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With a young, multicultural population - boosted by interstate and international migration – the City of Logan in South East Queensland is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia.

Aiming to meet the needs of this vibrant and active community, the City’s Active Logan Strategy 2016 - 2028 has set out objectives for the next 12 years, looking to increase participation in sport, recreation and physical activity by identifying current and future infrastructure, programming and partnership opportunities.

Released in a draft form for public comment during September, community input is seen as being vital to making the plan work for residents.

Councillor Steve Swenson, Chairperson of the Council’s Sports and Community Services Committee, said the study – and extensive community input gathered over the past few months – has contributed to the high quality of the strategy, which Council supported.

Councillor Swenson stated “over several years, Council has conducted extensive research into our residents’ participation levels in sport, recreation and physical activity.

"Using this research, Council has developed a plan to ensure that we are providing the right sport, recreation and physical activity programs and facilities to meet the ongoing needs of our community.

“There are some great projects to encourage increased physical activity including master planning sporting precincts, building sporting facilities and extending programs and partnerships that help activate the cty.”

Examples of the City’s commitment to encouraging residents to be active include a number of sports precincts such as the one at Jimboomba Park in the City’s south-west which is being upgraded with $4.5 million project to construct a purpose-built facilities for netball, rugby league, touch football, as well as an equestrian dressage arena and show jumping rings.

Nearby, in the emerging suburb of Yarrabilba a new $1.5 million sports and community hub is being built thanks to a project funding arrangement between Logan City Council, LendLease and the Queensland Government.

Beenleigh, in the city’s south, will soon see its Aquatic Centre expanded with a $4.5 million injection, including a new indoor heated program pool, water play area, spectator viewing area, kiosk, office and plant equipment.

BMX riders will also benefit from a significant $900,000 upgrade planned for the Centenary BMX Club in Browns Plains.

The city also boasts two purpose built Sepak-Takraw courts at Logan Central and Greenbank where the traditional kick-volleyball, a sport native to Southeast Asia, is played at an internationally-competitive level.

Traditional sports, like rugby, football and AFL, haven’t been neglected with Logan Metro, a premier sports centre in the heart of the city, recently becoming home to Football Brisbane and the A-League's Brisbane Roar Football Club, which have followed in the footsteps of Football Queensland which has established itself in Logan at nearby Meakin Park.

As a result of these and other initiatives, a recent community survey, the Active Logan Participation Study, found that adult participation (across all ages between 15 and over) in activities in Logan was more than 20% higher than Queensland’s average, across all ages between 15 and over.

The City’s work in developing a vibrant and active community has also been recognised with a series of Awards.

The Council was named Queensland winner of the 2015 Heart Foundation Local Government Awards for populations greater than 25,000 while, in August, it received an International Award from the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC).

More recently, the Active Logan Participation Study received Parks and Leisure Australia’s 2016 Research Project Award, having earlier won the Parks and Leisure Australia Queensland Award.

Commenting that the Council is ensuring that it plays a significant role in encouraging residents to be active as the city expands, Councillor Swenson concludes “our aim is to ensure that Logan is recognised as an active and healthy community.

“There are some great projects to encourage increased physical activity including master planning sporting precincts, building sporting facilities and extending programs and partnerships that help activate the city.”

Images: Sepak-Takraw courts at Logan Central (top), the soon-to-open new facilities at Jimboomba Park (middle) and Councillor Steve Swenson (below).

26th October 2016 - 2016 PARKS AND LEISURE AUSTRALIA AWARDS RECOGNISE MEMBER EXCELLENCE

5th September 2015 - AQUALOGAN SWIM SCHOOL NAMED TOP AUSTSWIM SWIM CENTRE

7th September 2014 - FOOTBALL QUEENSLAND HEADS TO NEW BASE IN LOGAN

3rd December 2013 - LOGAN CITY COUNCIL TO BUILD AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST SPIELART PLAY UNIT

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