The latest six-month Logan: City of Choice update report shows significant progress being made as major projects gain traction, and attention turns towards the initiative’s legacy beyond 2015.
Now in its second year of delivery, the Logan: City of Choice Two-Year Action Plan 2013-2015 has secured more than $6 million in funding and another $650 milion in investment commitments.
The milestone report was presented to around 200 community members, leaders and government representatives from across Logan.
Wesley Enoch, Logan: City of Choice Leadership Team member and Queensland Theatre Company Artistic Director, hosted the morning.
Featuring an ‘on the couch’ question and answer session with City of Logan Mayor Pam Parker, City of Choice Leadership Team Chair Jude Munro and newly appointed Communities, Women and Youth, Child Safety and Multicultural Affairs Minister and Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman, the panel discussed the next steps for the project, including establishing a community-based advocacy framework to keep Logan on the state and national agenda.
The Mayor expressed her support and enthusiasm for the Logan Together collective impact model, aimed at improving the health of wellbeing of all children in Logan aged birth to eight years, and the Logan Renewal Initiative, which will change the face of social and affordable housing in Logan over the next 20 years.
“The next few months will be an exciting time for Logan: the Logan Together initiative will have some major announcements coming up, and the Logan City Community Housing Company will officially come online from 1 July as part of the Logan Renewal Initiative.
“While we still have more work to do, it’s important to reflect on how far the team, and our community, have come to date: a new Safety Camera Monitoring Room valued at more than $1.25 million was recently opened, the Queensland Music Festival is full steam ahead, and we’ve secured millions in additional funding for community projects.
“I’m very grateful for the work the team has done.
“I’m confident that over the next few months and beyond we will see the fruitfulness of the hard work and countless hours that have gone on behind the scenes to deliver key initiatives.”
Leadership Team Chair Jude Munro said the focus was now shifting towards community capacity building to ensure effective advocacy with other levels of government continued well beyond the Logan: City of Choice Two-Year Action Plan.
Ms Munro praised the work of the Leadership Team, particularly its collaboration with Council and State and Federal Government partners.
“We have been very strong on ensuring our major initiatives are evidenced based, and this has been the key to building bi-partisan government support and partnerships.
“In addition to consolidating our relationships with other levels of government, we are also determined to ensure we have backbone organisations in place by the end of the year to take the important work of City of Choice into the future.”
