LOGAN mayor Darren Power today painted a positive economic outlook for the city during a state budget breakfast hosted by Queensland treasurer Cameron Dick.
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About 150 business leaders, community stalwarts and local and state politicians attended the COVID-safe planned event at the Logan Entertainment Centre, emceed by deputy mayor Jon Raven.
- Read more: Crestmead estate tipped to create 6000 jobs
- Read more: Budget 2020 breakdown
After striding to the lectern accompanied by the Rocky theme, Cr Power compared Logan's fight and resilience to the legendary boxing character.
"Rocky is humble, hard-working, determined and he beats the odds to win his big break. It's a powerful story of backing yourself to rise to the top," Cr Power said.
"I liken this story to the way Logan has evolved into the city you see today. From humble beginnings, Logan is proving to be the one to watch.
"We don't have the glitz of the Gold Coast or the sky-high office buildings of Brisbane, but what we do have is pride, determination and fighting spirit."
Logan continues to punch above its weight with billions of dollars in investment pouring into the city at time when the global economy contracted.
A host of multi-national companies are setting up their business in commercial hotspots like Park Ridge, Berrinba and Crestmead.
Cr Power noted the completion of Transurban's $512 million Logan Enhancement Project in August 2019 and a surge in commercial activity along the Logan Motorway corridor.
"Large national and multinational businesses are choosing Logan over Ipswich, Brisbane and even our southern states," he said.
Queensland's largest industrial project, the Crestmead Logistics Estate, is one example.
The $1.5 billion dollar, nine-stage, 157-hectare, Logistics Estate will deliver 650,000 square metres of warehousing, business, logistics and manufacturing buildings. It will generate around 6000 full-time jobs in just five years.
Companies like Wing, Go1, DHL, Rinnai Australia, Border Express, ATP Science and McPhee are now proudly headquartered in the city.
"Logan has the winning formula of efficient transport connections and affordable land that is driving enormous investment," Cr Power said.
"The housing market in Logan is also one to watch. Logan continues to be the place to raise your family, offering a great lifestyle and affordable housing."
More than 26,000 new houses have been approved with numerous residential development fronts across Logan over the past decade.
By 2036, under the current planning scheme, Logan has the potential to grow by an additional 56,000 dwellings.
State treasurer and Woodridge MP Cameron Dick spoke of the valuable partnership Logan shared with the government as he reeled off a highlights package for the city in the recent budget.
It included more than $600 million on upgrading the Logan Hospital, $50 million towards upgrading and building new schools with a further $26.9 million in 2020-21 to build a new primary school in North Maclean.
Funding also continued for several high-profile projects that council had advocated for, including a $10.6 million upgrade to the Mount Lindesay Highway.
A state-wide $15 million community infrastructure investment partnership program will be established to deliver additional and improved community infrastructure to support social services in communities.
A flagship initiative under the program - the Access Economic Hub - will be in Logan.
The pilot project will provide a full range of employment readiness, job training, social enterprise and business incubator services and link people to social services.
It will support up to 22 construction jobs in Logan and makes good on an election commitment of $7 million.
There's also a new $1 million commitment for intersection improvement works at Waterford-Tamborine Road and Easterly Street at Waterford to ease congestion issues, and additional funding for the planning of the Park Ridge Connector.
Cr Power said despite the challenges of 2020, Logan had fared well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We in Queensland - and in Logan - have been very fortunate. We've had the opportunity to attend work, run our businesses and rebuild our economy," he said.
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