Rebecca Waters

Secondary school the latest piece of Yarrabilba’s puzzle

New school the latest piece of Yarrabilba's puzzle

Yarrabilba State Secondary College building

Yarrabilba might seem like a new arrival when compared to Logan’s more well-established communities.

But the land on which it is situated has a rich history that predates the suburb we know today.

The Wangerriburra Clan of the Yugambeh language group occupied the land before European arrival.

Yarrabilba means ‘place of song’ in Wangerriburra/Bundjalung language and the area still contains many artefacts and evidence of the original occupants.

European settlement followed in the 1800s. Early transport infrastructure in the area included a station on a now defunct railway line between Logan Village and Canungra that opened in 1915.

The presence of Australian and American army camps in the area during World War Two led to the creation of Camp Cable Rd and the sealing of a road between Tamborine and Logan Village. 

Fast forward to 26 May 2010. It was on this date that then Premier Anna Bligh announced Yarrabilba, along with the nearby Greater Flagstone, would become master-planned cities overseen by the State Government.

Called Priority Development Areas (PDA), they were picked to relieve pressure on existing metropolitan areas and meet housing demand in South East Queensland.

By 2041, the Yarrabilba PDA will be home to about 45,000 people living in more than 17,000 homes.

Since construction started and the first residents moved in, Council has advocated to the State Government to ensure infrastructure in the area meets the pace of growth. 

Years of negotiations between Council, the State Government and developers at Yarrabilba and Flagstone culminated in the signing of a landmark infrastructure agreement in 2019. 

Under the 45-year deal, developers will contribute $1.2 billion to upgrade roads and deliver water and wastewater infrastructure to the two PDAs, with Council also contributing $1.2 billion.

St Clare’s Primary School was the first primary school in the community to open in 2017, with Yarrabilba State School opening the following year.

The suburb’s first state secondary school, Yarrabilba State Secondary College, will open its doors for the first time this year. It will be joined by a new co-educational Catholic secondary college in 2021. 

Health services will be also boosted with a $4.3 million ambulance station to start construction early this year.

Policing capabilities were recently improved with the nearby Logan Village Neighbourhood Police Beat being refurbished to become the Logan Village Yarrabilba Police Station in August 2019.

With Yarrabilba continuing to expand at a rapid rate, more infrastructure will be required to keep up demand in the coming years.

At Logan City Council, we’re committed to working with the State Government and developers to ensure such infrastructure is delivered in a timely manner.

Six reasons why moving Loganlea train station is good for Logan

Six reasons why moving the Loganlea train station will be a game changer for Logan

The State and Federal governments this week announced new funding of $95 million to move the Loganlea train station, but why?

The station will move 350 metres east, closer to the entrance of Logan Hospital, benefiting not only the Meadowbrook and Loganlea areas, but the wider City of Logan and even South-East Queensland.

  1. More train services for the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines

The current Loganlea station is on a bend in the line. Queensland Rail can’t actually add more services to the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines as there is currently no room to do so. As Loganlea station is one of the few stations that express services stop at, it’s one of the busiest in Logan and on the line. Moving the station will bring more trains, especially once Cross River Rail is operational.

  1. It will save money for the community

The State Government committed $24 million over the next few years to upgrade the station to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Council didn’t want these funds to be spent unnecessarily if the station was going to move eventually anyway. These funds are being reallocated to the relocation project.

  1. It will be easier to get to the Logan Hospital

Logan Hospital’s emergency department is one of the busiest in Queensland, while demand for maternity services has increased 44 per cent in the past five years. The State Government is about to invest $461 million in a major upgrade for the hospital to meet demand. Having the station at the “front door” of the hospital will make it easier for doctors, nurses, and other staff to get to work, and patients and visitors will be closer to the services they need. It also leads into…

  1. Improved parking

Parking was one of the key issues raised at Logan City Council’s Meadowbrook Summit in September 2018. Improved and increased parking facilities will be included in the final designs for the new station precinct.

  1. Better access to education

Students attending the Metro South TAFE (Logan Campus) will also have the station at their front door, making it easier for their travel to and from classes and study. It will also make it easier for students attending Loganlea State High School to connect with the TAFE.

  1. Jobs and business opportunities

The expansion of Logan Hospital, along with the new and upgraded station, and sufficient parking, will improve development opportunities in the Meadowbrook and Loganlea areas. Council is already fielding enquiries from people wanting to invest in the area. This will bring new jobs to the city and improve our economy.

A modern, accessible and connected station is critical to the future growth of Meadowbrook and for the liveability of the area. We can’t wait to see this project come to fruition.

Logan wins on key infrastructure: digging deeper into today’s funding announcement

Logan wins on key infrastructure: digging deeper into today's $1.9 billion funding announcement

Christmas has come early in the City of Logan after new funding was announced today by the State and Federal governments for two major infrastructure projects that have long been on Logan City Council’s wish list.

The Loganlea train station will be relocated as part of a $95 million project, while a $20 million business case will be developed for the Salisbury to Beaudesert rail line.

A further $94.3 million for M1 Pacific Motorway upgrades (to be shared between the Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill, Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway and Varsity Lakes to Tugun stretches) will be provided earlier than previously announced.

In addition, both governments have reached an agreement on the $9.3 billion Inland Rail project, paving the way for the delivery of the project in Queensland. Council continues to seek a commitment of accountability around environmental impacts such as noise, vibration and dust – and for those impacts to be carefully considered and appropriately mitigated.

The funding is part of a total $1.9 billion road and rail package for Queensland. It was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in Brisbane.

The Federal Government will bring forward almost $650 million in funding and provide more than $680 million in new funding, while the State Government is committing $606 million.

Logan projects to receive funding:

  • Salisbury to Beaudesert passenger rail business case (total $20 million, split 50/50 between State and Federal governments)
  • Relocate Loganlea train station (total $95 million, $50 million from Federal Government, $45 million from State Government)
  • Pacific Motorway (a total of $94.3 million of Federal funding will be brought forward for the Eight Mile Plains-Daisy Hill; Daisy Hill-Logan Motorway and Varsity Lakes-Tugun sections)

More information:

Infrastructure isn’t keeping up with population growth, says Infrastructure Australia

Infrastructure isn't keeping up with population growth, says Infrastructure Australia

Infrastructure Australia  – the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor – has just released its 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit and Logan’s future transport needs have been highlighted because of our expected population growth.

Here’s what’s been mentioned in the Urban Transport Crowding and Congestion supplementary report:

Road networks 2016 data

  • The daily cost of congestion based on 2016 figures includes:
    • $95,000 for the Beenleigh to city northbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway in AM peak
    • $25,000 for the city to Beenleigh southbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway in the AM peak
    • $71,000 for the city to Beenleigh southbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway in the PM peak
    • $32,000 for the Mt Gravatt to Loganholme southbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway in the PM peak
    • $30,000 for the city to Beenleigh northbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway in the PM peak.
  • The Logan Motorway is already subject to moderate levels of congestion.

Road networks 2031 predictions

  • The daily cost of congestion in 2031 in the AM peak includes:
    • $235,000 for the Beenleigh to city northbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway
    • $101,000 for Beaudesert to North Logan northbound corridor of the Mt Lindesay Hwy
    • $100,000 for the Loganholme to Mt Gravatt northbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway.
  • In the 2031 PM peak, these roads will have a daily cost of congestion of:
    • $183,000 for the city to Beenleigh southbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway
    • $75,000 for the north Logan to Beaudesert southbound corridor – Mt Lindesay Hwy
    • $69,000 for the Mt Gravatt to Loganholme southbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway
    • $71,000 for the Beenleigh to city northbound corridor of the Pacific Motorway.
  • Population growth in Brisbane’s southern suburbs will drive increasing congestion on the Pacific Motorway. The corridor south of Eight Mile Plains can expect a 25% increase in traffic volumes by 2031.
  • By 2031 the Mount Lindesay Highway is also expected to carry traffic volumes well above its design capacity as a consequence of population growth. This could mean delays of 73 minutes per vehicle in the AM peak and 56 minutes per vehicle in the PM peak.

Public transport networks

  • More significant crowding can be expected on buses further from the city, particularly on routes that serve areas outside rail catchments [we note that Salisbury to Beaudesert passenger rail has no set delivery timeframes].
  • Bus services from Springwood, Browns Plains and surrounding areas will have high demand by 2031 [we are advocating to extend the South East Busway to Loganholme].

The #FairShare4Logan campaign will keep Logan’s needs front of mind for major decision-makers in the Australian and Queensland Governments.

The Queensland Government’s 2019-20 Budget and what it means for Logan

The Queensland Government's 2019-20 Budget and what it means for Logan

The Queensland Government announced its 2019-20 Budget this week.

The Logan Regional Action Plan shows key funding initiatives for the city, as well as some to be delivered in the Scenic Rim.

The Fair Share 4 Logan team has also looked through the budget papers and we can see a mix of new commitments and previously announced funding.

New funding commitments

ProjectFunding/notes
Education
Springwood State High School$8.1 million in 2019-20 out of a total spend of $10.5 million for refurbishment and upgrade works
Logan City Special School$1.7 million in 2019-20 out of an $8.6 million total spend to construct a new building with eight general learning spaces
Shailer Park State High School $1.8 million in 2019-20 out of an $8.2 million total spend to construct a new building with 10 general learning spaces
Marsden State High School$4 million in 2019-20 out of a $16.1 million total spend to construct a new building with six general learning spaces and 11 specialist learning spaces.

Note: $450,000 in 2018-19 out of a total $2.3 million spend was included in the last State Budget.
Windaroo Valley State High$254,000 in 2019-20 for additional classrooms
Logan Reserve State School$1.3 million in 2019-20 out of a $4 million total spend to construct additional classrooms and to upgrade sewer and water connections.
Health
Logan HospitalIt appears additional funds of $179 million have been committed on top of the previously announced $281 million to upgrade the Logan Hospital. This is to be confirmed with the State Government
Logan Day Program Adolescent Extended Treatment Facility$2.5 million in 2019-20 out of a $2.8 million total spend to provide a youth mental health day program facility
Woodridge Youth Step Up Step Down Facility$4 million in 2019-20 out of a $8.6 million total spend for a six bed sub-acute adolescent mental health facility
Munruben new ambulance station$50,000 in 2019-20 out of a $4 million total spend
Sport
Logan City Netball Association Inc$194,712 in 2019-20 out of a $366,000 total spend to upgrade an amenities building to support female participation in netball at Woodridge
Football Queensland$380,000 in 2019-20 out of a $500,000 total spend to upgrade change rooms and officials room to support female participation at Slacks Creek
Logan Lightning FC Inc$246,888 in 2019-20 out of a $464,075 total spend to construct an amenities block to support female participation in football.

Note: $600k was also committed by the LNP Federal Government in the lead up to the 2019 election
Beenleigh Multisports Association Inc$266,000 in 2019-20 out of a $500,000 total spend for Beenleigh Multisports Association Inc to construct an amenities block to support female participation in touch football and rugby league at Beenleigh
Flagstone Phoenix Brothers Rugby League Club Inc$148,500 in 2019-20 out of a $150,000 total spend to construct amenities block, clubhouse, canteen and scorers box
Road and transport infrastructure
Greenbank bus facility park ‘n’ ride upgrade$2.3 million in 2019-20 out of a $21 million total spend
Beenleigh-Redland Bay Rd and Kruger Rd intersection signalisation$100,000 in 2019-20 out of a $4.4 million total spend to install traffic signals
Park Ridge Connector extension planning between Granger Rd and Camp Cable Rd$500,000 in 2020-21 and $500,000 in 2021-22 to 2022-23
Begin the business case development for an upgrade of Waterford-Tamborine Rd between Anzac Ave and North St, and Hotz Rd and Camp Cable Rd$300,000 in 2019-20 and $400,000 in 2020-21
Additional $15 million for transport planning to progress the Coomera Connectornew commitment of $4 million in 2019-20, $2 million in 2020-21, $6 million 2021-22 to 2022-23 and $4 million beyond this
Link planning between Logan Village and Brisbane-Beenleigh Rd$350,000 in 2020-21 and $750,000 in 2021-22 to 2022-23

Previously announced funding

ProjectFunding/notes
M1 (Pacific Motorway)$59.7 million in 2019-20 out of a $195.3 million total spend to upgrade the Gateway merge at Miles Platting Road to Rochedale Road. Part of the State Infrastructure Fund, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.

(Total cost has been reported previously as $190 million)
New secondary school in Yarrabilba$40.8 million in 2019-20 out of a $50.7 million total spend to construct stage 1 of a new secondary school in Yarrabilba. Part of the Building Future Schools Fund.

(Previously reported as a $45 million spend)
Mt Lindesay Highway$45.7 million in 2019-20 out of a $74 million total spend to deliver various safety improvements on the highway (reflects the existing commitments already made)

There are additional commitments detailed in the Queensland Transport Road Infrastructure Plan (QTRIP) including North Maclean to Jimboomba ($3 million) to undertake transport planning and Jimboomba to Beaudesert ($14.3 million) to improve intersections.