Australia and New Zealand is located in Logan and receives around 700 domestic visitors every year for training alone.

The demand metrics on population and business growth indicates a need for 65,000 additional room nights in Logan up until 2036 – equivalent to 180 additional rooms.

When compared to similar areas, Logan is undersupplied in the number of commercial short term accommodation rooms relative to population, workers and visitors.

Table showing area, accomodation rooms, pop

Table: Data as at January 2019

As one of the largest employers in the city, the Logan Hospital in Meadowbrook is one of the busiest health service providers in the region and has recently kicked off its $460 million expansion project.

Meadowbrook has been identified as a hotspot for potential accommodation facilities, aligned with Council’s master plan to develop the centre as a medical and health precinct.

With projects like the hospital underway and large private enterprise investing in Logan, the demand could outstrip supply faster than predicted.

In the last financial year, building activity in Logan was valued at over $800 million.

A stream of commercial activity saw large companies including national coffee franchisor Zarraffa’s Coffee, global logistics leader DHL and world-first commercial drone delivery service providers Wing (an Alphabet company) establish their operations in Logan.

Zarraffa’s Coffee moved into their $20 million purpose-built national headquarters from the Gold Coast to Logan in August this year.

The company’s new HQ will support 90 plus stores across Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia and provide the space to progress their future expansion plans.

Spanning 18,000 sqm, the site also combines a roastery, a warehousing, packaging and distribution hub, factory concept café, and the $50 million Distillery Road Market project being delivered by the company’s development arm Tonken Property Group.

Headed by founder of Zarraffa’s Coffee, Kenton Campbell, Distillery Road Market is set to become a world-class food experience destination akin to iconic markets such as Chelsea Market in New York and The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney.

Campbell said the timing was right to relocate to Logan, given its central location along the growth corridor between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

“From the point of view of customers, staff and suppliers, there is no better place, than where we are right here,” Campbell said.

“Logan has given me the ability to create something special at Distillery Road Market and for Zarraffa’s.”

Distillery Road Market will be the first of its kind in Logan and Queensland, and is part of a growing tourism cluster in the Beenleigh and Eagleby area.

Local attractions such as Beenleigh Artisan Distillery, Australia’s oldest registered distillery, and award-winning Aboriginal live theatre experience, Spirits of the Red Sand, draw in both domestic and international visitors.

In the next few years, the city’s strategic focus on developing its capabilities in the business, cultural and sports events sectors, will see Logan’s relatively youthful tourism industry continue to evolve.

Over the past 6 months, Logan City Council’s events acquisition program in partnership with Sports Marketing Australia has since attracted attendance of more than 14,000 competitors and spectators across 50 event days.

Rick Sleeman, Managing Director of Sports Marketing Australia said that Logan had an accessible location and the right event infrastructure in place to host major sporting events.

“A capacity and capability assessment identified Logan’s potential to become a sports super centre in South East Queensland,” he said.

“Logan has world-class facilities from PGA standard golf courses, sporting fields, indoor courts and 2000-capacity arenas, plus access to national and international airports making the city an ideal host.”

Crowd watching an indoor basketball game

Image: Logan Metro Sports and Events Centre is the third largest venue in Greater Brisbane accommodating up to 2,100 guests 

In 2018, the Brisbane Roar Football Club invested $9 million to develop a state of the art training facility and operations base at Logan Metro Sports Park and has plans to host tournaments.

And the recent $65 million whitewater adventure park proposal, now at the pre-feasibility stage, will be a game-changer for Logan and the region – with the potential to become an iconic tourism asset and future Olympic Games venue.

The demand for short term accommodation continues to escalate as the line-up of major sporting tournaments join Logan’s events calendar.

Given the strong demand fundamentals and opportunities across business, events and the emerging tourism industry in Logan, there is a demonstrated gap for a business style, specialist hotel or serviced apartments.

To support this shortage in supply, Logan City Council offers incentives for eligible new short term accommodation developments that achieve a 3.5 to 5 star rating.

For more information on development incentives and to download the study on short term accommodation investment opportunities visit www.loed.com.au/investinlogan.

Share this post

Global food markets on international display

/in , ,

Celebrity British chef Ainsley Harriott is doing his part to showcase our city’s diverse produce and markets with the screening of Ainsley’s Market Menu featuring our Logan Central Global Food Markets.

The popular TV series, which is screened in 130 countries will be broadcast throughout Australia on SBS on 24 October.

When the episode was shot earlier this year, Ainsley visited stalls collecting locally-grown ingredients and tasted many of the largely ethnic cuisines on offer while deciding which dishes to prepare.

He bought Halal lamb, kundru, cassava, turmeric, ginger and plenty of Asian greens provided by local vendors and then used the ingredients to cook three gourmet dishes on site at his stall as hundreds of market-goers and vendors looked on.

The first dishes he made were a global green shot and coconut smoothie and Asian lamb patties on char-grilled cassava. As a main course he created Ram’s kundru pumpkin vegetable curry, which  he made for stallholder Ram Harakh Maharaj, of Shailer Park, who was celebrating his 85th birthday.

During filming Ainsley said the markets were among the most diverse he had visited—with the range of local produce rivalling some of the huge street markets in London.

“The food here (in Logan) was fantastic, fresh and vibrant and I just wanted to cook it,” he said.

“Everyone was so friendly. It was just a brilliant day.”

Ainsley’s visit to the City of Logan’s Global Food Markets follows the hugely successful guest appearance at the markets in 2017 by MasterChef runnerup Poh Ling Yeow.

The Sunday morning Global Food Markets, based in Croydon Rd, Logan Central, are a weekly event run by Ethnic Communities Council of Logan Inc. with support from Logan City Council.

The majority of the produce on sale is sourced from backyard gardens and community vegetable plots across the city and includes ingredients suited to Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Pacific Island cuisines.

For more information on the weekly Global Food Markets go to globalfoodmarkets.com.au

Retail interest piqued for new SEQ food destination

/in ,

One hundred and fifty interested retailers attended a night of discovery, at the official unveiling of commercial leasing opportunities at Distillery Road Market (DRM).

Held onsite at Kiwanda Café on Thursday 29th August, the event combined live music, drinks and presentations from key spokespeople, including the developer of the project, Zarraffa’s Coffee entrepreneur Kenton Campbell.

Throughout the evening, attendees were presented with information designed to answer key questions about the new precinct and hear about the diverse range of flexible spaces available to establish or grow their businesses.

Director, Strategy and Sustainability at Logan City Council, David Hansen, addressed the crowd expressing positivity around the attraction of a destinational project of the scope of DRM to the city, which aligned perfectly with Logan City Council’s strategic vision for growth in the region.

Mr Hansen explained the many benefits of the DRM project for the Logan area, including the improvement of liveability for the residents, it’s influences on driving tourism to the area, as well as increased employment opportunities.

Mr Hansen affirmed that Logan City Council is fully behind the project and are eager to see the vision realised to its full potential in late 2020.

Kenton Campbell, addressed the attendees, delivering an impassioned overview of his ‘retailer first’ approach to being a landlord as CEO of Tonken Property Group, the DRM project developer.

“It will be a great environment and fair-trading platform where tenants have the opportunity to deliver something truly special and unique,” he said.

“Our trading conditions are an indication of how DRM is seeking to ensure retailers thrive with a four-day trade week, from Thursday to Sunday, with select operators given the ability to trade up to seven days a week.”

Associate Director of Retail Leasing for Colliers International, Luke McGrath, also addressed guests revealing that Colliers was initially apprehensive about taking on the project – a project that doesn’t fit the standardised shopping centre model – until they saw the vision and realised that it was going to be something special.

He explained how the precinct would operate as a proper market; an incredible experience-fuelled destination.

“With flexible lease lengths, a range of fitout inclusions and a compelling events and marketing strategy, DRM is sure to entice only the best operators in the market,” said Mr McGrath

At the conclusion of the presentations, attendees were invited to view the Zarraffa’s Coffee headquarters and the DRM space before attending an in-depth precinct leasing presentation in the new amphitheatre, showcasing the trading opportunities in further detail.

All guests were invited to fill out an expression of interest form and so far, interest is high.

“We are thrilled with the turnout to the retailer event but also in general to leasing enquiries and commercial interest,” said Mr Campbell.

“DRM is a fantastic opportunity for retailers to build their business in what is expected to be a truly exceptional market that will transform people’s expectations of what is possible from a lifestyle destination.

“We want the best operators, who see this as a home for their business. We only need one or two of each category; ultimately the opportunity is limited. But for those who are interested, I encourage you to get on board now.”

Expressions of interest can be lodged via www.drm.market or contact Luke McGrath – Colliers International luke.mcgrath@colliers.com | 0418 295 091

Whitewater adventure park to make a splash in Logan

/in , ,

Logan City Council has progressed its whitewater adventure park plans with the completion of a pre-feasibility study outlining a unique $65 million tourism asset that would also suit a future Olympic Games venue.

The Lucid Economics study shows the park would cater to a raft of activities including kayaking, canoeing, guided rafting, swift water rescue training, unguided rafting and tubing and inflatable obstacle courses.

A restaurant and retail component as well as trails, zip lines, challenge courses and areas ideal for school holiday programs, promotions and special events would also feature.

Logan City Council Director of Strategy and Sustainability, David Hansen, said the project would be an exciting tourism boon for the city and would provide significant economic benefits.

The study was earmarked as a priority under Council’s Logan Destination Management Plan 2018-2022.

“This pre-feasibility study is the first phase to see how a project like this would stack up and early indications are that it ticks all the boxes,” he said.

“With potential to become an iconic tourism asset for our growing city, the facility could also be adapted as an Olympic venue through the provision of associated spectator and safety infrastructure or used as a training venue for elite athletes.”

During the construction phase it is estimated that 147 full time jobs would be created with a further 114 employed once complete.

Given Logan’s sub-tropical climate, the facility could operate all year round. The provision of a dual channel facility will also help to maximise usage and revenue during busier summer months when elite athletes from the northern hemisphere could train during their winter in the warmer southern hemisphere climate.

“The possibilities are endless and its ideal location between Gold Coast and Brisbane would attract local residents in the broader region, interstate and international visitors, national and international elite athletes, school groups, corporates and children’s parties,” Mr Hansen said.

Following a Committee endorsement today, confirmation by Council resolution next week will allow officers to proceed with the development of a business case to facilitate investment and will include further work on identifying a preferred site.

Logan has a significant catchment of 3.1 million residents within an hour’s drive from the city. This population is expected to grow to around five million by 2041.

Distillery Road Market – Australia’s Next Food Experience Destination Commences Leasing

/in ,

Distillery Road Market, a compelling destination designed to celebrate Australia’s love of fresh produce, dining and entertainment, is now calling for expressions of interest for a range of retailing opportunities.

Situated halfway between the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Beenleigh, Queensland and set to open in late 2020/ early 2021, Distillery Road Market (DRM) was formally announced as the name of Australia’s next great food market.

Rising from the ashes of a reclaimed commercial warehouse, the 17,000 sqm site is now being reimagined as a space for families, a source of regional growth and a magnet for tourists and the global food generation.

Opportunities for kindred retailers, food vendors and marketeers are now being tendered through Colliers International with over 4,500 sqm of lettable area on offer.

There will be a diverse range of flexible spaces available for forward thinking operators to establish or grow their business. Flexible lease lengths, a range of fitout inclusions and a compelling events and marketing strategy will ensure DRM entices the best operators in the market.

Kenton Campbell, CEO of Tonken Property Group – the project developer of Distillery Road Market – said the retail mix would reflect a growing trend toward more enriching retail, dining and social experiences.

“DRM actually brings together all the things I enjoy most in life – a wide variety of great food and beverage options, curated shopping experiences and a knock-out environment to sit back, relax and take it all in,” said Mr Campbell, who is also the founder of Australian specialty coffee success story, Zarraffa’s Coffee.

“I’m also both a retailer and a consumer, and I wanted to create a hub for everyone – both locals and tourists, families and couples, the young and old – somewhere that fuels all five senses.”

DRM will be established and run like a world leading market; rather than a traditional shopping mall. 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.

“DRM will be unlike anything the south-east of Queensland has seen and will emulate iconic market experiences such as Chelsea Market in New York, Borough Market in London and The Grounds of Alexandria in Sydney and the South Melbourne Markets.”

DRM will house a curated offering of fresh food markets, grab-and-go eateries, restaurants, an iconic brewery, a thriving exhibition hall, a flower wonderland, Smokehouse, outdoor gardens, stage and children’s playground, enveloped by a vibrant market environment and activations.

“Our goal is that Distillery Road Market will be a statement to the world about food’s ability to support life and instil wonderment.”

DRM is expected to open late in 2020 with leasing opportunities now available, with the anchor tenant – the national headquarters of Zarraffa’s Coffee, including its roastery and warehouse and its bespoke Kiwanda Café – already situated within the precinct, occupying almost 7,000 sqm combined.

“The accessible location just off the M1 Motorway will attract a wide range of customers from diverse geographical and demographic backgrounds, exceeding a traditional trade area,” he said.

“It’s essential that we have the perfect balance of retailers, vendors and operators to deliver the DRM experience.”

Distillery Road Market site in Beenleigh

Luke McGrath, Colliers International Associate Director, sees a real opportunity to change the retail landscape in South East Queensland.

“Colliers are fortunate to work across many significant national retail projects. DRM is going to demonstrate to the retail community that by understanding the fundamentals of the modern retail environment, we can not only create a truly compelling destination for tourists and locals, we can provide a business environment that supports long term financial stability for operators,” said Mr McGrath.

Mr Campbell believes food remains the social glue that brings people and families together and that DRM will offer a truly exceptional fresh food and dining offer that will excite and attract people from near and far.

“We are searching for the region’s finest operators to join us and make Distillery Road Market a reality.”

Expressions of interest can be made via the http://www.drm.market website or by contacting Luke McGrath – Colliers International – 0418 295 091 | Luke.Mcgrath@colliers.com

123
artists impression of Distillery Road Market
Distillery Road Market site in Beenleigh
Distillery Road Market site in Beenleigh - internal view

Our sporting reputation gets another big boost

/in ,

An events partnership that has brought thousands of visitors to the city and has the potential to inject millions of dollars into the local economy will continue in 2019/20.

Council has collaborated with a leading national sports, events and conference agency for the City of Logan to host a number of major events in the last 12 months, including the Touch Rugby League State Championship, the Royal Rumble Roller Derby and the Queensland PGA (golf) Trainee Championship.

Economic analysis shows the three events alone generated $1.5m for Logan’s economy and enhanced the city’s reputation as a significant events hub in Queensland.

Logan City Council Community Services Director Katie Barton-Harvey, said Council was committed to making Logan a destination of choice and delivering a broad selection of events for the city’s 326,000 residents who represent 217 different ethnicities.

“Each successful event generates a positive image of the city which translates into increased visitation and investment,” Ms Barton-Harvey said.

“This benefits the entire community and grows our reputation as a sporting and cultural hub.

“The growth and expansion of our Events Attraction Program will undoubtedly see more exciting opportunities come our way.”

Other events under consideration include the Queensland PGA Championship, the 2020 Squash Australia National Championship and the National Inline Hockey Championship.

Council is also on board with the Council of Mayors (SEQ) efforts to bring the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to South East Queensland and contributed to a recent feasibility study ahead of a possible bid.

Should the Games come to Queensland, Logan will have two Olympic-standard venues ready to go with a BMX freestyle facility under construction and a whitewater park in planning stages.

Beenleigh’s Doug Larsen Park BMX Concept Art

Concept design for the $3.1m revamp of Beenleigh’s Doug Larsen Park BMX and skateboard facility.

Council is currently scouting locations and undertaking an economic feasibility study into the proposed whitewater park project, which would be a Queensland-first.

In Beenleigh, a $3.1million rebuild of Doug Larsen Park currently underway will give Logan what Cycling Australia has rated Australia’s premier BMX freestyle facility ahead of the sport’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In a community-driven effort, Logan-raised BMX freestyle 2017 world champion Logan Martin helped design the BMX course and skate-park half-pipes along with representatives from Cycling Australia and the local BMX and skateboarding communities.

Paddle begins for Logan’s thrilling whitewater vision

/in ,

Logan City Council has advanced plans to build an Olympic-standard whitewater park in the city with an economic feasibility study and site selections to be completed in the coming weeks.

The proposed whitewater park, which has been earmarked as a ‘game changer’ by Council in its tourism planning, would be a Queensland-first and one of only two in Australia.

American kayaker and slalom canoeist Scott Shipley, a three-time Olympic representative and three-time World Cup winner, scouted possible park locations with Council officers in recent weeks.

Shipley’s business, S2o Design, is a design and engineering company behind the construction of successful whitewater parks around the world.

The proposed park would meet Olympic-standard criteria and would be ready for use should the South-East Queensland bid for the 2032 Games be launched.

Logan City Council Interim Administrator Tamara O’Shea said such a unique facility for the state could act as catalyst for more tourism opportunities in Logan.

“This is an exciting project for Logan, something completely different to any other tourism attraction in the south-east,” Ms O’Shea said.

“I’ve been very impressed with the planning so far and it would be tremendous for this project to go from the drawing board to reality.”

Council began investigating the possibility of a whitewater park in 2016 and last year it was identified as one of four ‘tourism game changers’ in its Logan Destination Management Plan 2018-2022-Summary-low res.

The whitewater park was made a priority project because:

  • It would be the first of its kind in the state and only the second in Australia
  • It leverages off Logan’s open space and available land
  • It strengthens Logan’s potential as a major sporting and recreation hub
  • It can leverage off Logan’s proximity to major markets such as Brisbane and the Gold Coast
  • It can operate almost year-round thanks to a warmer climate compared to Penrith and Auckland where similar facilities are located

Other key projects identified in the Destination Management Plan include a branded hotel or serviced apartment complex, a destination holiday park and a riverine discovery centre.

Logan City Council also enlisted a world champion to help design a new world-class BMX freestyle and skate park facility in Beenleigh.

A $3.1million rebuild of Doug Larsen Park will give Logan what Cycling Australia has rated will be Australia’s premier BMX freestyle facility ahead of the sport’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In a community-driven effort, Logan-raised BMX freestyle 2017 world champion Logan Martin helped design the BMX course and skate-park half-pipes along with representatives from Cycling Australia and the local BMX and skateboarding communities.