Logan is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and in south-east Queensland we are sure doing the heavy lifting when it comes to the influx of interstate migrants.
People are choosing Logan for many reasons, whether it be for a lifestyle where backyards still exist, where schools are still within walking distance, or for many because it is still affordable.
For many city dwellers, the outer suburbs can seem like a world away, but they can keep their hustle and bustle while I get to use one of Logan’s many bushland walking tracks.
But one of the detractions for many years has been the commute for those who live in Logan but work in either Brisbane or on the Gold Coast.
A commute that meant time and money.
Time is frustratingly immutable, although we are working on ways to streamline our public transport with extensions to the SEQ Busway, and the Logan-Gold Coast faster rail project which will also deliver quicker express travel into the city.
And from July this year, Logan commuters have been saving hundreds of dollars each month with 50 cent fares.
Previously, the further out of Brisbane city you lived the more expensive the commute was – an ironic and unfair proposition when those least able to afford to live close to the city had to pay more to access it.
But 50 cent fares are a game changer for cities like Logan.
No longer is a worker financially penalised for living in the ‘outer suburbs’.
A resident in Windaroo will pay just as much to travel to the city, whether for work or recreation, as someone living in Holland Park.
It’s the great equaliser.
And the results showed that Logan residents saved $1.6 million in the first month alone.
The opposition may think 50 cent fares are a ‘con’.
But when people weigh up whether to live in or move a business to Logan, no longer will the cost of public transport be considered a con.
50 cent fares mean more money in people’s pockets at the end of the week.
More people on public transport means less congestion on our roads.
Fewer cars on the road means lower vehicle emissions.
This is a win for everybody.
