Hundreds of jobs as Council initiative attracts $110m in development

A Logan City Council initiative aimed at attracting big business and to create jobs has cemented $110 million in new projects in the last 12 months.

Council’s Investment Attraction Program has generated 758 jobs since its inception, with more companies lining up to relocate to the city this year.

Global logistics provider DHL Supply Chain is the latest to benefit from the scheme after yesterday opening its new facility in the growth industrial hub of Berrinba.

Providing more than 100 jobs, the facility comprises two large warehouses spanning 19,000 sqm and a 10,000 sqm hard span linking the two buildings, to service the South East Queensland market.

Economic Development Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven, said DHL Supply Chain’s opening was another exciting step in the city’s economic trajectory.

“Investing in Logan just makes sense. Great location, easy access to highways and a young population so businesses have a readymade workforce,” Cr Raven said.

“The success of these companies means jobs for the people of Logan. Each company that is supported through the Investment Attraction Program must meet local job targets.

“By making sure locals get employment opportunities, we leverage these investments to create lasting wealth for our city.”

The DHL Supply Chain opening follows two other multinational companies with Rinnai Australia, a national manufacturer of gas appliances, and McPhee, a fifth generation transport company in a co-located Berrinba facility.

The $40 million project will create 130 jobs once fully operational.

DHL Supply Chain CEO Australia and New Zealand, Saul Resnick, said setting up in Logan would improve efficiencies.

“DHL Supply Chain is committed to ensuring our customers’ supply chains are cost efficient and operationally excellent,” Mr Resnick said.

“This new site combines our warehousing and transport under the one roof and provides better connections to motorways.

“We are pleased to see the efficiencies and improvements to delivery times that this site brings to our customers and to be part of the growth in the Logan region.”

Other companies to launch in City of Logan the program include:

• HELP enterprises – an employment provider for people with disability. It assists people who have been out of the workforce for long periods to re-enter the workforce as well as supporting disadvantaged people to secure employment. Employing 77 people, the business has built a warehouse and distribution facility at Crestmead to service City of Logan.
• Pinnacle Hardware – a national garage storage supplier, specialising in innovative and quality storage solutions, garden sheds, pet enclosures and hardware. They supply exclusively to Bunnings and their new site at Berrinba is a distribution facility for Queensland. They employ more than 30 people.
• Go1 – an online training and education service provider with their global headquarters at Underwood. The business moved to Brisbane but returned to its Logan roots and is now leading the way in innovation. The company has raised $40 million, including a big chunk of funding from Microsoft’s venture funding arm M12.
• The Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre – an industry-led organisation, combining employers and unions to create and teach the highest standards of vocational training for plumbing, gas fitting, air conditioning and fire safety. Their new site in Beenleigh combines two of their existing Queensland training facilities to become their largest site in the state.
• ATP Science – set to employ 70 people at its new Meadowbrook facility. The pharmaceutical and health supplement manufacturer has increased its capability and capacity to do research and development and access international markets.

Border Express, Imaging Solutions and B&C Plastics have also expanded their operations in the city.

Last year, City of Logan launched the $1.5 billion Crestmead Logistics Estate. The nine-stage, 157-hectare estate will deliver 650,000 square metres of warehousing, business, logistics and manufacturing buildings.

It will generate around 6000 full-time jobs over the next five years. Tenants include the recently launched $500m Mapletree Logistics Park, set to deliver around 200,000 square metres of high-grade logistic warehousing and office space.

The project is expected to create at least 2500 jobs over four stages of construction.

Cr Raven said the community can be proud that City of Logan is leading the way as one of the most dynamic regional cities in the country.

“These are successful companies and they know we’re building something special in Logan,” Cr Raven said.

“To be able to attract and retain national brands to headquarter their operations in our city shows that Council’s vision and growth strategy is working.”