The City of Logan growth story has captured plenty of headlines recently – but it’s the green behind the gold where Council is taking some big steps, while reducing its footprint.
Whether it’s securing habitat for koala conservation, installing solar panelling on Council buildings or planting trees to offset development – we are strengthening our reputation as a green and sustainable city .
City of Logan has been recognised as a leading local government area for tree planting. We were named ‘Best on Ground’ in Australia by the Greener Spaces Better Places network for our mass plantings of more than 100,000 trees last financial year.
It has made a significant difference offsetting clearing and increasing our green canopy coverage by 5 per cent.
Last year, Council invested $2.7 million to improve waterways and koala habitats, implement species management programs and deliver carbon reduction and energy efficiency strategies.
More than $5.3 million was spent securing vital ecological land and $3.4 million on bushland maintenance.
Council has also acquired a key parcel of koala habitat for conservation. A 212-hectare property at Greenbank was chosen for its high ecological value and importance to the health of the Oxley Creek catchment.
The property falls within the State Government’s Koala Priority Area located in the Flinders Karawatha Corridor, one of the largest stretches of open Eucalypt forest in South East Queensland.
Our innovative approach to protecting the environment includes the Cedar Vale Environmental Centre which recently earned three water industry awards for incorporating the surrounding environment into its design.
Meanwhile, our biosolids gasification trial project at Loganholme is recognised internationally as an innovative solution that uses solar power to transform waste into agricultural soil conditioner.
Council is committed to operate as a carbon neutral organisation. To achieve this target, innovation is needed and we have already started along the path to this goal.
We are monitoring our emissions, embracing renewable energy technologies and exploring new methods and processes to avoid and reduce energy use and waste.
In just a couple of years, much has been achieved with the implementation of the Carbon Reduction Strategy and Action Plan.
While reducing the carbon footprint of Council’s entire operations is a big job, I’m proud to say we are making significant inroads.
This includes the installation of energy efficient LED lighting at Council facilities and the installation of more than 1000 kilowatts (kW) of solar panels on our buildings and at infrastructure sites.
This clean power is saving the city and rate payers at least $140,000 a year in electricity costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 1000 tonnes annually.
This year we’ll see the installation of a 200kW solar array on Council’s Administration Centre in Logan Central and a 1000kW solar farm built at the Loganholme Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Every little bit helps and from July, residents can do their bit by taking up our green bin service. This will reduce the amount of garden waste that ends up in landfill.
It’s an easy and affordable way to quickly and easily dispose of garden waste. The bins can accept grass clippings, palm fronds, prunings, weeds, leaves and small branches.
The new fortnightly service will help reduce greenhouse emissions.
It also will save countless trips to the tip and is ideal for those who don’t have access to a ute or a trailer to get rid of their green waste.
I encourage all residents and local businesses to come on this green journey with us.
The measures we implement now will benefit the city for generations to come.
