LOGAN will partner with the Canadian city of Vancouver to implement its game-changing CityStudio model close to home.
The Vancouver program was established in 2010. The goal was to make it the world’s greenest city by 2020.
The city becomes a hub for students who crave the chance to become changemakers, innovators and social entrepreneurs.
School and university students, staff, academics, businesses and the community work together on projects towards the end goal.
Logan’s plan is to become an innovative, dynamic, city of the future.
Acting mayor Cherie Dalley said the CityStudio licencing agreement would bring students and residents together to create civic innovation projects alongside council staff.
ENABLE, a coalition of 13 public high schools across Logan and the Scenic Rim and higher education providers have expressed an interest in partnering with the council.
“This is exactly the sort of thing that will drive Logan forward as a dynamic city of the future,” Cr Dalley said.
“It will give the community input into shaping our city and provide jobs and life skills for student participants.
“I look forward to seeing this concept develop and encourage schools, business and the community to get behind CityStudio Logan.”
Projects undertaken by CityStudio Vancouver include an initiative to reduce and reuse food and material waste, activate unused public spaces, provide mobile bike repair stations and distribute affordable food to culturally diverse communities.
CityStudio Vancouver co-founder Duane Elverum visited Logan recently and said the British Columbia city had benefited from the concept.
“The … city and the university and schools and citizens collaborate to put projects on the ground that the city really needs to make it feel more engaged, more active, more energetic,” he said.
City image and innovation committee chair councillor Laurie Smith said the possibilities were endless.
“Growing a more green and renewable city is one of the many things that can be achieved through CityStudio Logan,” said Cr Smith.
“I’m sure our partners in the community and in the education sector will identify projects that will grow Logan in a way that benefits all aspects of our community.”
QUT Design Lab Urban Informatics professor Marcus Foth said CityStudio was a great collaboration model, making contributions from research, schools, business, government and community work together.
“As the university for the real world, QUT is excited about partnering with Logan City Council on the CityStudio citizen co-creation.”
Logan is one of two Australian cities that have signed on to the licensing agreement. The other is the Victorian town of Bendigo.
