Report to the Region

As I noted in my last message, the Australian Government has disseminated information for its implementation of the Regional Investment Framework through the Budget cycle. As I also noted, this Framework is being used by RDA Logan & Redlands in its development of an advocacy paper and in planning an associated forum.

The target audience for the RDA’s work remains business and the wider communities and all levels of government, with particular targeted advocacy to the Australian Government within the implementation of the Regional Investment Framework on behalf of the Logan and Redlands Region and the broader South East Queensland Region. The detail of this work is being guided by the RDA’s 2024 to 2025 Business Plan.

Within this context, the RDA seeks to support local industry and community stakeholders in assuming the leadership necessary to drive economic development, social cohesion and environmental sustainability within a key peri urban region. This includes preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and major infrastructure investments.

In pursuing its broad agenda, the RDA is conscious its work program operates within a political environment in which the following key events have or will be taking place within a 15 month period from March 2024:

• 16 March 2024: the Queensland Local Council elections were held including for the Logan and Redland City Councils
• 14 May 2024: The Australian Budget was handed down 
• 11 June 2024: The Queensland Budget was handed down
• 24 June 2024: The Logan City Budget was handed down
• 27 June 2024: The Redland City Budget was handed down
• 26 October 2024: The Queensland Government State Election will be held
• By mid July 2025: The Australian Government election is to be held.

If you wish to be part of the RDA's work, please contact our Director, Steve McDonald at drd@rdaloganandredlands.org.au for further information.

For further information on the RDA, go to rdaloganandredlands.org.au. Information on Board members is available here.

The Hon. Gary Hardgrave
Chair
Regional Development Australia Logan & Redlands Inc

The Australian Government’s vision for regional Australia is one of strong connected regions that shape economic growth and wellbeing; are resilient and responsive to economic shocks; and are inclusive, vibrant and diverse. Regions that our First Nations people have every opportunity to engage in and shape, and where people, business and investments thrive.

The Regional Development Australia (RDA) Program is critical in the delivery of this vision and the successful implementation of the Regional Investment Framework: the Australian Government’s approach to supporting strong and sustainable regions, which drives a coordinated approach to regional development, underpinned by local engagement.

RDA Logan & Redlands is part of a national network of 50 RDA committees which represent a broad range of experiences including from local government, private sector, community and not-for-profit sectors.

RDA committees are real-time advisers to government on critical regional development issues, opportunities and challenges in their regions. RDAs use their local, cross-sector expertise and regional voice to:

• collaborate with integrity, transparency, respect and accountability
• engage with diverse communities, especially First Nations people
• support the Government’s ambition of ‘no one held back and no one left behind’
• support gender equality opportunities in their regions.

In supporting their communities, RDAs help to drive local economies, attract business opportunities and seek place-based solutions to make Australia’s regions better places to live, work and thrive.

The program is administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. It is funded by the Australian Government and by state, territory and local governments in some jurisdictions.

The Minister with responsibility for the RDA Program is the Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories.

Learn more: RDA Case Studies | Regional Development Australia

Contact: rda@infrastructure.gov.au

Under the RDA Charter released by the Australian Government in July 2023 the RDAs play a role in helping to drive economic growth, innovation and entrepreneurship in regions through facilitating investment in community, industry and the environment. RDAs assist bridging the regional development gaps in regions by working with a broad range of stakeholders across sectors and supporting the delivery of identified Australian Government strategic priorities.

Specifically guided by the Charter, over the period April to June 2024 the RDA:

• Participated in the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts Disaster Resilience Forums
• Attended the Redlands Coast Chamber AI and Scaling Your Business – Breakfast Event
• Attended and presented at the 2024 Redlands Business Excellence Awards - Launch and Workshop
• Visited stakeholders on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands
• Attended the Logan Connect meeting
• Visited stakeholders on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
• Met with Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC)
• Attended ESG Leadership in 2024: climate-related disclosure and financial sustainability presentation
• Met with officers from SEQ South Regional Office and Local Economic Opportunities (LEO) Network, Department of State Development and Infrastructure
• Met with Brian Kerle Basketball
• Chair met with key personnel in Canberra including The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
• Met with Braille House
• Participated in Regional Futures Collaborative Project Application Initial Meeting with Global Community Resourcing
• Attended Beenleigh Yatala Chamber breakfast
• Participated in Committee for Economic Development of Australia familiarisation presentation
• Attended the SEQ Global Benchmarking 2025 Update.

If you wish to connect with the RDA, please contact its Director Steve McDonald at drd@rdaloganandredlands.org.au. For further information on the RDA, go to rdaloganandredlands.org.au.

RDA Logan & Redlands provides a wide range of information through its weekly e-Bulletins and Quarterly Reports to the Region. The RDA’s website is also a valuable source of information.

When searching for funding, keep in mind you will generally need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. Aside from funding assistance, many programs can help your business by building your skills and knowledge.

GrantConnect [Aust Govt]

GrantConnect publishes forecast and current Australian Government grant opportunities and grants awarded.

Grants Finder [Qld Govt]

Find a grant or assistance in Queensland including information on grants, rebates, loans, subsidies or training.

business.gov.au

The Australian Government's business.gov.au site has information on grants and assistance for business from all levels of Government.

Austrade Export Grants

The Export Market Development Grants scheme is a financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters.

Advance Queensland

Are you an innovator? Browse the range of grants and assistance from Advance Queensland for startups and entrepreneurs.

Logan City Council

Logan City Council offers a range of grants to community organisations, individuals, clubs and services.

Redland City Council

Redland City Council provides grants and sponsorship to individuals and organisations for projects that benefit the local community.

More details are available at rdaloganandredlands.org.au/funding. 

South East Queensland and adjacent areas are served by several Regional Development Australia Committees including for:

• Brisbane
• Darling Downs and South West Queensland
• Gold Coast
• Ipswich and West Moreton
• Logan and Redlands
• Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast 
• Wide Bay Burnett.

In an exercise to identify collegiate opportunities across Queensland, on 2-3 May 2024 a workshop attended by most Queensland RDAs was held in the Gold Coast. 

The South East Queensland RDAs next meeting is expected to be scheduled for October 2024.

For information about what’s on across Logan, go to City of Logan Events or Logan Office of Economic Development Events.

For information about what’s on across the Redlands, go to Redland City Council What's On Calendar  or Redlands Coast Events.

For information about the Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Logan Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Logan Regional Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

For information about the Straddie Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook group.

For information about the SMBI Chamber of Commerce, go to their website or Facebook page.

We are here to work for the Logan and Redlands Region. We welcome being contacted on any issue any member of the community wishes to raise. Please feel free to directly contact us with your comment or query at admin@rdaloganandredlands.org.au.